November 2008 Archives

Announced Monday night at the 19th National Trails Symposium in Little Rock, Arkansas, this award recognizes the unique partnership forged between Adventure Cycling Association and the University of Pittsburgh's Center for Minority Health to create a 2,028-mile bicycle route memorializing the Underground Railroad, a network of secret routes and safe houses by which freedom seekers attempted to escape slavery before and during the Civil War. The Underground Railroad Bicycle Route passes points of interest and historic sites from Mobile, Alabama, a busy port for slavery during the pre-civil war era, north to Owen Sound, Ontario, a town founded by free blacks in 1857.

Read more:

http://bike-pgh.org/2008/11/20/underground-railroad-bicycle-route-wins-american-trails-partnership-award/

SELMA -- Graceful. That's the first word I'd use to describe Selma, an old Alabama River town with glorious front porches, slow-talking intellectuals with drawls and, oh, yes, a fasci­nation with butterflies.

That's right, butterflies. Selma is the Butterfly Capi­tal of Alabama, a 1982 desig­nation it takes seriously. I've been in town for 20 min­utes and already have seen several 5-foot-high butterfly sculptures and been pres­ented with a bracelet with a butterfly charm. I've even met the gracious Madame Butterfly, Mrs. C.N. Breed­ing, proud instigator of the project.

Read the full story in the Montgomery Advertiser.

All you genealogy buffs out there get ready!

The Selma-Dallas County Public Library in cooperation with the Black Belt African American Genealogical and Historical Society will host the first-ever evening of genealogy research after hours from 6:00-10:00 PM on Thursday, November 20, 2008 at the Library, 1103 Selma Ave. Attendees will have exclusive access to the Edwin Condie Godbold Local History Room's resources including reference books, periodicals, census records, computers and microfilm readers. Experienced genealogists and library staff will be on hand to provide guided assistance and answer questions. Space is limited and pre-registration is required. Light refreshments. $10.00 donation requested.

Register in person during regular library hours or call 334-874-1725 (days) or 334-877-4846 (eves) to register by phone. For further information: 334-877-4846 or info@bbaaghs.org.

Download flyer: http://bbaaghs.org/flyers/selma_lock-in.pdf

Read the full article by Tom Gordon on al.com: http://www.al.com/news/birminghamnews/statebriefs.ssf?/base/news/1226135733315410.xml&coll=2

The 10 murals depicting Gee's Bend quilts stretch for 17 miles along Wilcox County Road 29.

Two military veterans were inducted into the Alabama Military Hall of Honor on October 31, 2008. One, 94 year old Bert Bank, arrived in the Philippines in 1942. Four months later, he was among the 75,000 American and Filipino troops who were surrendered to the Japanese  by U.S. commanders, beginning the Bataan Death March, a 90-mile trek through the jungle.

Read more from the Tuscaloosa News and the Tide Sports special and learn more about the Alabama Military Hall of Honor. Visit the Alabama Military Hall of Fame, located on the campus of Marion Military Institute, Marion, Alabama. The museum also displays a variety of associated memorabilia including weapons, uniforms and pictures.