Jean and I just spent three days on a magnificent mountain that has, or is near, beautiful bluffs, gorgeous gorges, carved canyons, cavernous caves, wonderful waterfalls, wide waters, babbling brooks, crooked creeks and at least one rambling river that runs on top of a mountain. All of this is at the southern end of the Appalachians. Oh, and the area had enough antique stores to keep us busy when we weren’t enjoying all that natural beauty that God spent so much time creating. Much of this is alongside the Tennessee River, but we never left Alabama. All of these things can be found in northeast Alabama, primarily in DeKalb and Jackson counties.
We took a long trip last week, but actually, we only traveled a short distance. We only drove about three-and-a-half-hours from our Opelika home, but we traveled about 80 years backward upon arrival. I have never actually believed in the phenomenon of time travel, but our amazing destination took us back in time. Our mode of transportation was not a time machine but a house. When we entered the front door of the bed-and-breakfast farmhouse at Songbird Story Farm, located on top of Sand Mountain, near the towns of Pisgah and Rosalie, we suddenly found ourselves in the middle of the 1940s. The house was originally built by Buck and Ima McCormick, back in 1944, on their 40-acre farm. Their World War II-era house originally consisted of only four rooms. Since that humble beginning, more rooms, including an indoor bathroom, have been added. Out back is a beautiful open-air pavilion with period pieces, plus a wooden tower that overlooks the garden, cattle and donkeys.
Greg and Lesa Millican, owners of this modern-day B&B, have kept the inside décor of his grandparents’ home much like its original 1940s, but with modern conveniences. The base of the bathroom sink is an antique Singer sewing machine iron bottom. There is even an oxymoronic microwave that looks like something from that long-gone era, but it is actually a modern microwave oven.
Our hosts provided some of my favorite goodies from my childhood. There was a basket filled with RC Colas and Moon Pies, Grapico, Fanta Orange and Cracker Jacks. Each morning, we listened to the songbirds chirping outside our window, while we drank coffee and enjoyed a muffin (or Moon Pie!).
We spent a good portion of one of our days in nearby Scottsboro. After a wonderful barbecue lunch as we looked out over the backed-up Tennessee River at Jackson County Park, we traveled back in time again that afternoon. We visited the old Payne Drug Store, which was established in 1869. It is now Payne’s Sandwich Shop and Soda Fountain. A life-size replica of Betty Boop, standing on the black-and-white checkered-tile floor, greeted us at the door. We could have bellied up to the red-and-white bar for a hot dog and root bear but chose a table instead. Did I mention they have ice cream? I’m not telling how many scoops I ate. One the way back, we stopped to gaze off Gorham’s Bluff, overlooking the Tennessee River from the brow of Sand Mountain.
With Fort Payne in the valley below, Mentone on neighboring Lookout Mountain and Scottsboro in the other valley, and all of them 30 minutes or less from us, we had our pick of places to visit. Next time we will plan a longer stay.
If you have never visited this part of our great state, you have missed beautiful treasures just waiting for you to discover them. If this all sounds like the kind of places you would like to visit and explore, I certainly understand. I might even see you there!
Bill King can be reached at bkpreach@yahoo.com or 334-728-5514 (office).
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