America 250 on the lakes

Celebrating two and a half centuries of nation’s independence Story by Paul Southand Graham HadleySubmitted Photos John Adams, one of America’s Founding Fathers and a signer of the Declaration of Independence, laid down the perfect blueprint for celebrating the birth of the nation on July 4. In a famous letter to his wife Abigail, Adams wrote that the day should be celebrated “with pomp and parades, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfire and illuminations.” Add in the intoxicating aroma of good Alabama barbecue, and it’s the perfect Fourth.  In Gadsden, Pell City, Southside and all along the Coosa River and its man-made companion lakes, Logan Martin and Neely Henry, folks will follow Mr. Adams’ recipe for Independence Day in their celebrations, especially in this, the Republic’s 250th anniversary. The three cities