Drake Printers

With all the destruction "urban renewal" going on downtown, vintage signs like this are becoming visible on the older buildings that were not deemed blighted. Drake Printers has been around a LONG time. I'm assuming this brick signage is older than the neon. It's also in a different location. Can anyone tell what kind of cola sign that is in the top right hand corner?

Moon Winx

This great old sign in Alberta City (part of Tuscaloosa) is on Hwy 11, the Old Birmingham Hwy, which becomes University Blvd. That road was the main drag into town before the I-59 was finished, and had several hotels and restaurants. The Moon Winx is a landmark in Tuscaloosa because in its heyday, it was one of the nicest. Now, it is mostly boarded up. The restaurant is closed and the pool is filled in. I think they may use some of the rooms as efficiency apartments. At least they kept the old sign. It was cool at night when it was lit, the eye winked.

Ballard's Flour Sign

This old sign is painted on the wall of the License Commission building downtown. It is in an alley now, but I'm sure was originally facing the street. I'd never seen it before and I've never heard of Ballard's Obelisk Flour. Has anyone ever heard of it? According to the sign, it was "Always Reliable" and "Standard of the South for 50 Years." It's hard to get a good shot in a narrow alley, so here's a couple more. My apologies for the afternoon shadow from the other building.

Skywatch Friday

Skies in Tuscaloosa are rainy today. Last week they were blue over Bryant Denny Stadium and the tulips blooming all over campus. The tulips are worth a click to enlarge.

Please visit Skywatch Friday to see more beautiful skies from around the world.

Crimson is...

I love the University of Alabama's "Crimson is..." campaign. These banners are all over campus and just beyond and list the following: CRIMSON IS...
Academic Excellence
Access
Action
Best & Brightest
Character
Commitment
Community
Creativity
Hope
Impact
Initiative
Insight
Inspiration
Opportunity
Pride & Tradition
Progress
Responsibility
Service
Service & Leadership

University Boulevard

This is University Blvd. heading into the University of Alabama campus from the east. The bike trail and posts are fairly new. To the right are the intramural athletic fields. If you click to enlarge you can see the lightposts with the "Crimson is..." banners. You can also see the road conditions. Univ. Blvd. traverses the city and turns into Hwy 11 North or the Old Birmingham Highway. It was originally big sections of concrete that have cracked between sections and been filled in with asphalt numerous times. Parts of it have been covered in asphalt, but the cracks somehow always come back through. When you drive it sounds like"gadump...gadump...gadump." When you're from Tuscaloosa, that sound reminds you, you're almost home. :)

Stillman College and Dogwoods

Not that one thing in the title has anything to do with the other, but the dogwoods are blooming here in Tuscaloosa. The lightpost banner has the Stillman College crest and in the background you see a couple of the campus buildings and fence. Stillman College is a historically Black college founded in 1874 by a group of Tuscaloosa Presbyterians to train Black ministers. It is now a liberal arts school with an average enrollment of 1200 students.

Skywatch Friday

Spring sunrise colors over a Tuscaloosa water tower and church
Happy Friday everyone!
For more skyward views, please visit the links you'll find at Skywatch Friday.

The Cunningham House

The Cunningham House on Queen City Avenue is a private residence and also houses a graphic arts studio. According to the sign out front and their website, the home is also available to rent for weddings and other events. Maybe they'll update the website with the history of the home soon.

Flood Markers

Our parting shot of the Cypress Inn is from inside. The markers on the tree show flood stage depths and the month/year. And there's the floating dock I stood on to take the other pics. Boaters actually pull up and use this dock, especially during football season. They dock their large boats across the river and use their ski boats or tenders to come over and eat at Cypress Inn.

Cypress Inn Green

We're still at the Cypress Inn. This is looking up from the floating dock.

The little green space is where golfers can practice their swing while they wait for a table. If they can hit the ball all the way across the river, they get a free meal. We were with a friend who did it once! But, most probably don't. Now you'll understand this sign on the dock.

Happy St. Patrick's Day Everyone!!!

River Side

Here's a view of the Cypress Inn from the floating dock. In January when the river was at flood stage, the water completely covered the floating dock and was all the way up to this deck on the back of the restaurant.

The View

from the Cypress Inn on the river in Tuscaloosa.

And...my 200th post.

Cypress Inn

This is the Cypress Inn Restaurant in Tuscaloosa. They serve really wonderful food and feature the best view in town! It sits on the north bank and overlooks the Black Warrior River. If you're ever in town, make a point to eat here! Last weekend we celebrated our anniversary here. I'll share more pics this week.

Skywatch Friday

Blue sky, white clouds, naked trees & a muddy Black Warrior River -

facing north from the Paul W. Bryant Bridge in Tuscaloosa.

Please visit Skywatch Friday to see skies from around the world.

Nucor Steel

This is Nucor Steel, formerly Tuscaloosa Steel, on the banks of the Black Warrior River in Holt, Alabama, built in 1985 on the site of the former Gulf States Paper Corporation. This picture was taken from the newest bridge spanning the river, the Paul W. Bryant Bridge that connects near Northport and Holt. For years the "Paper Mill" was one of the largest employers in Tuscaloosa. When it closed this mill in the 1980s it was a major blow to the workforce in town. Thankfully, new industry was able to replace the old.

Windows at Fellowes Home

These are the front windows in the library/bedroom of the Fellowes Home, circa 1834. There were four bedrooms, two on each end of the house. Each bedroom had its own fireplace. At the estate sale I attended, there were over 2000 books of every age and genre imaginable in both hard and paperback. I could've looked for days. I ended up buying several old books including two elementary readers, a first grade and a third grade that belonged to Alice Fellowes. Her name, address, and three digit phone number are written in the front cover in the sweet cursive handwriting of a child. She also included her school, Stafford School - the first public school in Tuscaloosa, and the name of her third grade teacher, Mrs. Yerby.

Fellowes Home

This is the same home from yesterday's post. Here's a closer shot of the left gabled end and front porch. The house was built in 1834. There's an old family story that claims that when General Croxton came through and burned the University of Alabama in the spring of 1865, he actually stayed in this house. Tomorrow, I'll show you a pic from inside. Here are some other front views. Notice the Confederate roses.

Historic Home

We attended an estate sale at this wonderful historic home on Queen City Ave. in Tuscaloosa this weekend. I picked up several prizes but mostly I was thrilled to get inside to see this beauty. It was home to Dr. and Mrs. Ed McNamee. He has passed away and she is 91 and just moved from the home about a month ago. It was the home of her family, the Fellowes. I'll share dates and a family story when I can verify them.

Fosters General Store

About 10 miles west of the city of Tuscaloosa is the community of Fosters. There's a post office, several churches and this old store. The Fosters General store has been here at the crossroads of old Jwy 11 and the interstate cut off for as long as I can remember. The BP awning out front is new of course, and in my opinion, spoils the view. Click to enlarge and you'll see some of the older signage. It was the only store until recently when a Chevron built a monstrosity across the street.

Skywatch Friday

March sunset in Tuscaloosa. Happy Friday Everyone!

Now cruise on over to Skywatch Friday and feast your eyes on skies from around the world.

Downtown Tuscaloosa

This is University Blvd. facing west. I liked the old painted brick sign on the building. I took this during the summer, so the tree is blocking the rest of the sign. If you click to enlarge, you can also see the Oak City Barber. Several businesses in town use "Oak City" in their names. Tuscaloosa has been referred to as Oak City and Druid City.

March 1st 2009 Snow

Downtown in the Blizzard of 09

Here's a drive-by of University Blvd during the snowstorm. Okay, it wasn't really a snowstorm. But for us, any snow is a big event. It was beautiful. Sadly, it had all completely melted before the p.m. But it was fun while it lasted!

It's SNOWING!...in Tuscaloosa, Alabama!

Yes, we interrupt our spring wishes, for SNOW - in March, in Tuscaloosa.

It's beautiful! BIG flakes, and lots of 'em. (sounds like some families I know! ha ha) Those of you who shovel hip deep snow all winter, I ask you to sweetly smile and pat our virtual heads in condescension while we squeal like little kids over a dusting of snow. Hey, did you know if you have the flash on your camera you can actually see the flakes falling? Cool!