Tag: (ODD)yssey

Florence Y. Barr was only 33 years old when he died in 1884 in Florence, Ala. Barr was the only son of Isaac and Rebecca Barr. Although I know very little about his life, I know he adored his four-legged friends. I know this because his monument in Florence Cemetery is one of my favorite… Continue reading Rare monument shows man's love for his four-legged friends

Santa’s Land in Cherokee, N.C., is a throwback of the best kind. The small family-owned amusement park has featured kids’ rides, animal shows, carnival games and several shops and eateries since it opened in 1966. The Christmas-themed park evokes all the joys of the holiday – only you can’t enjoy them during the holidays. Santa’s… Continue reading The North Carolina Christmas theme park you can’t visit at Christmas

Below is a story about people who, like Sweetums, are oversized. It is an excerpt from my book "Forgotten Tales of Tennessee." Tennessee is known for its hearty pioneer families, but a few of its early citizens had reputations as big as the beautiful land they settled. In fact, some would say these men were… Continue reading The story of the Tennessee giants

Below is an excerpt on the Moonshine Murders from my 2010 book, "Forgotten Tales of Alabama." Click here to order a signed copy. For more than half a century, law officers in Jefferson County, Ala., have had one enduring mystery: The disappearance of three men one rainy night from an isolated part of the county.… Continue reading Mystery of the Moonshine Murders still chills Alabama community

Yesterday, while in Birmingham for a meeting, I was walking to lunch and came upon a place I know well: The Heaviest Corner on Earth. I love the way the corner is marked, which was added since I wrote about the site in my book "Forgotten Tales of Alabama." Below is an excerpt from the… Continue reading A quick visit to the Heaviest Corner on Earth, a gathering of Alabama skyscrapers