January 2022 – LakeLife 24/7 Magazine

Business booming for traveling mechanic making boat calls

Story Elaine Hobson Miller
Photos by Wallace Bromberg Jr.

This past summer Paul Davis realized many boat owners don’t want to haul their watercraft to a dealer and wait weeks for repairs. A noted mechanic, he decided to make house calls. He started a mobile marine repair service that takes him to the boats instead. He’s now making 20 service calls a week, and he’s training a helper so he can expand. If the secret to success is finding a need and filling it, then it’s no wonder Paul’s Mobile Marine Service has proven so successful.

“I saw a need for people who didn’t want their boats sitting outside at a dealership two to five weeks at a time, waiting for repairs,” he says. “Some people don’t even have trailers to take their boats to a dealer. I’m offering them a convenience.”

Because he has no permanent shop, he has no overhead, so he doesn’t have a trip charge and doesn’t even build that charge into his fees. He charges the same as if he had a shop at a marina or in a building somewhere. Many of his services, like lube and oil changes, are priced at a flat rate, while others are billed by the hour.

“They do this a lot on the coast,” he says of his new business.

His shop is located inside his Dodge Ram high-roof van that allows him to stand up inside, and he is 6 feet 2 inches tall.

He designed the shop area and had it built to his specifications. It contains shelves and bins, hoses and drills, a work bench, portable generator, bins and boxes and a vice grip.

He also has a pontoon boat that he converted into his work barge with wooden floors, a truck toolbox, a workbench and a motor, of course. He pulls it with a pickup truck for those jobs that he does when his clients’ boats are docked in the water. He has a bag of tools he can move from truck to pontoon at a moment’s notice. “I use 10% of my tools on 90% of the jobs anyway,” he says.

He tries to stay within a 50 to 60-mile radius of his home base in Pell City and has customers in Oxford, Birmingham and Trussville. “I sponsor Hewitt-Trussville and Chelsea high school fishing teams,” says the man who also competes in fishing tournaments himself. “I also do a lot of work on Lay Lake, around Sylacauga and Childersburg.” Most of what he does is of a mechanical nature, working on motors, lights and pumps. He keeps many standard parts in his van, but if he has to order something, he can get it within 24 hours.

“Ninety-nine percent of the time a customer has me look at his boat, he’ll have me fix it,” he says. He services all major brands of motor boats, pontoons, ski boats, bass boats and the wake boats that people use for wake surfing. He is available from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m.

Mondays through Fridays, although he sometimes quits a little earlier because it gets dark earlier due to Daylight Savings Time.

Unlike a lot of businesses, Paul’s has flourished during the COVID-19 pandemic, and not just despite COVID but perhaps because of it, too. “I think COVID made lot of people who were just sitting at home or working from home go out and buy a boat,” he says. “This has made me a lot busier. In fact, I have more business than I can handle, and I’m having to turn some stuff down. I’m looking to hire a helper, and I’m training a potential one now. I might even expand to service Lake Martin, Smith Lake, even Orange Beach.” Before starting his mobile marine service, Paul and a partner ran Lakeside Marine beside Lakeside Landing in Pell City. They worked on boats there, too, but were bought out before he went out on his own. “People really like the convenience of my service,” he says.

Lakeside Marine is where Bill and Nila McBrier first met Paul. They have been doing business with him ever since. “We had trouble in the summer, and our boat was in the water,” Nila McBrier says. “He fixed it right down on the dock. He winterizes and summerizes our boat in our own yard, which is extremely convenient. We live at East Winds on the Talladega side of Logan Martin Lake. His prices are as reasonable as anybody else. We think he’s amazing and dependable. He’s the best.”

Jud Alverson has been using Davis for boat repairs for at least eight years, again, going back to Paul’s days at Lakeside Marine. “I’ve always used him,” Alverson says. “He’s timely, responsive, fair and knowledgeable.”

Alverson lives in Pine Harbor but stores his boat at another location, and Davis handles the twice-a-year maintenance for him. “The type of boat I have is called an inboard/outboard, where the engine is inside the boat, but the foot and propeller are in the water,” he says. “The motor takes in water to cool it, and everything has to be drained and winterized. In the summer he changes the oil and goes over the entire boat. This coming spring, he’ll have to fix the speedometer for me.”

Like the McBriers, Alverson enjoys the convenience that Paul’s service affords him. “He just goes where it is stored, uncovers it, works on it, covers it back up. Then he emails me an invoice, and with a few clicks, I pay the bill online. At the end of the day, most people don’t know the ins and outs of a boat, but Paul certainly does.”

Red Hill Farms

Historic legacy and new traditions all in one

Story by Carol Pappas
Photos by MeghanFrondorf

Meander around the one-lane road that winds through Red Hill Farms, passing the cows, the hogs and the goats in this pastoral setting, and you can’t help but notice the water as the ideal backdrop to make the scene complete.

“We didn’t come to the river,” said Vaughan Bryant, who owns the farm with wife Christa. “The river came to us.”

But there it is, a panoramic reflection of glistening sunrises and sunsets bordering a 150-acre farm that has been in the family for three generations now.

When his grandfather bought the land in 1941, it was because the Army had decided to expand Pelham Range near Anniston, which needed the land where his Ohatchee farm stood. He found suitable land in Cropwell and while there was a stream that flowed nearby called Fountain Run, it would not be until 1965 when Logan Martin Lake was created that water would surround it.

For the Bryants, it has become the best of both worlds – lake living and farm life all rolled into one perfect package.

Most Saturday mornings, lake residents and others from around these parts have a new tradition – getting a glimpse of farm life and an unrivaled taste of it they can take home with them. That’s when they open the door of their garage to market what they’ve raised – USDA grass-fed beef and free-range pork – packaged in freezers that line the interior walls.

Vaughan Bryant shows off Red Hill’s wares.

Pull up in the driveway of their lakeside home, and you’re immediately met by the farm’s official greeters, dogs Koda and Piper. The wag of their tails is a pretty good indicator they’re glad you came. They’ll even escort you all the way into the garage for a browsing session.

Beef and pork roasts, ribs, kabobs, steaks of all descriptions – filets, strips, T-bones, flank and bone-in ribeye – await. So do liver, cubed steak and ground beef. When the pork is in, usually in the spring, look for sausage, bacon and cubed ham – ideal for any table.

The concept isn’t much different than his grandfather, James Michael Bryant, who raised cotton, honey, pork, poultry, cows and vegetables and peddled what he could on the square in Anniston. The modern-day Bryants concentrate on beef and pork. But instead of selling at market, they sell directly to the customer – they take orders online (but don’t ship), they sell by appointment and through their Saturday morning markets.

And they ensure satisfied customers by providing healthier, better tasting eating choices.

In the “About Our Farm” section of their website, redhillfarms.com, they say: “We believe that contented animals produce a superior product, so we strive for a low-stress environment emphasizing the humane treatment of our livestock.

“When you choose to eat meat from animals raised on pasture, you are improving the welfare of the animals, helping put an end to environmental degradation, helping small-scale farmers, sustaining rural communities and giving your family the healthiest food possible.”

It’s not a big money-maker, they said, but direct-to-consumer helps them capture a little bit of the market while creating a win-win situation. “It’s good for the public,” said Christa. There are no antibiotics or hormones used. “The meat is much healthier than grain-fed beef,” added Vaughan.

Noting that Red Hill’s livestock are raised in a natural, healthy and humane way, Christa pointed out that with all the preservatives used in traditional markets, “we don’t know what we’re putting in our bodies.” Customers have responded. Some even get the rest of their groceries in a regular store but opt for Red Hill Farms for their meat.

They choose their breeds wisely to produce the best possible meat. They have gone from Hereford to Black Angus to South Poll, which is a composite breed developed by Teddy Gentry, bass player of the country music group, Alabama.

Gentry’s aim – as is the Bryants – was to raise a more heat-tolerant animal with a gentle disposition to produce tender beef by feeding on grass. Their newest breed, South Poll, finishes on grass and is a cross between Red Angus, Hereford, Senepol and Barzona.

“The South Poll breed is easy to raise, has a docile temperament, slick-haired, fertile, and mama cows stay in production longer than straight-bred English cattle,” Vaughan said. “Finishing on grass, their meat can be as tender or more tender than commodity beef.”

It’s a more natural way to raise cattle. They call it, “Keeping the Creator’s design in mind.”

Raising a farmer

Livestock isn’t the only thing raised on the farm. Vaughan and Christa talked of raising generations who know the value in the land and the joys of raising them to appreciate those values.

He vividly remembers one of his first chores on the family farm in Cropwell. He would dutifully gather eggs each day and make sure the chickens were watered and fed when he got home from school.

One of six children, he was second to youngest. His older brothers “saw to the cows. As time went on, I moved up to cow feeding, too,” he said. But his fledgling aspirations were a little loftier, he recalled. One day his brothers were loading hay, and he would hear them “shouting and carrying on” in what he perceived as more of a fun time than he was having rolling the bales of hay into a single line. “They wanted it in one line so they wouldn’t have to walk as far.”

He thought that would be a much easier route than rolling all those bales. An older, wiser Bryant surmised: “When you get there, you understand why they were shouting and carrying on. It’s hard work, rolling, tossing and baling hay.”

But hard work never deterred him. “I always felt like I wanted to be on the farm,” he said. “I was the only one who stayed. I always wanted to do something on the farm.” Initially, he stayed on the farm to help his father, David Bryant. The elder Bryant left a good portion of the farm to him, the younger Bryant and his wife, Christa, added to the acreage and now farm about 150 acres.

“I would like to think he’s happiest with me, but the truth is he’s happiest on the tractor outside,” Christa said with a smile. “I didn’t see it as work,” her husband added.

Christa’s no stranger to farm work herself. An educator by trade – who served as coordinator of Federal Programs and personnel director the Pell City School System before her retirement – grew up on a 10-acre farm in Coal City, she said. “But this was definitely a different life for me.”

Her father worked at Bynum, was home every day at 4, and they ate dinner together as a family. When she married Vaughan, she quickly learned that farming meant “staying until everything gets done,” so it may be well after dark before he was able to make it to the dinner table.

She was a quick learner, Vaughan noted, recalling the time she “took a trailer loaded with cattle and headed over the mountain with Daddy.”

A solid work ethic, perseverance and dedication to the job at hand are but a few of the legacies handed down to Christa and Vauhan’s generation from life on the farm. And they, in turn, passed them on to their children – Martin and Meredith. “It taught both children good skills,” Christa said. “It built their character. It wasn’t always easy.”

Sharing the good life

Vaughan and Christa recognize their good fortune in farm life and lake life, and they share both with travelers from nearby towns and places around the world. Vaughan’s father had sold a small parcel of land to a man who wanted to build a cabin on the lake.

The cabin has a perfect setting for guests

So, he built a 400-square-foot, one-bedroom, one-bath cabin. When it came time to sell, it was too small a parcel for the cabin so the land could sell, and the Bryants bought it back. “I jacked it up (the cabin) and dragged it across the pasture and set it right here,” he said, pointing to the quaint little wooden cabin nestled under a grove of trees on a bank of Rabbit Branch.It’s an ideal setting.Farmland stretches out in front, cattle grazing nearby, and the lake is its backyard.

They have been sharing it as a rental since 1992, and it has been the setting for peaceful getaways, weddings and other gatherings.

A longtime resident there was Joey Nania, who wanted to learn to fish Logan Martin and dreamed of being the youngest Bassmaster champion. He was from Washington state, and the lake had hosted a couple of Bassmaster Classics. Nania’s father called Vaughan and asked if he could rent the cabin while learning to fish the lake.

Nania met his wife-to-be in Pell City and stayed. They held their wedding at the cabin, and Nania earned some championships along the way to becoming a noted fishing guide on Logan Martin and other Coosa River lakes.

“Through farming and the cabin,” Christa said, “we have met some really neat people and established friendships along the way. It has really been cool.”

Catching the Coosa January 2022

By Zeke Gossett

On Logan Martin

A squarebill is a great way to trigger those lethargic fish.

January and February can produce some of coldest water anglers see all year long, but that doesn’t mean the fish stop eating.

This time of year, I use a couple of different approaches when fishing Logan Martin. The first approach consists of fishing shallow around main lake rock and wood. I usually attack this with two baits. My first go-to bait is a squarebill crankbait. The squarebill is like the four-wheel drive of crankbaits, and I throw it as tight to the cover as I can without getting hung. A squarebill is a great way to trigger those lethargic fish holding tight to cover.

The second option is a finesse jig. The Strike King Bitsy flip jig is an awesome option for this style of fishing. This jig comes in and out of cover well and has a big enough hook to flip with bigger line. I usually flip this in laydown trees and around docks near deep water.

Another approach is to fish for suspended fish out in the middle of creek channels or humps close to deep water. Looking at and catching fish located on your electronic units is a fun way to fish and something that may take some time to learn.

Look for birds diving in the middle of the lake. They will show where the bait fish are, and active fish are usually feeding on these bait fish most of the time. My boat will sometimes sit in water as deep as 50 feet but most of the time you will find fish in the 10 to 20-foot zone.

The two baits I use for this is a Strike King Baby Z-Too soft jerkbait on a 3/16 oz. ball jig head. The other bait I use is a deep-diving jerkbait. The jerkbait is perfect for mimicking those dying bait fish the fish are feeding on.

On Neely Henry

Neely Henry is a great wintertime fishery.

Throwing a squarebill crankbait or flat-sided crankbait is an excellent option when looking for bass on Neely Henry this time of year.

I usually look for bluff walls and any type of rip rap around bridges. I usually use red colors when the water is dingy and more natural colors like brown and baitfish colors when the water has less stain.

I always have the Strike King Bitsy Flip jig on hand, as well, in case there is a laydown log or dock I pass by. I mainly focus on the crankbait since it triggers those fish to bite when it’s especially cold, and it also allows me to cover a lot of water.

Look for baitfish when running this pattern and chase the wind if there is any. Keeping your approach simple will give you success on Neely Henry during these months.

For more info, check out Zeke Gossett’s Fishing Guide website!

In the Kitchen: Deborah Mattison and Ronnie Harkins

Story Scottie Vickery
Photos by Kelsey Bain

Ten years after buying their dream house on Logan Martin Lake, Deborah Mattison and her husband, Ronnie Harkins, created an outdoor oasis that made their own piece of paradise even dreamier.

After removing the concrete slab that was their patio, the couple created a backyard haven, complete with a cozy fireplace, covered sitting and dining areas, and an outdoor kitchen that rivals many of its indoor counterparts.

“It’s like having another living space, and it’s opened up so many possibilities,” Deborah said. “This makes it so much easier to entertain.”

Like many home-renovation projects, the outdoor living area started with a small idea that took on a life of its own. “I wanted an outdoor fireplace, and it grew from there,” Ronnie said. Four years later, he and Deborah are thrilled that it did.

“I have a stressful job,” said Deborah, an attorney who represents children with disabilities in special education matters. “When I get home from work, we come out here more nights than not and just look at the lake and relax. Being on the lake is really calming.”

Dining al fresco

Although Deborah is the chief cook, Ronnie said he handles the grilling. These days, they eat a lot of fish and chicken, so both the Coyote Grill and Big Green Egg get quite a workout. The outdoor kitchen also features two burners, an infrared cooker, a mini fridge, sink and lots of storage space.

One of their favorite recipes is Cedar Plank Salmon. “For some reason, cooking salmon on a plank makes the fish incredibly tender,” Deborah said, adding that they always keep cedar planks on hand.

She often pairs the salmon with Whole Artichokes with Aioli Sauce. “Artichokes are a unique vegetable with many health benefits,” she said. “They’re low in fat and high in fiber, minerals and vitamins C and K. Most people only eat them in dips, but they are delicious whole.”

They were also part of the very first meal she made for Ronnie when they were dating. “I made him crab cakes and an artichoke. I hoped the artichoke would make me look sophisticated,” she said with a laugh.

The couple met on a dating website and got married in 2002. “He was the first person I ever met online,” she said. She was intrigued that Ronnie, who had long served as chief financial officer for Central Alabama Community College, had started law school one month shy of his 50^th birthday.

That, coupled with the fact that his profile picture showed him in front of a floor-to-ceiling bookcase that held many photos of his family, sealed the deal for Deborah. “I thought Ronnie looked smart and interesting,” she said.

Ronnie, who began practicing law in Sylacauga in 2005 before retiring two years ago, remembers being fascinated by her work and some of her cases. “Early on, she had a case that went to the United States Supreme Court,” he said. “I tagged along with her, and with me attending law school, that was very interesting.”

A piece of paradise

Deborah, who grew up in Michigan, lived on a lake before moving to Alabama in 1993. She didn’t want to give up the lake lifestyle, so she looked for a home on the water that wasn’t too far from her office in downtown Birmingham.

Her first home was on the Talladega side of the lake, and when they married, Ronnie sold his home in Childersburg and soon fell in love with lake living as well. They began looking for a new house and spent a lot of time on the pontoon boat searching for the perfect place and debating whether to renovate Deborah’s home, buy a new house or build. “We used to ride around all the time looking at houses and lots,” Ronnie said. “This was our dream home.”

Around that time, Ronnie’s cousin, Charlie Pepper, and his wife, Willie, moved home from California to help care for their elderly parents. They invited Ronnie and Deborah to dinner, and the couple did a double take when they arrived. “They had our house,” Deborah said.

Ronnie said the visit came at a time when they had gotten serious about finding a new home and had actually looked at six or eight houses that day. “When we got here that night to see Charlie and Willie, it emphasized our love of the house,” he said. “It has lots of windows and 14-foot ceilings in several of the rooms and an open plan.”

The Peppers knew they would eventually return to California, and “they told us they would give us the first opportunity to buy it,” Ronnie said. “We decided it was worth the wait.”

The 4-bedroom house in Pell City is just across from Bird Island and sits on 4½ acres on the point. It boasts 800 feet of seawall and has tremendous views from every vantage point. “You can see the water from every room in the house,” Deborah said.

Making it their own

Over the years, Deborah and Ronnie have renovated parts of the home to make it a better space for entertaining. They updated the kitchen and master bathroom and transformed an office just off the foyer into a small sitting room where they spend most of their time when they’re inside.

They converted a double closet to create the room’s focal point, a beautiful bar area featuring an antique chest flanked with built-in wine racks and topped with granite. An antique mirror and shelves holding glasses and bottles rests on top. In addition, they switched their living room and dining room to create more space for a larger table, which seats 10 people.

Although they like having guests, Deborah also enjoys preparing meals for just the two of them. “I love to cook,” she said. “While I often use recipes for ideas, I typically don’t measure anything, I eyeball it – unless I’m baking, which I very seldom do. I measure then because I don’t have enough of a feel for baking to use my own judgement.”

One thing she swears by is using fresh herbs, which she grows herself. “I grow a ton of herbs – mint, chives, rosemary, oregano, thyme,” she said. “Alabama has such a great growing season, and since these are perennial herbs, you don’t have to do anything but stick them in the pot and let them grow year-round.”

Now that Ronnie has retired, they have started gardening, too. He built some raised beds last year for tomatoes, radishes, onions, summer squash and bell peppers. They also have eight blueberry bushes. “I eat them just about every day when they are in season,” Ronnie said.

The great outdoors

The addition of the kitchen and living area has extended the “outdoor season” for Deborah and Ronnie, allowing them to enjoy lake life even more. They often host football parties and dinners for family and friends, and they find themselves heading outside even during the colder months.

“We love the fireplace at night,” Deborah said, adding that it’s especially cozy when there’s a nip in the air. “I put blankets in the dryer to warm them up, and then we sit in front of the fire for quite a while. It’s like being on vacation.”

Cedar Plank Salmon

Serves 2.

Ingredients:

2 salmon filets
1/8 cup Garlic Expressions Vinaigrette, Dressing & Marinade (or any preferred vinaigrette dressing)
1/8 cup soy sauce (optional)
Lemon slices
Capers (optional)
1 cedar plank board, soaked in water for about an hour.

Directions:

Marinate the filets for about an hour in the Garlic Expressions and soy sauce. I use a plastic sandwich bag and turn it over after 30 minutes.

Drain the cedar board and place the board on a grill set at 350 degrees for 3 minutes. Turn the plank over on the grill and place the salmon on it. Cook the salmon for 8 to 15 minutes, depending on how well cooked you like your salmon.

Remove the plank from the grill and plate the salmon. Garnish with lemon and capers. We sometimes add butter and/or marinated ginger.

Whole Artichokes with Aioli Sauce

While we like our artichokes with an aioli sauce, they pair well with many dips, such as a butter and lemon sauce or ranch dressing.

Ingredients:

1 artichoke per person
Lemon (optional)
Garlic (optional)
Bay leaf (optional)

Directions for Cooking and Eating:

When picking an artichoke, squeeze it to make sure it is firm, and the leaves are tight.

Trim the stem and cut off the small leaves at the bottom of the artichoke. Trim the first inch off the top (the pointy ends of the leaves).

Steam the artichoke for about 30 minutes. You can also add lemon and/or garlic and/or a bay leaf to the water for added taste. An artichoke is done when you can easily pull out one of the outer leaves. Drain the artichoke.

To eat the artichoke, pull off an outer leaf and dip it into the aioli sauce. Place the tender (lighter) side of a leaf on your bottom front teeth, bite gently down and pull it through your teeth, scrapping off the tender part of the leaf. Discard the remainder of the leaf.

Continue with the remaining leaves until you reach the fuzzy part of the artichoke, called the “choke.” Scrape out the fuzzy choke and discard. The remaining part is the artichoke “heart,” and it is completely edible, using the reminder of the dip.

Aioli Sauce

This is a very versatile sauce and can be used with fries, burgers or salmon. Consider adding any of the following: horseradish, Dijon or stone-ground mustard, pesto or basil, chives and/or chipotle.

Ingredients:

½ cup of mayonnaise
3 cloves of garlic, use more or less to taste
1-2 tablespoons of fresh lemon sauce, to taste
Coarse salt and pepper, to taste

Directions:

Mix the ingredients and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes. Enjoy!

Little Bridge connects history, communities

Story Katie Bohannon
Submitted photos

While in 2022 Little Bridge’s eye-catching arches coincide with a beloved Etowah County restaurant and marina, 82 years ago Gilbert’s Ferry Bridge first served as a gateway between sister cities – sparking a unified narrative its presence nurtures today.

June 17, 1939, signified the official opening of a bridge that would bear many names in its lifetime. The late 1930s referred to the passage as Gilbert’s Ferry Bridge, a structure 864 feet in length supported with a trio of concrete piers and foundations resting on solid rock. Former Southside Mayor Jane Keenum remembered the bridge’s opening in 1939, sharing her experience in a Gadsden Times article celebrating the city’s 40^th anniversary. Keenum noted that the bridge was designed to turn to allow boats to pass through.

The bridge earned its original namesake from the surge of transportation in Southside that flourished on the Coosa River in ferries. Though Gilbert’s Ferry was the largest, Lister Ferry boated routes to Rainbow City, and Fowler Ferry traveled from Pilgrims Rest to Whorton Bend – all communities the bridge continues to serve years after its construction.

“These old ferries brought out a lazy feeling around summer, when one would doze off in the early afternoon holding a fishing pole,” said Etowah County historian Danny Crownover, detailing how the operations influenced life on the Coosa. “It was living just like Huckleberry Finn!”

In a 2013 article for The Messenger, Crownover referenced 1963 Assistant County Engineer Paul Ryan’s perception of the Coosa’s ferries, which he coined as the “only means of transportation for people who live near the banks of the river.” The ferries proved vital for Southside and Rainbow City residents, saving them a 15 to 30-mile trip to either Gadsden or Leesburg to cross the Coosa River.

State Rep. Joe Ford demonstrates the narrowness of the bridge, which was too tight for two school buses to pass one another.

“In many instances, a family lives on one side of the river and works a crop on the other side,” said Ryan. “It would take them a long time to get to their fields if they had to drive it. By using a ferry, they can make the trip in a matter of minutes.”

Former Southside Mayor Eddie Hedgspeth told reporter Lisa Rodgers that his great-grandfather Mark H. Smith ran Gilbert’s Ferry for 30 years, during a time when buggies were charged 50 cents, wagons cost 25 cents, horseback riders were 10 cents and individuals could pay 5 cents to cross the river. When Smith sold the ferry to the county, rides became free.

Smith’s feet waded into the past and the future of river transportation. Though his ferry represented a way of life for Etowah County, he later donated land on both sides of the Coosa to build Gilbert’s Ferry Bridge, introducing a new age on the river for residents.

Fluctuation in water levels following Alabama Power Company’s development of the Coosa River and Etowah County’s blueprints for bridges (to take the place of ferries) phased out the memorable Mark Twain era. Some 20 years following the debut of Gilbert’s Ferry Bridge, an Alabama Power Company construction program erected the H. Neely Henry, Weiss, Logan Martin and Bouldin dams.

Little Bridge Marina owner Craig Inzer, Jr., recalled stories he heard of Etowah County residents who were instrumental in the transformation of the land beneath Gilbert’s Ferry Bridge. When Lawyer Rowan Bone and businessman Jay Troutman learned of the water level’s increase due to the dams during the 1960s, they decided to move their land into the future.

“They dug that farmland up and put dirt where the road is (now),” said Inzer. “They put boat slips in, so when the water came up, they had boat slips (and were prepared).”

Since its inception, Gilbert’s Ferry Bridge played a pivotal role in the relationship between two mirroring municipalities in Etowah County, connecting Rainbow City and Southside. The year 1850 witnessed the small agricultural merger of Pilgrims Rest, Cedar Bend and Green Valley, giving birth to Southside. The “loveliest village on the Coosa,” settles at the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, resting along the banks of the river.

Green Valley proved the catalyst for the city’s industry with its grist, blacksmith and sorghum mill, while Brannon Springs and Alabama 77 operated a cotton gin. Like its bridge, the community hopped from name to name until Southside stuck in the 1920s and became incorporated in 1957.

Rainbow City’s rolling green hills were home to one of the earliest settlements in Etowah County with families from Georgia and North and South Carolina migrating to Alabama to put down roots in the early 1800s. According to the city’s history, Hernando DeSoto’s troops first visited the area in 1540. Where the Pensacola Trading Path crossed the Coosa, a bridge now stands. Incorporated in 1950, Rainbow City houses numerous thriving businesses alongside Southside, with its current mayors and administration working hand in hand to foster prosperity for its citizens.

The narrow Gilbert’s Ferry Bridge, now referred to as the Southside Bridge or lovingly called Little Bridge, once welcomed traffic to and from Southside. Its cramped two-lane space proved too constricting for vehicles, with photographs highlighting how local school buses barely scraped past one another.

During the late 1970s, Southside secured a $7-million bond project and constructed a new bridge to serve as the southbound lane between cities. This bridge is now a two-lane entrance and exit to the city.

Today, Little Bridge remains solely a northbound lane on Alabama 77 with residents driving over generations of history – traveling to and from prominent communities, illustrating the unified spirit of Etowah County each time they pass underneath its arches.

Editor’s Note: Gadsden Public Library staff Craig Scott, Kevin Graves and Debbie Walker contributed to this article, along with Craig Inzer, Jr., and Danny Crownover, City of Rainbow City and the City of Southside.

Rocking the Banks of Greensport

Entertains, builds momentum

Story by Eryn Ellard
Photos by Meghan Frondorf and Mackenzie Free

Entertainment took top billing with featured bands, Confederate Railroad, $till Broke and Sweet Tea Trio

What began the day as a fall festival turned into an unforgettable concert by evening, entertaining crowds throughout despite an uncooperative Mother Nature at times.

It was Greensport Marina’s inaugural Rocking the Banks of Greensport music festival, debuting Oct. 30, and it did not disappoint for those who turned out. Headlined by Confederate Railroad, Sweet Tea Trio and $tillbroke bands, it was an ideal venue for a memorable evening, even with colder weather and periods of rain coming in.

Music, lights, plenty of food and beverages and a lakeside view, it had all the makings of a destination point that should see crowds return and grow, especially since organizers are planning to move it to a warmer weather month.

The place

Nestled in the rolling hills of Ashville along the banks of Neely Henry Lake lies Greensport Marina, a sprawling family-owned venue that draws in tourists and regulars alike. Greensport is now home to almost 100 RV spaces with hookups and high-speed internet access.

Owner and marketing specialist Stephanie Evans said the marina is at 90% capacity during peak season weekdays and 100% for peak season weekends. It features an in-ground pool, beach area and large pavilion used for events and weddings.

When she and her husband began running the marina in 2020, she wanted to upgrade amenities, such as the pool and pavilion addition, that would be home to a secure and safe family-friendly environment.

Making it happen

Planning for Rocking the Banks of Greensport began in early July with securing the musical talent. “We wanted a lot of energy and excitement,” Evans said. Longtime musician and family friend, Johnny Adams, with the popular band, $tillbroke, helped to secure contracts for the bands and equipment.

After the bands were secured, it was nonstop planning for the event. “Every day was consumed by preparing, advertising and planning from that point forward along with the marina’s normal business operations,” Evans said. Local radio stations along with social media helped get the word out about the concert and fall festival. There was a costume contest, and over 50 vendors were in attendance – peddling everything from crafts, one-of-a-kind gifts, and of course, food trucks were in abundance.

The weather on Halloween weekend turned out to be less than kind, but Confederate Railroad, $tillbroke and Sweet Tea Trio still rocked for the crowds that came out to enjoy the concert.

“Despite the extreme cold and rain, we still had a large number of people to show up and enjoy,” Evans said. “It also gave us the opportunity to see what worked great and areas we need to improve on with a large number of attendees.” Evans noted that those in attendance thoroughly enjoyed the entertainment.

Room to grow

Also located on-site is a large open field that is gently sloped, easily setting up as a beautiful, natural amphitheater. Evans noted that space could hold 10,000 people comfortably. “Our ultimate goal is to provide a beautiful venue with high-end performers, and to attract people to come within a three-hour radius of the marina. “We want every event, large or small, to be enjoyable so that everyone will want to return for the next.”

There are plans to hold the second annual Rocking the Banks of Greensport in June of 2022 rather than in the fall. One of their ultimate goals is to one day have Kid Rock perform.

St. Clair County Tourism Coordinator Blair Goodgame said events like Rocking the Banks are a crucial part of local tourism in the area and are vital to improving the quality of life in St. Clair County. “Events like these bring new people to the area, and we know once they visit, they will want to come back again and again,” Goodgame said.

Looking forward to 2022, Goodgame said she can’t wait for the June concert at Greensport. “With the summer heat and kids out of school, even more people will be looking to road trip to places like Greensport.” Goodgame also noted that there are also so many other things to do at Greensport, such as kayaking, picnicking, sampling local cuisine, among other things. “That’s the beauty of St. Clair – you always get more than you expect here.”

Sea-Doo Switch

Sea-Doo has introduced the Switch, a value-priced hybrid between a personal watercraft and a pontoon boat. Big #1 Motorsports in Homewood will have this unique watercraft on sale for 2022. The Sea-Doo Switch can seat five to nine people and has three driving modes, intelligent brake and reverse, and a modular deck system to allow for different configurations. It’s the fun and maneuverability of a personal watercraft combined with the open platform and entertainment features of a pontoon design.

All Switch boats come with a trailer as part of the package.

Visit the Sea-Doo website for more

Yamaha WaveRunner

SpeedZone Motorsports has stores in Gadsden and Oxford. Alongside their OHV vehicles, they also sell personal watercraft, and the Yamaha WaveRunner is always a popular seller. For 2022, Yamaha is focusing on its Freestyle Series, with some models designed to be driven from the standing position.

The lightweight JetBlaster features wider handlebars for a firm grip on the action, foot chocks to keep you planted when pulling off tricks and a custom-tuned electric trim to dial in the ride. The Yamaha SuperJet continues to reign supreme as the industry’s leading stand-up model with a four-stroke engine and lightweight hull.

Visit the Yamaha WaveRunner website for more

Avalon Waketoon Pontoon Boat

Poor House Branch Marina on Logan Martin Lake has been one of the top Avalon boat dealers for years. And in an age where people want it all on one boat, Avalon has introduced the Waketoon.

The new Avalon watercraft combines comfort of a performance pontoon and surfing capabilities of a wakesurf boat. Still classified as a true performance pontoon boat with no monohull, Waketoon offers all of the modern amenities that today’s consumers expect, including a comfortable ride at all speeds, optimal wave handling and ample room for entertaining friends and family.

What differentiates this unique craft is a new patent-pending pontoon design with an integrated rocker and shaper along with contoured wake plates to enable desirable waterflow. There is no heavy ballast tank system, which leads to improved overall handling and the elimination of a time-consuming fill-and-drain process.

Visit Avalon Boats website for more

Barletta Pontoon Boats

Rambo Marine also carries the Barletta line of pontoon boats. Designed with you and your on-water experience, in mind, the Barletta Lusso models offer something for everyone. A classic and stylish rail-set, ultra-soft and ultra-comfortable furniture, a sleek helm loaded with technology and legroom, pet-friendly amenities … the list goes on and on. Other Barletta models cover the spread, from sport designs all the way to luxury entertainment setups and features like power Bimini top, extended swim deck, and more – even a teak decking upgrade is available.

Visit the Barletta website for more