Black Warrior-Tombigbee Waterway – Page 2

Demopolis – Christmas on the River

December 2, 2016 – Friday

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Since 1972, the small town of Demopolis, has been celebrating “Christmas on the River” with a nighttime parade of boats decorated for Christmas and fireworks. This small festival is now a five-day event that averages about 40,000 people. In 2013, A&E television named Demopolis the #5 Ultimate Holiday Town in the USA. Our first stop, Gaineswood.

Christmas in the Canebrake – Three historical antebellum homes, featuring 19th-century-style-holiday decorations of fresh fruit and greenery gave candlelight tours and local talent filled the air with the sounds of the Christmas season.

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Alabama State Championship BBQ Cook-off – After our Gaineswood tour, we stopped for a little BBQ from the Alabama State Championship BBQ Cook-off. This event became part of “Christmas on the River” in 1989, Friday’s event was the party portion. For an entry fee of five dollars, you could eat all the BBQ, chili, & gumbo your heart desired, meet with family & friends and dance the night away. The competition cooking took place after the rest of us were snug in our beds and was judged on Saturday.

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There are over 40 competing teams, 48 judges, and many BBQ connoisseurs, including Rick and I.

Alabama State Championship BBQ Cook-off Winners

Grand Champion: House of Q
Reserve Champion: Smokin’ Triggers

December 3, 2016 – Saturday

We walked into town, in the rain, checked out the goodies at the Fair on the Square (arts and crafts show) and the annual Christmas Parade.

Fair on the Square and Christmas Parade

p1010620 — Marshmallow Shooters for $5.00

p1010623 — In spite of the rain, all parking lots are full.

p1010628 — Motor Cycle Police Start the Parade

p1010632 — Would it be a parade without children getting “the goods?” In this case, candy and Mardi Gras beads

p1010633 — Demopolis HS Drill Team and Band

p1010636 — Nightmare before Christmas, a different take.

p1010650 — Next Generation of Queens & Princesses

p1010671b — Notice the saguaro cactus? I thought I was back in Arizona.

p1010675 — Forty minutes later, Santa ends the Parade.

Nautical Parade & Fireworks:

Saturday evening we braved the cold and rain to watch the Nautical Parade by the river. Between the dark, rain, and movement of the floats on the water, pictures were nearly impossible.

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p1010679 — Christmas on the Water, Demopolis, AL 2016

Demopolis Historical Walk

December 1, 2016 – Thursday

We played tourist today by walking into town, taking pictures, and conversing with the locals. One gentleman, Mr. Bird, suggested that we visit his father’s farm in Forkland, AL, about ten miles away. I don’t think we’ll be able to visit but I did look it up on the web, Hay Art in Forkland, definitely a different art form.

A little from Mother Nature on our way into town.

p1010518 — Nice day for a dip in the river.

p1010528 — Situated on historic White Bluff overlooking the Tombigbee River. Bluff Hall was built in 1832 by slaves of Allen Glover for his daughter, Sarah Serena, and her husband Francis Strother Lyon. Lawyer and planter, F.S. Lyon, served in both the Confederate and the United States congresses. Frequent war-time visitors in his house were General Leonidas Polk and General Zachary Deas. – Alabama Historical Marker

p1010529 — Part of Bluff Hall, currently a gift shop.

p1010523 — Cabin located behind Bluff Hall

p1010542 — Built during 1843-1861, Gaineswood evolved from a two-room “dogtrot” cabin into a Greek Revival style mansion. General Nathan Bryan Whitfield, the builder, was his own architect, though he had no formal training. The labor was done mostly by slaves, some of whom were extremely accomplished carpenters and plasterers. Three styles of Greek architecture are represented in the house: Doric-style outside, Ionic for the interior, and Corinthian in the drawing room. Gaineswood contains much of its original furnishings as well as several inventions of the builder. – Rural SW AL

p1010545 — This is one of the oldest buildings in Demopolis. It was built in 1843 by the Presbyterians of Demopolis using locally-made bricks. It served as their sanctuary until after the Civil War. During the reconstruction period, a garrison of Federal troops, stationed in Demopolis, moved the county seat from Linden, AL, and used this building for a courthouse. – Rural SW AL

p1010547 — The Laird Cottage is a restored 1870 residence with Greek Revival and Italianate style. The building now serves as the headquarters of the Marengo County Historical Society. It has a museum that contains exhibits and works of Geneva Mercer, national and international acclaimed sculptor and painter from the nearby community of Jefferson. – Rural SW AL

p1010535 — Who remembers Coca Cola for a nickel?

And on our way back to Andiamo, a little more from Mother Nature.

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Kingfisher Bay Marina, Demopolis, Alabama

November 30, 2016 – Wednesday

Out of respect for Mother Nature, Andiamo is at Kingfisher Bay Marina waiting out a southern storm and possible tornado. The storm has brought us a range of weather conditions. After the first front passed the temperature rose from 65 to 85 degrees. The next segment brought us about 14 hours of light to heavy rain followed by clear skies and sunshine. Rick and I took advantage of a two-hour break in the storm to get provisions for the boat. By the time we arrived back at the marina, the temperature had dropped and the winds were back, it sure is nice to have a cozy little boat and geese to come home to.

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The storm has passed but the yuletide festivity of Christmas on the River is calling us and we plan to engage in at a few of the activities before leaving Demopolis.

“Christmas on the River (COTR) is an annual event that is in its 45th year. It is a holiday celebration with several events over four days, main events are always the first weekend in December. We celebrate with a “Special child” and the announcement of our “St. Nick”. We have a reading of the Christmas Story and lighting of the park with a Santa visit, then on Friday and Saturday we have Christmas in the Canebrake, candlelit tours of historical homes, Canebrake children’s plays, the Alabama State BBQ Cook-Off, Fair in the Square arts and crafts show, a day parade and a nautical night parade with a fireworks show and semi-formal Gala on the Tombigbee.”

We won’t be attending the semi-formal Gala, somehow our semi-formal attire didn’t make it to the boat, but we do plan to visit the historical homes, attend the Alabama State BBQ Cook-Off, and perhaps stay for the nautical parade.

p1010512 — Sunset at Kingfisher Bay Marina

World War II History
At Pirate’s Marina Cove, I learned that we were only 10 miles from Aliceville, AL, site of the largest German prisoner of war camp in the United States. The camp was in operation from June 1943 through September 1945 and housed up to 6000 prisoners. After the war, the camp was dismantled and sold for scrap with only an old stone chimney to mark its location.

Chimney Remains from Aliceville POW Camp

Most World War II POW camps were located in the South because of the higher expense of heating the barracks in other areas. By the end of the war, every state except Alaska, Nevada, North Dakota, and Vermont had POW camps. These camps held 371,683 Germans, 50,273 Italians, and 3,915 Japanese POW.