Remember When: Memories of Avondale Lake



Story by Leigh Pritchett
Photos from Phyllis Murphy; John Lonergan Jr.; Vicki Davis Mize
(her collection from her time growing up across from Avondale Lake)

From his back deck, Thomas Ingram Jr. can look through treetops to a spot far down the shore of Logan Martin Lake and see Avondale Lake.

Or rather, he can see where Avondale Lake was when he was a boy.

“Growing up, we had free range to roam,” said Ingram. He would walk or ride his bicycle across his family’s farmland to get to Avondale Lake.

Ingram lives in Pell City on a portion of that same farmland. Now, though, acres upon acres of Logan Martin cover most of the farmland and have engulfed Avondale Lake.

John Lonergan (left) on an inner tube at Avondale Lake with cousins Tom Lovell (center) and Sandra Skelton (right).

The one part of Avondale Lake that did not disappear when Logan Martin formed are the memories of fun, adventure and special times that happened there.

“I have a vivid memory of it,” Gerald Ensley of Cropwell said about Avondale Lake. “I can see it all.”

Avondale Lake and a large farm surrounding it were the property of Avondale Mills in Pell City. Avondale Mills purchased them from Grover C. Waite, the Easonville businessman who had developed the lake, notes the May 19, 1955, St. Clair News-Aegis.

According to a 1947 issue of Avondale Sun (the newspaper for Avondale Mills), Avondale Lake was about 15 acres in size. It had been acquired “chiefly” as a water source for the Pell City plant, yet quickly had become a popular recreation site.

The lake, its recreational amenities and the dairy that operated on farmland at the lake were added to a long list of provisions that Avondale Mills gave employees of the Pell City plant. Numerous sources said the company provided houses in the “Mill Village,” a hospital, school, laundry, barbershop, clubhouse with concessions, sports facility and activities, outdoor movies and entertainment and cookouts, among others.

“They took care of everybody,” said Ensley, a member of a mill family and a mill worker himself for a time. “… They were good neighbors to the town.”

Pete Rich, whose mother Pauline, taught decades of children in Avondale Mills’ kindergarten, agreed. “The Comers – they really cared about people.”

(The Comer family owned the mill; Comer Avenue in Pell City is named for them.)

David Murphy of Pell City, whose work at Avondale Mills covered decades and two states, said the company established recreation areas wherever it had a plant. For many years, the company also operated Camp Helen, a retreat in Panama City, Fla., that offered an affordable family vacation option to Avondale Mills employees.

Rich was a lifeguard at Avondale Lake during high school and at Camp Helen while in college. He described Avondale Lake as “a busy place,” where people could swim, fish, picnic, bowl and camp out as scouts.

“You could play volleyball, badminton, horseshoes,” added Ingram, a historian and retired educator who taught at Avondale School early in his career.

Joann Winnette of Pell City said the building that housed the bowling alley also included dressing rooms, a concession area and a dance floor with a jukebox. When she went to the lake as a young girl, “the only restroom at that time was a two-holer (outhouse),” she said with a laugh.

At the lake were a dock, diving board and paddle boats. The picnic area, with pavilions and barbecue pit, was a frequent meeting place for scouts, 4-H Clubs and other groups, Ingram said.

Vicki Davis Mize, Julia Skelton and David Murphy’s wife, Phyllis, each remember going there for church picnics. Phyllis Murphy said a creek served as a refrigerator to cool the watermelons.

“Occasionally, we went there as a class,” Mary Isbell of Pell City said about students at Easonville School, where her dad, Lester Bryant, was principal. “… (Highway) 231 wasn’t even a paved road then.”

Rich emphasized that it was quite an attraction. “Avondale Lake was a big thing. … It was about the only place there was back then.”

Ingram said Avondale Lake drew visitors from other areas. “People came all the way from Sylacauga up here to go to the lake.”

Old Davis store

The Avondale Sun article goes even further, calling the lake “one of the most popular spots in Alabama for persons seeking relaxation and pleasure.”

Even though Avondale Lake was technically for mill employees and their families, “the whole community from Mount Pisgah to Cropwell went,” said Randall Harmon of Cook Springs. “… It was just a good place to hang out for young kids.”

Many of Harmon’s youthful, summer days were spent swimming at Avondale Lake. He lived in the Mount Pisgah-Easonville area at the time and would hitchhike on Old 231, when necessary, to get to the lake. “It was safe to do stuff like that then.”

Around 1947 or 1948, Avondale Mills bought a school bus and provided a shuttle service from the Mill Village to Avondale Lake during the summer, Ensley said. “Jellybean” Clemons drove the bus and transported families to Camp Helen.

Avondale Lake “was a pretty nice place in those days,” said John Lonergan Jr. of Chula Vista. “… I went there from the time I was old enough to wade in the water until I was 8. I learned to swim there, too.”

Lonergan once rode his bicycle on Old 231 all the way from the Mill Village, where he lived, to Avondale Lake. The only reason he stopped going regularly to the lake was because the City of Pell City, in the 1950s, built a pool on 19th Street South. The pool was not far from the Mill Village.

While Avondale Lake was a fun place to Lonergan, he said he also had a harrowing experience. One day, he fell off the inner tube on which he had been floating. He remembers being on the bottom of the lake looking up and a lifeguard pulling him to safety. He believes that lifeguard was either Pete Rich or French Whitten.

Phyllis Murphy reminisced about special times of being at the lake with her sister Joan Deason and their dad, Norman Smith. “We were little. Daddy would usually swim with us.”

Many churches, Winnette said, held baptismal services at the lake. “Nobody, except maybe First Baptist, had baptistries at that time.”

Winnette, Harmon, Isbell and Mize are a few who were baptized in Avondale Lake. Winnette, in fact, was baptized when it was Waite’s Lake before Avondale Mills acquired and renamed it.

“Lots of people in Pell City were baptized there at Avondale Lake,” Mize said. “I have a picture of my daddy (the Rev. Harvey L. Davis) baptizing me at Avondale Lake.”

A useful resource, too

Not only did the lake property provide outdoor recreation and dairy pastureland, but it also boasted a working grist mill. The mill was situated next to a spillway of the lake.

“We would shell our corn in the barn, put it in a tow sack, and we would take it down and grind it on the shares,” Ingram said. (“On the shares,” he explained, meant the grist mill received a portion of the ground corn as payment for services rendered.)

People could stand on a ramp at the mill to watch lake water rush in from the spillway to turn the mechanisms that ground their corn, Ingram explained. Afterward, the water was discharged down a steep slope into a creek.

“Now, that was fascinating,” Winnette recalled.

What was even more intriguing to Ingram was the replica of a World War II B-29 bomber hanging over the grist mill doorway. Ingram said the replica was six to eight feet in length with an impressive wingspan. He wanted that model badly. “But they wouldn’t let me have it.”

Adventures aplenty

The memories that Glenn Evans of Pell City has about Avondale Lake are of the hours spent hunting on some rear acreage. He said his dad, James Evans, who was plant manager at Avondale Mills, would let him hunt there occasionally in the late 1960s.

Ingram, too, has Avondale Lake hunting stories – one in particular about opposum-hunting with his uncle Grant Watson. He said Watson put the captured critters in a croaker sack that Watson flung over his back. That was until the opposums grew antsy and began biting Watson through the bag.

A portion of River Oaks now overlooks the old lake

One of Avondale Lake’s more slithery characteristics was its snake population.

Mize, who does not like snakes at all, is amazed that she could enjoy swimming in the lake. Jokingly, she said, “Nine-thousand snakes were killed in that lake.”

The environs had their share, too.

Lonergan said he was walking with a group one night on the road around the grist mill and saw 13 snakes.

It was not unusual, Ingram said, to see snakes in the vicinity of the scout camp – the same area where he and others would soon be sleeping on the ground in tents. “You’re camping out and snakes crawling around!”

Harmon had an up-close encounter when he and a friend went frog-gigging one time. In a flat-bottom boat left at Avondale Lake, the two friends floated along looking for frogs. As they did, a water moccasin kept circling the boat. Harmon’s friend got the bright idea to gig the snake. After he did, he held the snake right over the head of a surprised, scared and scrambling Harmon.

Spring-fed lake

Avondale Lake was clean, with fresh spring water flowing through it constantly, Harmon said.

“(It) had a lot of springs in it that were cold!” Winnette added.

The spring activity was quite visible, according to Ingram. “(You) could see water just bubbling up.”

The lake was a good fishing spot, too. Lonergan recounted a time that he fished at a second spillway at the back of Avondale Lake, caught a catfish and ate it for supper.

The second spillway drained excess water if the lake level rose too high, Ingram said. That spillway fed Harmon Lake, which was created when overflow from Avondale Lake was dammed. Tol and Stella Harmon owned the Harmon Lake property.

Beyond Harmon Lake laid Easonville Creek and then the Coosa River, which was narrow enough for Randall Harmon to swim across it as a boy. He explained that the spring water that fed Avondale Lake traveled from one waterway to the next until it eventually reached the river.

Although the spot where Avondale Lake sat is a distant sight from Ingram’s back yard, another portion of the Avondale Lake property is close and readily visible. Ingram pointed to houses directly across Logan Martin Lake and said that they sit right where Avondale Lake’s scout camp was.

Rich, Lonergan and Ensley – like Ingram – have adventures to tell about camping at Avondale Lake as scouts.

“I thought it was the most wonderful place in the world,” Ensley said, “especially for an old country boy who hadn’t been anywhere.”

Ensley said the scout camp existed many generations before Avondale Mills acquired it. When Avondale Mills bought the property from Waite, the camp had crude log cabins. Avondale Mills made improvements.

 Scouts from other parts of the country where Avondale Mills had plants would come to the camp too, Ensley said.

Arthur “Chick” Moore oversaw the camp property, as well as the lake and farmland, and had such an integral role that his name frequently is mentioned in Avondale Lake stories.

Ingram said Moore lived on the premises, and Mize said Moore and his wife hosted community gatherings at the lake.

Randall Harmon’s wife, Vicki, said Moore sat in a certain chair looking out at the lake while people were swimming. He was “always laughing and talking and carrying on with us.”

Moore would hire young people to work part time in the summer. Ensley got to be one of them, a “clean-up boy,” around 1953 or 1954.

As a child, Mize went to Avondale Lake “just about every day during the summertime.” Sometimes, her mother, Rebecca Davis, went along to fish. But Mize’s parents did not mind if Mize went to the lake unaccompanied because “they trusted Mr. Moore.”

The store that Mize’s parents operated – H.L. Davis General Merchandise – was right across the road from the lake’s gated entrance. The store was a frequent, snack-buying stop for lake visitors.

Cherished among Mize’s collection of photos of that time in her life is a picture of her dad reclining on a chaise lounge, the gate to Avondale Lake prominently in the background. She commissioned local artist Wayne Spradley to create for her a painting of the gate.

Just as the 1960s were a time of great revolution, drastic changes came to the landscape during that time.

In a project to develop the Coosa River, Alabama Power Company formed Logan Martin Lake and put Logan Martin Dam into operation in August 1964.

Logan Martin Lake grew vastly wider than the Coosa River had been, consuming great expanses of land and encapsulating both Avondale Lake and Harmon Lake.

H.L. Davis General Merchandise was under water. The home next to it – where Mize and her parents had lived – was sold to Ludford Harmon, who established a mobile home park. What once had been the driveway to the home became a boat ramp, Mize said.

As for the pastureland at Avondale Lake, Glenn Evans said it is now River Oaks subdivision. The deep part of Logan Martin Lake in the slough of River Oaks is Avondale Lake.

Avondale Mills continued to operate in Pell City for another four decades, before closing in 2006. Its altitudinous, brick smokestack and most of the buildings have since been demolished. The iconic water tower, though, still holds a prominent place in Pell City’s skyline.

The creation of Logan Martin Lake did claim a lot of farmland (hundreds of acres from Ingram’s family alone) and covered sites brimming with memories. But Ingram observed that much good came from it. The lake and dam now generate electricity for people in Alabama and other states. In addition, the lake is a popular fishing and recreational outlet that, in turn, generates revenue for local businesses.

“Alabama Power dammed it for a business venture, and it turned into much more than that,” Ingram said.

In many ways, he said, all the recreational and commercial benefits of Avondale Lake were just a “mini version” of what was to come with Logan Martin Lake.

Additional assistance with this article provided by Danny Stewart and Susan Mann of Pell City Library; Patti Sims and Linda Sims.

Boating history on Logan Martin



Story and photos by Graham Hadley
Submitted photos

It’s not unusual to see row after row of beautiful, new boats on display at Logan Martin’s LakeFest celebration. Dealers put the best they have on display for new and returning customers – everything from tritoons to the fastest bass boats on the lake.

But this year, a group of boating enthusiasts rivaled the new boats on display.

While new boats are beautiful in their own right, few draw the eyes of boating enthusiasts like the sleek lines of a pre-World-War-II , barrel-back vintage wood Chris Craft or the raked fiberglass hull and retro fins of a 1956 Sea Sabre.

The Logan Martin Antique and Classic Boat Show at LakeFest was a cooperative effort between Sam Marston, Paul Zimmerman, Ronnie Lyle, Brett Bell and others to show off their special watercraft and to talk to people about what it means to own, restore and maintain one of these beautiful boats.

Sam at the helm of his Chris Craft on Logan Martin Lake

Chris Craft Icons

This year, the group had 10 boats on display as part of their show, but the first two that usually turn heads are the stunningly maintained wooden Chris Craft boats. With their distinctive hull lines and wood decking with each plank outlined in white, Brett Bell’s 19-foot 1939 Barrel Back and Sam Marston’s 19-foot 1956 Christ Craft Capri are show-stoppers.

A“This boat is all original. It has been preserved, not restored,” Brett said, pointing out that a key to maintaining that is keeping the wood on the boat around water. “It can’t be allowed to dry out,” he said.

The boats are powered by inboard six-cylinder flathead Hercules engines, and while they are some of the most beautiful watercraft ever built, they do have their limitations. Both Sam and Brett say they are cruisers, with flat rounded bottoms, and are not really built for rough, choppy water.

“We run them on the lake early in the morning or in the late afternoons when the water is calmer,” Sam said.

Alongside Sam’s Capri is a special project of his. He had a matching one-person hydroplane built to match his bigger boat, right down to the wood decking. And though the little boat is not technically vintage, it looks right at home next to the other two Chris Craft.

Not all fiberglass and wood

Tucked in next to the wood boats is Sam’s personal favorite. Its simple metal design might be overlooked alongside the sculpted wooden hulls on one side and the retro-styled fiberglass boats on the other, but he says there is something special about his small, metal 12-foot Orlando Clipper runabout.

“The front plows up when you first start moving before it planes, and you can feel the water bouncing off the bottom of the hull under your feet,” he said.

He bought the boat in its current condition in 2004 from an ad in the Birmingham News. He had Mazda’s advertising moniker, “Zoom,

Zoom!” painted on the boat – explaining he loves the way it moves through the water. “It’s a great family boat. Lots of fun,” he said.

Ronnie and Pat Lyle’s 1952 12-foot Feather Craft Deluxe runabout sits next to the Orlando clipper. It’s metal hull painted a bright, fire-engine red with chrome accents and a matching red Mercury Mk 55 outboard.

It’s a bright, dashing contrast to the Orlando clipper next to it and is just as special to its owners – with careful attention to every detail, including the standout paint job and chrome trim on the Mercury outboard engine.

Vintage fiberglass boats

Retro Fiberglass Wonders

Starting in the 1950s, fiberglass was moving to replace wood and metal as the chief hull component for most recreational boats of all sizes because of its durability, ease and maintenance and the flexibility it gave designers.

That flexibility in design was very much on display at LakeFest with a number of classically retro boats, several sporting curved

windscreens and fins commonly found on cars of the day.

Ronnie and Pat’s 19-foot 1975 Aristocraft is a prime example, with its sliding canopy to provide shade from the sun while out on the lake and its teal on white color scheme.

Ronnie’s father had been a truck driver and delivered regularly to the plants in Atlanta where both their boats were built. “I always wanted one of these,” he said.

He has tried to keep the fiberglass boat as close to the original design as possible, though it is still a work in progress. There was a small fire in the engine compartment for the inboard/outboard that had done minor damage to the fiberglass that he is still working on making just right.

Still, the boat sports both the original Aristocraft badge and the dealer sticker on the side.

Another Aristocraft with similar styling was next in line and also still had the original badge on the site. This one is part of Paul Zimmerman’s collection. His Competitive Upholstery business has played a key role in his love of boats, not only filling his upholstery needs on personal restoration jobs but trading out work to acquire some of the boats in his collection, particularly from Buck’s Island in Southside.

Paul said he picked up some boats in much need of restoration from Buck’s in exchange for doing some work on their boats – an offer he was quick to take them up on.

Justin and Levi Driver and their Checkmate speed boat

Two of Paul’s boats at the show have some of the most distinctive sterns of any of the other fiberglass boats there, featuring large fins on the aft quarters. His red and white 1957 Larson Thunderhawk Jr. and teal 1957 Sea Sabre both draw heavily from the space-age car designs of the period, and not just with the fins. The boats are adorned with wrap-around wind screens and chrome trim and upholstery appropriate for the era. His wife, Ann, was quick to point out the teal Sea Sabre is her boat – a project she is extremely proud of.

The last boat in the lineup is another one from the Zimmerman family – a late 1960s or early 1970 orange Checkmate speed boat that has truly been a family project, with much of the work being done by Paul’s grandson, Levi Driver, with help from his friend Hayden Davis and dad, Justin.

“We took it out that first time and had the trim wrong on the motor, then trimmed it out and heard a big boom – our stainless prop was

A mishap the first time it went in the water cost them a prop.

just gone,” Levi said.

Despite that setback, they are well on their way to getting the boat ready to float again, and still adding touches, like a top-of-line sound system, underwater LED lights and other features.

Looking to grow

All of the members of the new Antique and Classic boat group, which now has a Facebook page, are looking forward to the group’s future. Several of them have numerous other project boats in the works, and they are also considering reaching out to vintage boat owners on other lakes to participate in future events.

The members are quick to point out – these boats are beautiful, but are also a labor of love, requiring lots of regular maintenance.

That has been one area where the members say the group has been particularly helpful – networking on which people and businesses are best suited to handle repairs and other work on their boat that are outside the scope of their ability to do themselves.

Sam and Ronnie said they very much hope to make their participation in LakeFest a regular event venue for them and hope to have more people with more boats next year.

Follow Logan Martin Antique and Classic Boats on Facebook.

In the Kitchen with Denise Robison



Canoe Harbor couple enjoys easy lake living and ‘slow cooking’

Story Scotty Vickery
Photos by Kelsey Bain

Barbecue enthusiasts all over Alabama have long debated the merits of smokers versus grills when it comes to cooking a perfect Boston butt, but Denise Robison has discovered another weapon in the longstanding battle: the slow cooker.

“I love anything in the CrockPot,” she said. “It’s just so easy.” Convenience has become especially important in the two years since Denise and her husband, Kenny, built their dream home on the point in the new Canoe Harbor subdivision on Neely Henry Lake. These days, there are fish to catch, sunsets to watch and peaceful evenings to enjoy.

“I just love it out here,” Denise said. “We stay outside constantly. I just love to sit out on the porch and look at the water.” Technically, though, the Robisons don’t even have to venture from the house to
enjoy the water. “There’s a view from every room, except for the closets and pantry,” Denise said. “It never gets old,” Kenny added.

When they are inside, they often take in the view from the open concept kitchen with its gleaming white cabinets, Italian Waves granite countertops and grey subway tile backsplash. “I knew what I wanted, but I had to find the right house plan,” Denise said. “I can be in the kitchen and when we have company, I can still communicate with everyone in the downstairs area.”

Decorated in crisp whites, creams and navy, the kitchen is the perfect backdrop for Denise’s ever-growing collection of Rae Dunn pottery. She’s been collecting the pieces – cream-colored plates, mugs, canisters, cookie jars, etc. – for more than 20 years. So far, she’s amassed more than 300 pieces, all of which feature single words or short phrases like “Yum,” “Let’s Eat” or “Thankful.”

“She even has Rae Dunn dog bowls,” Kenny said. “We’re on a first name basis with the UPS driver.” Denise doesn’t deny it. “I don’t have many vices, but that’s one of them,” she said with a laugh.

“I’ve been collecting it a long time. I’ve gotten my daughter and daughter-in-law hooked on it, too.”

Slower-paced life

After living in Trussville for more than 30 years and raising their two children, the Robisons first moved to the Greensport area about 10 years ago. “My daughter was expecting our first grandbaby, and that’s what got us up here,” Denise said. “They were in Alexandria at the time, and this is halfway. We really wanted to be on the lake, but at the time we moved, there was nothing available.”

The desire to be on the water never eased up, and when the opportunity to buy the property – just over two acres on the peninsula – came up, Kenny was immediately convinced. “I told her we better go get that lot,” he said. “You’re not going to find another spot on the lake like this, and if there is one, someone’s already got it.”

The Robisons were the first to build in the  subdivision, which boasts 36 flat lots on the St. Clair County side of Neely Henry, an 11,200-acre body of water with 339 miles of shoreline. The development is a joint venture between Lyman Lovejoy and Chad Camp, both of Lovejoy Realty, and John Freeman of Freeman Land and Development.

The house, which has four bedrooms, 2 ½ baths, 15 gables and is situated on three lots, took about 11 months to build. One hidden feature that brings Denise and Kenny peace of mind is the storm shelter with reinforced concrete walls that doubles as the walk-in kitchen pantry. “When they laid the foundation, that was the first thing they poured,” Kenny said. “They built the house around the storm shelter.”

Although their lake house is less than 40 miles from Trussville, which they called home for more than three decades, it feels like it’s a world away. “I just love the peaceful feeling you have out here,” Denise said. Kenny especially loves the fishing and watching the geese, ducks and other birds. “They build their nests in the rocks,” he said. “It’s amazing to see them as they crack out of the eggs and are starting to walk,” Denise added.

Both of their children and four grandchildren now live within a few miles of them, so the couple added a pool last year. That, coupled with their two piers, covered patio and outdoor fireplace, make Denise’s slow cooker even more valuable since it allows her to enjoy family gatherings and still serve a great meal. “I cook a lot of Boston butts,” she said.

Even though they’ve been on the water for two years, the Robisons said they never take their easygoing lifestyle – or the views – for granted. They’ve discovered the merits of lake life can be summed up in the one word that adorns the dish towels hanging from the handle of the stove: Blessed.

“Sometimes I look around and think how lucky we are,” Kenny said.

“There’s no doubt about it; we’ve been very blessed.”


Smoked Boston Butt (Slow cooker)

5-pound Boston butt roast
2 tbsp garlic salt
4 tbsp Liquid Smoke
2 tbsp black pepper
1 medium onion, diced
2 tbsp seasoning salt
1 cup water
3 bay leaves

Rub roast with spices and Liquid Smoke. Place onion in
bottom of slow cooker and put roast on top. Add water
and bay leaves. Cook on low 8-10 hours.


Greek Coleslaw

1 pkg coleslaw mix
1 tbsp lemon juice
1 bunch green onions
1 tsp Greek seasoning
3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
½ cup crumbled feta cheese

Whisk together olive oil, vinegar, lemon juice and seasoning
in a large bowl. Add slaw mix and green onions and toss.
Fold in feta cheese and serve.

Dining on the water



Extra benefits of life on Neely Henry and Logan Martin lakes

Story by Elaine Hobson Miller
Photos by Carol Pappas – Submitted photos

Whether you prefer dining inside a restaurant or carrying out your food, you have a lot of choices around Logan Martin and Neely Henry lakes that are easily reached by boat. From mom-and-pop diners to national chains, more than a dozen restaurants from Talladega to Gadsden have their own docks or access to one nearby.

This means you can tie up your vessel, be it boat or personal watercraft, and leave it in its slip while you eat breakfast, lunch or dinner. In many cases, you can phone ahead and someone will deliver your meal to your boat. That’s a unique service that takes lake living — and dining — to a whole new level.

The Back Porch Grill, located at 270 Marina Dr., Talladega, in Logan Martin’s Clear Creek Harbor, already had space for 30-40 boats before adding nine new piers. Under construction as of this writing, the additions will more than triple the slip number, according to owner Kristi Fincher. Attendants are available on the dock to pump gas and dock boats.

Back Porch Grill

 “Our staples are seafood, steaks and burgers, but we have changed our menu a lot,” Fincher says. “We’ve added grilled salmon, grilled blackened grouper and a mahi-mahi taco. We also added shrimp and grits, which consists of grilled or blackened shrimp on a bed of gouda cheese grits. Our new shrimp and crab dip, served with baguettes, has become one of our biggest sellers.” Menu specials, such as snow crab legs or scallops, are available on weekends.

Known for its large porch built around a huge willow tree, the Grill recently added an even bigger porch that seats 60 people. “The new porch has a willow planted beside it,” Fincher says. “People like sitting outside, looking over the lake.”

The restaurant has been in business about 10 years, is open year-round, and features the acoustic band Kudzu playing 1980s music every Thursday night on the new porch. Hours: Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 11 a.m.-8 p.m.; Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, 11 a.m.-9 p.m.; Sundays 11 a.m.-8 p.m.

Pier 59

Since 1993, Pier 59, 1363 Rivercrest Dr., Vincent, has been across the lake from Coosa Island (Logan Martin). With a pier on either side of the building, it can accommodate a lot of boats. “I’m serving grandkids of people I started out with,” says manager Janet Swann.

Hamburgers, steaks and a variety of seafood are on the menu. “Our crab claws, fried and grilled, are our most popular item,” Swann says. “We also feature Ziggy Salad, a tossed salad topped with steak, shrimp, chicken and French fries. It’s named after our cook.” Wings and chicken fingers are popular, too. “We’re in the process of re-doing our menu, adding alfredo chicken and alfredo shrimp,” Swann says.
A new deck offers outside covered dining.

Open year-round, winter and summer hours vary. Call 205-525-4226 for specific times and days.

Lakeside Grill at Coosa Island

Lakeside Grill, 1095 Coosa Island Rd., Cropwell is a relative newcomer on Logan Martin Lake. This nautical-and-beach-themed establishment opened in June of 2020 at the end of Coosa Island Marina. Its pier can accommodate 30 boats, but new piers will double that number before summer is over, according to manager Tanya Barnett.

While their menu includes a variety of seafood, steaks, burgers, barbecue, salads and desserts, their specialties are Cajun alfredo (chicken or shrimp), hand-cut, 12-ounce ribeyes, loaded barbecue tots (barbecue pork drizzled with barbecue sauce and Ranch dressing, then topped with jalapeño poppers), Cajun-grilled shrimp, Southwestern egg rolls, cheese curds, Cajun barbecue nachos and their signature Philly sandwiches.

“We’re looking to add some summer-friendly dishes, such as fish tacos and a tuna dip,” Barnett says. “We also have homemade peanut butter and Key lime pies for dessert.”

A deck with a bar and a seating capacity of 300, along with live bands on Fridays and Saturdays plus acoustic music on Sundays, make this a lively place to dine. “We also use Jack Rabbit for delivery,” Barnett says. Co-owner (with Nicola Wright) Keith Clements holds degrees in culinary arts and restaurant management and owns Lakeside Boathouse nearby.

Open year-round, Thursdays-Mondays, hours vary from summer to winter.

Between May 1 and Nov. 1, you can dine there Thursdays from 4 p.m.-9 p.m. and Fridays 12 p.m.-1 a.m. Sunday brunch is served from 9 a.m.- 1 p.m., but the restaurant stays open until 8 p.m. on Sundays. Monday hours are 4 p.m.-9 p.m. “We usually are the only restaurant open on the lake on Mondays,” Barnett says. Their winter hours will be posted on their Facebook page.

Piece of Pie

Piece of the Pie, 1080 Coosa Island Road, Cropwell (Logan Martin) is a new pizza-only joint that opened in early April. Its pier is under renovation and will accommodate about 50 boats when completed, according to co-owners Matt Kronen and Tarang Gandhakwal. “We’re next door to Coosa Marina Store, which I also own, and we have beer, ice and soft drinks there. We’re all in the same building,” says Kronen.

He assembles his pizzas on the premises, and says they feature thin crusts that are “light enough to take on the boat with you.” He uses fresh toppings, including the usual pepperoni, sausage and mushrooms, plus a barbecue pizza, and can substitute alfredo sauce for marinara sauce on any pizza upon request. “We will incorporate other weird toppings as we think of them,” he says.

Piece of the Pie serves carry-out customers only, with no seating area available. “Eventually we will offer delivery to the immediate lake area,” Kronen says. The main chef at Piece of the Pie, he’s also the owner of Snow-Biz, a shaved ice stand at Coosa Island Marina. Hours are 11 a.m.-8 p.m. on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, initially. Any changes will be posted on their upcoming Facebook page.

Top O’ the River

Top O’ the River, 1606 Rainbow Dr., Gadsden, is a landmark – not only by land but by water as well. It is accessible by boat. Known for its catfish and seafood, the menu goes well beyond with chicken and steaks, too. Its pond raised catfish – fried or broiled, bone-in or fillet – is a crowd favorite.

Grilled shrimp and chicken kabobs are popular as is the chargrilled ribeye steak. A variety of appetizers and desserts bookend a meal that diners travel for from miles around.

Family owned and operated, the restaurant is open Monday – Friday at 5 p.m., Saturdays at 4 p.m. and on Sundays, it opens at noon. Carry out is available at 256-547-9817.

River’s Edge Burgers & Breakfast

River’s Edge Burgers & Breakfast, 79 Rabbit Branch Circle, Cropwell, is located at River’s Edge Marina in the Rabbit Branch slough on Logan Martin. Open weekends and holidays May through Labor Day, River’s Edge is a walk-up eatery with an outdoor pavilion and picnic tables for on-premises dining. Up to 10 boats can tie up at the pier, with wet-slip time limited to one hour.

The menu includes burgers and other sandwiches, chicken tenders, corn dogs and hot dogs. Specialties are the Yum Yum Burger (with Yum Yum sauce, lettuce, tomato and pickles), the Cowboy Cheeseburger (barbecue sauce, bacon and grilled onions), BBQ Bacon Cheeseburger (barbecue sauce, bacon and cheese) and Double BBQ Bacon Burger (barbecue sauce, double portion of bacon and double portion of cheese). On Saturdays they serve breakfast sandwiches on toast, biscuit or bun, plus breakfast platters of eggs, meat and a choice of bread. Desserts are milkshakes, frozen slush, root beer floats, ice cream cones and a “Bissert” — biscuits drizzled with chocolate syrup and powdered sugar.They also serve traditional breakfast drinks, such as coffee, orange juice and chocolate milk.

Hours are 8 a.m.-11 a.m. for Saturday breakfast, with lunch served 11 a.m.- 5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Manager Anna Emerick suggests checking their Facebook page for holiday hours (Memorial Day, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Fourth of July and Labor Day), because they vary from one holiday to the next.

Wake Zone

New to Logan Martin is Wake Zone, 6301 Stemley Bridge Road, Pell City, which should soon be able to park 30 boats at five piers. Staff will be available to assist with boat parking.

The restaurant serves steaks, seafood and wings, along with breakfast on Saturdays and Sundays. They have the usual breakfast fare of eggs and French toast, and House specialty is their fried fish nuggets, called Wake Bites. Their barbecue is popular, and so are the Philly cheesesteak sandwiches, hamburgers and eight flavors of wings. The restaurant uses Jack Rabbit Delivery, which will deliver within 20 miles of the building.

Open five days a week from April 1-September 1, hours are 11 a.m.-7 p.m. on Wednesdays and Thursdays; 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Fridays; 7:30 a.m.-8 p.m. on Saturdays and 7:30-6 p.m. Sundays. During the winter, they are open
Wednesday-Friday only.

A spacious deck overlooks the main channel of the lake with outdoor dining.

The Brook

The Brook Coffeehouse and Event Center, 4204 Martin St. S, Pell City (Logan Martin) is a full-service coffee house offering espresso coffee drinks, frappés, teas, iced coffees, smoothies, ice cream, hand-spun milkshakes, muffins and limited snacks and cold drinks, according to Linda and Tim Hendrix,

owners. “We do not have a kitchen, but offer pre-packaged snacks,” says Linda Hendrix. “You are welcome to bring your lunch or breakfast and grab your favorite coffee drink from us.”

The coffeehouse is accessible by water during the spring, summer and fall months (when the water is up), as boats can park at the nearby Lakeside Motel piers and walk up. Some customers have even come up by personal watercraft to enjoy a view of the lake from the outdoor deck or in the cozy coffee shop, which includes a warming fireplace in the winter months. “Our coffee bar is like an old-fashioned ice cream bar,” Linda says.

The Event Center is available for rental, but also partners with local churches by providing spaces for Bible studies and small groups at no charge. “We are a nonprofit ministry, and all of our income outside of expenses goes toward helping with community outreach and ministry,” Linda says. “This spring semester has included Transformation Ministry School, Mat Making for the Homeless, Freedom Bible Study, Relationships Bible Study, several men’s groups, painting, book signings and local rehab facility family get-togethers. We also offer free spiritual counseling services.” Rentals have included baby and wedding showers, memorials, funerals, weddings and birthday parties. “This summer, we will offer “Pontoons and Sunset,” where families get together to watch the sun go down, listen to music and fellowship aboard their shared pontoons – launching from the Brook. It will be lots of family fun.”

Open year-round, hours are Monday through Saturday 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., with extended summer hours of 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays.

Courtyard

Courtyard Oyster Bar & Grill, 4300 Martin Street South, Pell City, can accommodate several boats in a dock next door. Open year round, Wednesdays through Sundays, they have a full menu that includes appetizers, burgers, raw and fried oysters, catfish, hand-breaded chicken tenders and the ever-popular shrimp étouffée and gumbo. “Everything is made fresh here,” says manager Jessalyn Cash. “We have something for everybody.”

An outside deck with a lake view is open to the air during summer, then enclosed in plastic and heated during the winter. “That’s generally where everybody wants to sit,” Cash says.

They have live entertainment every night. Wednesdays it’s karaoke from7 p.m. until closing. Other nights they have acoustic bands, and they try to feature local artists when they can get them.

Wednesdays and Thursdays, they open at 2 pm. and close around midnight. They open for lunch at 11 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays, then close at 2 a.m. On Sundays, hours are 11 a.m. until midnight.

“We’re family-friendly until 8 p.m., but after that, no one under the age of 21 is permitted here,” Jessalyn says. “Our staff strives to be open and friendly and to make everyone’s experience good.”

The Ark

Logan Martin’s iconic restaurant, The Ark, is located at 13030 U.S. 78, Riverside. Featuring catfish, hushpuppies, shrimp and oysters fried and grilled, The Ark has been the subject of stories nationwide for its fare.

In addition to seafood, the Ark offers steaks, hamburgers and Cajun specialties like their famous seafood gumbo. Homemade desserts, such as blueberry cobbler, round out an extensive menu that attracts diners from all around.

Its proximity to Talladega Superspeedway makes it a prime ‘fan’ choice, and lake dwellers and visitors alike to flock to The Ark as well. It is accessible by boat. A dock on the main channel below the businesses next door services The Ark’s customers arriving by boat.

Hours are Monday – Saturday, 11 a.m. – 8 pm. and Sunday, 11 am. – 7:30 p.m.

Caribe

Caribe Club and Marina, 84 Blue Eye Rd., Lincoln (Logan Martin), has 22 boat slips at its pier. Open weekends only (Thursdays-Sundays) for both dine-in and take-out, Caribe also delivers to boats or cars. “Last summer we had quite a bit of boats come up,” says Diane Smith, co-owner with her husband, Bobby.

“We serve steaks, burgers, fish and pizza.” Their specialties are grouper fingers, crab cakes, mango salsa, wings and thin-crust pizza.

“We have a couple of unique things for people who are 21 and older, such as a four-foot-deep swimming pool,” Smith says. “We have a few tables by the dock where the younger ones can dine with their parents, but you must be 21 or older to swim or hang out by the pool because we want a relaxing, adult environment.” Specialty drinks are the Caribbean Sunset and the Bushwacker, and you can take them to the pool area.

They have acoustic music almost every Sunday in the summer, and sometimes have other types of live music on Friday and Saturday. They can seat about 100 people inside.

“We are a private club, and you have to be a member to eat here and to enjoy the pool, the lake views and great atmosphere,” Smith says. “You can pay by the month ($25), by the year ($240) or per visit. It’s $1 per visit if you’re eating, $10 if you’re just drinking and lounging poolside. There’s a $5 cover charge when we have entertainment.”

Spring Fling, a free event with music, kicks off the summer season on May 1, and another party, the Coosa Palooza, takes place the last weekend of August.

Open all year round, their summer hours (May 1- October 1) are 5 p.m. until “whenever” on Thursdays and Fridays, noon until “who-knows?” on Saturdays and Sundays. Smith says to check their Facebook page for winter hours.

Jack’s

Jack’s Family Restaurants are well known throughout Alabama and a few other Southern states, but the one at 1414 Rainbow Drive in Gadsden is unique. “We’re the only Jack’s in the company that has a boat dock,” says manager Toni Hubbard. “We even have a place at the dock where you can phone in your order, like at our drive-through, but it has a special ring so we know it’s from the pier.”

The menu has plenty of burgers, fries and specialty sandwiches, the latter changing from time to time, along with soft drinks, ice cream, milkshakes and fried pies. It also has chicken, both fried and grilled, and an extensive breakfast menu that includes the usual sausage, chicken, bacon or egg biscuits, along with a twist on the traditional gravy biscuits so beloved in the South: biscuits with chocolate gravy. “I used to eat that as a kid, but lots of people around here have never heard of it,” Hubbard says.

The boat dock, which is behind the restaurant, fits six to eight boats, and business booms from there during the summer. Jack’s also has a patio out back where lake people often come to dine. “When 4th of July is on a weekend, the boat dock is in constant use due to the fireworks on the lake,” Hubbard says. “The dock is really busy during fishing tournaments, too.”

Jack’s is open seven days a week all year. Their hours are 5 a.m.-10 p.m. Sundays and weekdays, and 5 a.m.-11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. Whether boaters call in their orders ahead of time or after they dock, a server will deliver their food to the pier.

Chili’s

Chili’s Grill & Bar, 340 Albert Rains Blvd. Gadsden (Neely Henry) has a boardwalk area at the dock, which is about 20 yards behind the restaurant. The dock will accommodate four boats.

“Behind the restaurant is a koi pond, and closer to the river and docking area are a splash pad and pavilion,” says manager Eli Trembler. “During summer when the weather is nice, people often pull up and place a to-go order, while others come inside and eat.”

A national chain, Chili’s specializes in ribs, fajitas and burgers. “All of our ribs are smoked in-house, and our fresh meat comes in twice a week, so our burgers are never frozen,” Trimble says. “One of our most popular is the Boss Burger, which consists of a half-pound beef patty with pork brisket, jalapeño sausage and bacon, all topped with barbecue sauce. We have a three-for-$10 special that offers a drink, appetizer and entrée from a select menu all day, every day.”

Open seven days per week, their hours are 10:30 a.m.-11 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays, 10:30 a.m.-midnight Fridays and Saturdays and 10:30 a.m.-10 p.m. on Sundays.

Buffalo Wild Wings

Buffalo Wild Wings, 91 East Chestnut St., Gadsden (Neely Henry), has a pier about 100 feet from the back of the restaurant that will accommodate four boats, according to manager Jose River. “We actually have a decent amount of people using it,” Rivera says. “We do take-out orders by boat, too. You can call it in to us, and we can take it to you at the pier.”

An Alabama-based chain, Buffalo Wild Wings serves mainly what its name implies: wings. In the Gadsden area, however, it’s all about the burgers, says Rivera. “Some of the best we’ve ever created are right here, and they’re top-notch,” he says. “For example, we have the All-American that is a full hamburger with condiments, American cheese, two hamburger patties and bacon. Our Bacon Hatch Smash Chili Burger has Hatch green chilis, Fresno peppers, and we smash bacon bits into the meat before we cook it.”

 Open seven days a week, on Tuesdays, the restaurant offers a BOGO for traditional wings, and on Thursdays a BOGO for boneless wings. Hours are 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Sundays, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays, 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Friday and Saturday. “When the COVID pandemic is over, we might have some live entertainment,” Rivera says. The restaurant serves alcohol.

Wellington Bleus

Wellington Bleu’s, 1504 Rainbow Drive, Gadsden, currently uses a neighbor’s dock that’s behind the restaurant. But the new steakhouse may be building its own pier soon. “We’re working on a way to call from your boat,” says owner Scott Barkley. “Then we’ll deliver there.”

A classic steakhouse, Wellington cooks up gourmet dishes with a flair and serves them in a casual but elegant atmosphere, according to Barkley. Beef Wellington is their signature dish, but they also do prime beef steaks and a variety of fresh seafood, from mahi-mahi to scallops and shrimp.

“We do catering and business lunches, and we have a huge meeting room for families or businesses to entertain,” Barkley says. “Our outdoor patio can be used for everyday dining or meetings, too.”

 The restaurant first opened for a few weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas, then full blast after New Year’s Day. It’s closed Sundays and Mondays, but that is subject to change. “We may be open for Sunday lunch by the time readers see this,” he says. As of this writing, hours are 11 a.m. – 9 p.m. weekdays and 5 p.m. – 10 p.m. on Saturdays, year-round. Barkley advises people to check the restaurant’s Facebook page to keep up with new days, hours and menu selections.

Editor’s Note:Little Bridge Marina at 70 Wharton Bend Rd., in Rainbow City, expanded and reopened April 10 after a fire. It does feature outdoor dining accessible by boat.

A full story about its return is planned in the next issue of LakeLife 24/7.

Greensport still a destination point for memories – old and new



Story by Leigh Pritchett

Photos By David Smith
Submitted photos from Margaret Green,
Beth Evans-Smith, Tammy Lowery
and Stephanie Evans.

Along the shores of Neely Henry Lake is an expanse that has been in one family eight generations.

Its history holds stories of ferry rides, steamboat races, a comic strip character and a message in a bottle.

It is also a story of drawing the past into the present

to preserve for the future. Six-year-old David Evans IV and five-year-old brother, Josiah, are that future and the eighth generation to live on land called “Greensport.”

The boys’ parents, David Evans III and wife, Stephanie, have mixed amenities with pieces of history and cradled them in family and tradition.

The couple assumed operations of the marina, park and campground in February 2020 and are undertaking many projects to make it a premier destination with a secure, family atmosphere.

With the assistance of developer Dale Owens, 90 to 100 RV spaces, with full hook-up and high-speed wireless internet, already have been created. In addition, the expanse features a beach, in-ground pool, vintage store, bath house, laundry facilities, playground and jumping pillow, volleyball court, cornhole, fire pits, golf-cart-friendly biking and walking trails, dog park, boat storage and fueling areas.

A large pavilion at the tip of a peninsula called “The Island” has become a popular setting for gatherings and weddings.

“There’s not a weekend we don’t have it rented out,” said Stephanie, a marketing specialist.

Day-use picnic pavilions line the shore where, in yesteryear, a ferry docked. Already, the pavilions are booked into summer 2021.

“We stay at 95 percent capacity during the week and that goes up to 100 percent on the weekend,” Stephanie said of the pavilions.

Campers from nearly all 50 states, British Columbia and the United Kingdom have stayed at the RV park, she said.

The couple have further plans for a restaurant right at the lake’s edge, an on-site food vendor, another pool, a 120-foot pier and additional RV spaces so that the park can accommodate up to 150 rigs. An original lake house is to be relocated and repurposed for a game room and laundry.

At the same time, the land retains its centuries-old agricultural legacy and has been named an Alabama Bicentennial Farm. “We raise our own line of cattle … (and) market our USDA-inspected beef in the (park) store,” said David III.

‘Steeped in history’

Those conversant with the history of the surrounding area say its name could have been “Green’s Port” at one time, eventually becoming “Greensport.” Or perhaps, it was always “Greensport.”

Regardless, there was a port and “Green’s Ferry was chartered by an act of the legislature with Jacob Green as the bonded ferryman,” notes the book, History of St. Clair County (Alabama), by Mattie Lou Teague Crow. “… The place became Greensport.”

The generations — Dave Evans III, standing; Dave Evans Jr. seated with Dave Evans IV, AKA Quade, and Josiah Evans

Jacob Green was the first of the eight generations to be on the land.

Beth Evans-Smith, the sister of David III, said Jacob settled in the area sometime around 1818.

Jacob had fought in the Revolutionary War as a teenager and in the War of 1812, Beth and David III said. Beth said it is possible Jacob received the acres of “Beaver Valley” farmland as compensation for his military service.

A narrow Coosa River meandered through the farmland, Beth continued.

Greensport is “really steeped in a lot of history,” said Beth, who still lives on the family land. Soldiers during the War of 1812 and the Civil War crossed the Coosa River at Greensport. Native-American artifacts reveal that it held significance for them, too.

Margaret Green of Ashville, a distant cousin of Beth and David III, said Native-American fish weirs have been seen when the water was low. Beth added that David III has a corn-grinding stone one of their ancestors was given by a Native American who befriended them.

Farmers brought their cotton and other crops to the port to be transported to market upriver. Shoals made the river going southward unnavigable, Beth said.

Between 1879 and 1890, three locks were built in an attempt to open navigation south of Greensport. The locks were about .68 miles, 3.86 miles and 5.24 miles below Greensport, according to History of St. Clair County. “The dam for the fourth lock was completed by 1892, … 26 miles below Greensport. The locks for this dam were never (built).” Thus, the river was unnavigable beyond that. “… When the railroads gained a monopoly on freight, and Congress failed to appropriate sufficient funds to cover operational costs, the locks were no longer used.”

The first steamboat to travel the Coosa River sailed from Greensport in 1845. It was the U.S.M. Coosa and transported mail to Rome, Ga., notes History of St. Clair County.

“Throughout the 19th century, Greensport was an important port in the trade routes of the state,” the book continues. “… There were steamboats coming to Greensport every day.”

Periodic steamboat races drew excited crowds along the route, Crow writes.Margaret, who taught in Pell City schools, has three binders of photos and information on the area and probably “a picture of every steamboat that went through Greensport.”

As a port town, Greensport bustled with activity. “It was a big to-do,” Margaret said. “It wasn’t just a little, tiny nothing. It was a thriving community.”

The onboard happenings of one steamboat, the Leota, provided ideas for the character “Popeye.”

“Tom Sims, a cartoonist who wrote ‘Popeye the Sailor Man,’ drew inspiration from his own experiences on working on a

steamboat,” Justinn Overton, executive director of Coosa Riverkeeper, states on the website, coosariver.org. “… Tom lived in Ohatchee, Ala.,, and used the sites, the people, and his father’s steamboat, the Leota, as inspiration for the comic strip.”

The Greensport ferry garnered interest of its own.

An article from the Sept. 19, 1928, edition of The Anniston  Star notes that using the ferry would cut 30 miles off a trip from Birmingham to Atlanta.The newspaper’s June 20, 1954, issue states the ferry was quite busy some football Saturdays. “They say that when Alabama used to play Georgia Tech, the cars would stack up for a mile waiting to get across the river,” David Evans Sr., the grandfather of Beth and David III, is quoted as saying. The ferry was also a Sunday destination, as people came just to ride it across and back.

David Sr. and son David Evans Jr. were the last two operators of the ferry, David III said.

The ferry was still in operation in 1957. Beth’s father, David Jr., piloted the ferry until he took a steel plant job. She said a man often brought his special needs child to ride the ferry, and her dad always helped the child embark and disembark. One time, her dad mentioned needing another job, and the child’s father suggested applying at Republic Steel in Gadsden. When her dad did apply, that man happened to be the interviewer, and David Jr. started work immediately.

David Sr. served as St. Clair County’s sheriff for a time, Beth and David III said.

Of the land that stretches in every direction from the store, David III said, “It’s been part of my life since the beginning.”

As young children, he and Beth lived in the home their grandfather had built. David III pointed to a place in the lake to show where the home sat.

In their youth, he and Beth raised heifers and horses. They learned to work, be responsible and deal with the public, Beth said. “We learned a lot.”

On weekends, people who knew their grandfather when he was in the coal mining business in Bibb County often camped on the property. Those, Beth said, were always fun times. “We had a great childhood.”

“Pop” Hoffman, a man known for killing and stuffing rattlesnakes, lived on the premises as well. “He took care of us during the day,” Beth said, referring to her and David III. “(Pop) was our babysitter. … Pop was a grand person. I didn’t know he wasn’t related to me when I was young.”

Dave Evans Sr. at the store

A prominent memory for her cousin, Margaret, is of her and Beth playing on the newly built piers before the lake appeared.

“We’d just run and jump (off the piers) like we were Superman,” Margaret said.

The marina and park hold a lot of memories as well for Allen Beavers of Attalla.

The 51-year-old said he has been going there since age 5.

As a teen, “(every) Saturday and Sunday during the summer, we were there,” Allen said.

He and wife Tina now vacation there three to four weeks a year, with future plans to stay for months at a time.

Following a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis seven years ago, Allen vowed to go every weekend, rain or shine. The couple reserve a day-use picnic pavilion, enjoy the scenery and talk with other picnickers in a setting that Allen describes as “family.”

“I love the place so much,” he said. “… Even if I’m in a wheelchair, I want to be down there.”

Tammy Lowery can understand. She has fond, childhood memories of summer fun and family time on the land. “We would go there and swim for the day and barbecue with the family.”

After vacationing there in 2020, Tammy and husband Dale decided to sell their home in Attalla, buy a fifth-wheel rig, and become permanent residents of the RV park. Son Mason is at college, but son Brayden has an RV in the park as well.

Tammy and Dale now serve as camp hosts, assisting campers after hours.

“We just loved it so much, we never went back home,” Tammy said.

Finding a treasure

A bottle that was floating on the lake at Greensport RV Park was as ordinary as any other bottle floating on a lake.

Day use pavilions perfect for outdoor enjoyment

But its contents and 34-year journey were not ordinary at all.

The bottle and the lives touched by it are highlighted by Fred Hunter of Birmingham’s WBRC-6 in an Aug. 24, 2020, post on wbrc.com.

The post reveals that, in 1986, Argin Hulsey wrote a message, put it in a bottle and prayed over it. Then, he tossed it into Nance’s Creek near Piedmont in Calhoun County – far upstream from Greensport RV Park. Argin trusted that God would put the message in the right hands at the right time.

When the Evanses’ friend, Brandi Rhoades of Springville, found the bottle in the summer of 2020 as she was helping to clean the river banks, she knew it was something special. She called Stephanie and David III to look at the contents, where they opened the message together.

According to the post, this is Argin’s message that traveled through time to reach the Evans family:

“God intended marriage to be a reflection of the unity of The Godhead, an earthly portrait of his Divine Image. Since there are no perfect people, the achievement of that unity requires a choice, a commitment and acceptance of responsibility to the mate and to the children who will be influenced in the family setting.”

Logan Martin’s Aristotle

Carl Wallace builds lake fan base with social media posts

Story by Carol Pappas
Photos by Kelsey Bain

Grab a cup of coffee and Lets Chat

Carl Wallace

And so begins the weekly blog of Carl Wallace. Some may call him a critical thinker, something akin to an Aristotle, the Greek philosopher who covered such weighty subjects as logic, ethics, metaphysics, politics, natural science and physics. He simply calls what he writes – and thinks – “Lake Ramblings.”

On social media, he’s gathered quite a following, numbering in the thousands at daybreak each Saturday morning when his ‘ramblings’ appear. His photos, his thoughts on life and lake and his conversation starters up and down Logan Martin’s shoreline community have made him a local celebrity.

And his fans snap up his books – four of them to date – to preserve the special memories, snapshots and perspectives of life on the lake his writing evokes.

“This is lakelife right here,” he says with an animated sweep of his hand motioning lakeward from his usual perch deckside of his Logan Martin home. It’s his ringside seat to what he calls paradise. “We’re incredibly lucky,” he said, noting that he and wife, Marcia, known as “Mar” to regular readers of his blog (Why use two syllables when you can get by with just one?), are “blessed.”

Fishing at sunset a favorite pastime

The genesis of Ramblings was in 2014 when he occasionally posted on Facebook a series of random thoughts about life on the lake and life, in general. People connected, and the following grew. It evolved into every two weeks and then when COVID hit, one of his followers messaged, “You need to go weekly.”

The writing came naturally. An engineer by trade, he had done technical writing over the years. As a hobby, he raised beagles, and he wrote about them in magazines, too. He talks of left brain, right brain and how a chemical engineer could become a writer, and this natural born storyteller made an easy transition. “I said, I’ve done this chemical engineering thing, I want to try this other side for a while and see what else I am.”

Now his storytelling travels over a neighborhood he describes as “50 miles long,” the length of Logan Martin Lake. And this vast ‘community’ looks to their neighbor for news, weather reports, predictions about lake levels and flooding, comings and goings on the lake and even a song lyric or two. “I do a lot of research,” he notes. He tells of origins and history of the everyday occurrences he might encounter and write about. He even tests new products for his readers like the time he bought the Bug Assault, a gun that shoots insects. “Lake people like toys,” he says.

His life, he adds, resides on a laptop and 3 x 5 cards. “I’m observant, but my memory is not so good,” he adds. “I have to make a note or text Mar” to make the note for him.



The storyteller in him

It all eventually winds up in his Saturday morning dialogue with his community. He posts in social media groups, All Things

Logan Martin Lake and Love Lake Logan Martin, which he described in his first book, Lake Ramblings, Heaven Can’t Be Too Far From Here! as “a group of human beings interested in life on Logan Martin Lake, located in central Alabama.”

In the foreword, he tells readers: “I suggest you read one Ramblings per day. I also suggest that you read it aloud to

someone you love. My hope is that you smile together.”

Facebook may have what it calls a conversation starter post, but Carl is the ultimate conversation starter. “Storytelling is a dialogue in the form of stories,” he explains. “It’s the way conversation starts.”

He learned that in Yazoo, Miss., where Jerry Clower lived and worked at one time for the same company as Carl. Clower eventually became a standup comedian, and his stories about the South earned him the moniker, “Mouth of the Mississippi.”

At Carl’s company, he says he was lucky to hang around with some of the older guys who would tell stories of days gone by. They entertained and engaged their audience. That art wasn’t lost on him.

So, every Saturday morning, he engages his “fellow human beings” with random tales of the week, thought provoking questions and observations, and he ends with a few song verses for good measure.

The song lyrics, he says, were an evolution in his writings. “It’s become a huge part of it. You never know when a song verse is going to touch someone.” It’s not unusual for a song verse to bring out a chorus of ‘I remember when’ comments from his readers each week.

How does he pick them? There is a common thread. “I preach love, tolerance and fun,” he says.

Sunsets aplenty

Sunsets play a starring role in his posts and in his life on the lake. In dedicating that first book, he thanked all his friends and followers and dedicated it to all who live on Logan Martin. “I must also thank the Lord for putting the most awesome sunsets in the world on Logan Martin Lake and for putting us here to appreciate them.”

His books are filled with sunset photos he has taken, and some of his favorites have been made into enlarged photos on canvas hanging in a place of honor reserved in the great room.

But they’re not the only source of his inspiration for writing ramblings. He draws inspiration from just about anything in front of him and gives it a little twist – a double entendre, one might say. “We saw a jet ski out and about around Thanksgiving – cool – literally,” he wrote.

He committed his ‘ramblings’ to book form so his daughter may pick one up in the future and here him. His writings are countless examples of everyday occurrences that lake people can relate to. “Left? Or right? That’s the big decision you have to make to go ‘tuning!” he wrote in another post. For non-lake folks, tuning means riding on a pontoon boat. “Are we going downstream? Or upstream? Toward the dam? Or toward I-20? Tough

decisions (smiling emoji inserted). It’s a big relief once you’ve committed – whew!”

By Lake Ramblings, too, “ya gotta love the lake,” he added thousands more members to his dedication list but went a step further: “Let’s also include the millions of lake lovers everywhere – I suspect we have a lot in common.”

By his third book, Lake Ramblings Again, “still lovin’ the Lake life,” he added more fans and followers to his dedication, singling out “those special fans that understand me more than 50 percent of the time.”

The latest is Lake Ramblings IV, “welcome to paradise,” and a fifth is due out in May. He warns would-be readers in Lake Ramblings IV: “So, here’s the premise, the setting – me and you, sitting on our upper deck, daybreak, overlooking the lake, right now, drinking coffee and chatting – yes, I will hog the conversation.”

And lucky for the Logan Martin community, the conversation continues every Saturday morning about daybreak.

You’ll read about the lake wildlife he named, like Genghis, the great blue heron; Larry, the lizard; Crack, the squirrel; Fred and Maggie, the Mallard couple; Stump, the chipmunk, and a seeming menagerie of others.

You’ll hear about humans, too, like Neighbor Dalton and Long Company Hugh. They’re all part of Carl’s Saturday morning community conversations.

How did they get here from there?

When it was time to retire eight years ago, the Wallaces knew they wanted to be on the water, and Alabama was a good choice because their daughter, Shannon Atchenson, lived in Birmingham. “I’m a spoiled bass fisherman,” he says, noting that Guntersville real estate was a bit high. They couldn’t find what they wanted on Lay, and someone mentioned Logan Martin. “I had never heard of it,” he recalls, so he said, “Let’s go look.”

Carl and Marcia “Mar” on the deck

They found the perfect place with a near 360-degree view, and they more than settled in. They are regular fixtures at community events, and he often uses his Saturday morning posts to promote them. Chapel in the Pines – the come as you are church at Lakeside Park – is a regular feature. “It’s a cool thing, he says, to comment that you “get in the boat and go to chapel.”

Retirement looks good on Carl. He was in the chemical industry for 33 years, enjoying a successful career as an executive. But when it came time to retire, he said he was ready.

“When I was 27 years old, I knew I was going to be good at retirement. And I am.”

Editor’s Note: In addition to every Saturday morning on Facebook, you can read Carl’s posts on

LakeRamblings.com. His books are availble on Amazon.com