Many Side Roads and Trails Along Winding River Road
ASHS Column for 11 2 06
Margaret Collier

    November is a bleak month - NOT! 

    True, there may not be as many sunshiny hours in the
too-short days, but just think of all of the fun-filled
activities that are packed into them. There are those
exciting football games on Saturdays; over in Climax,
Georgia (between Thomasville and Tallahassee) Swine Time
is going on with the annual Swine Time parade, hog
calling, corn shucking, greasy pig chase and best-dressed
(clothing, not to eat) pig contests. There is where you
can eat chitterlings while viewing syrup making, arts and
crafts exhibits, quilting demonstrations, etc. Down in
Clearwater at the annual Chiliblast you can watch chili
cooks compete to represent Florida in next year's World
Championship Chili Cook-off.

    Of course, Thanksgiving Day is the prime attraction
for the month of November and then comes the grand
finale - our own BOXCAR BARBEQUE on Saturday, November
25 starting at 9 A. M.

    No, we won't have chitterlings, but pork and/or beef barbeque sandwiches plus Lloyd Barrow's world famous hot dogs, and our own chili will warm, fill and delight you. The Florida-Florida State Football game will be on the TV set up in The Leach House for the football fiends. There will be a free coat and clothing table and another really fine Treasure Sale, plus the opportunity to purchase the beautiful gold-plated over brass #100 train ornaments, books, throws and other unique items for your Christmas shopping.

    To entertain you while you are eating and shopping there will be music, singing and dancing from the following: Donald George with the Southern Pride Band and Dancers out of Pace, Don Carter with the Twin Creek Cloggers of Brewton, the Heather Leonard Dancers from the McDavid-Century area, Henry Leonard and a group from Ray's Chapel, plus Roy and Marina Chancery with an Auburn group of musicians. What a lineup!

    Mark your calendars right now for this day of fun, food, fellowship and opportunity to help The Alger-Sullivan Historical Society with its various projects to protect the area's heritage.
 
    On the 28th of October, Jerry Fischer, Don Sales, Nadine Hudson and Margaret Collier set up an exhibit at the Munson Heritage Day celebration at Krul State Park. Joe and Kay Ross set up their antique tool exhibit, too, so we were well-represented. Unfortunately, we were not able to exhibit at Williams Station this past Saturday. It is rewarding to take part in the various heritage festivals in our area, but sometimes we just run short of time, money and volunteers, so if you would like to help be sure to join the Society. There is always a choice of activities in which you will enjoy participating.

    Now for just a little more about The Winding River Road before next column when we present a larger portion regarding cemeteries along the Road.
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    There are many side roads and trails that branched out from this Winding Road. Some might be dim showing little or no use. Others would show constant light use. Still others would show they had been abandoned altogether. They too revealed History.

    Following one of these abandoned trails one would come to the ruins of an early home site now consisting of a corner of a log cabin, a few old China tree stubs set there by an early Spaniard, a little cleared patch now overgrown with brush and briers. A washed out trail would lead down a hill to a spring. The man once living here had died and been buried near the cabin or had left seeking adventure or greener pastures in other frontiers.

    Sometimes dim trails or side roads would be observed leading off toward the river. Such trails and roads usually led to cozy fishing coves or favorite haunt of wild game. They might lead to a former site of an Indian village on high shell hammock beside a cool clear spring or near the mouth of a clear creek providing a splendid mooring place for canoes and dugouts. 

    Sometimes during the summer lulls in logging such side trails and byways would show constant use because labor had been temporarily transferred from logging camps and saw mills to favorite fishing pools and hunting grounds.

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    More exciting news and story next time, so keep buying your Tri-City Ledger!

(Click picture for larger image)
MUNSON HERITAGE DAY October 28
Top, youngster intently studying coin collection
Bottom, Folks crowded around ASHS tent display