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.
Three years ago, the City of Gadsden introduced a premier, multi-purpose rental facility with the heart of its community’s interests in mind. Today, The Venue at Coosa Landing resides at the forefront of Gadsden’s entertainment scene, housing spectacular events each week on the banks of the Coosa River.
The Venue’s inception symbolizes the third phase in the further development of Gadsden’s riverfront, coinciding with the Coosa Landing Boat Launch and The Riverwalk at Coosa Landing. The Riverwalk debuted five years ago in late 2016 as a two-year project including pedestrian boardwalks along the river, a pedestrian bridge, a pier, docks and three pavilions. While The Riverwalk neared completion in October of the following year, the Gadsden City Council approved a $12.5-million bid for The Venue’s construction, announcing its creation in early 2017.
“The mayor (Sherman Guyton) wanted to purchase the property when it was available, and we had all talked about developing the riverfront,” said Director of Governmental Affairs and Economic Development for the City of Gadsden, who was instrumental in The Venue’s establishment. “We had just opened the boardwalk there, and we were working on The Venue at the same time. We were also working to recruit some retail businesses and some developments from the hotel industry. After talking with several people, we thought we needed an entertainment-type venue, so we started with that.”
Though Gadsden provides ample rental properties in spaces such as the Pitman Theatre, the Downtown Civic Center and 210 at the Tracks, The Venue served as a replacement for its antiquated predecessor, Convention Hall.
Birmingham architectural firm Cohen Carnaggio Reynolds, Inc. was responsible for The Venue’s design, converting the pre-existing vacant building at 201 George Wallace Drive – once a Kmart – into a 21st-Century masterpiece.
When The Venue opened its doors to the public in September of 2018, it emerged as 55,000 square feet of possibility. As a multi-purpose facility designed to accommodate a plethora of events, The Venue houses three meeting rooms capable of separating into individual spaces for more privacy or smaller sizes or combining to form one grand hall.
The meeting rooms seat up to 200 people, with the facility’s 15,000-square-foot Main Hall housing 1,200 visitors. Like all areas of The Venue, the Main Hall adapts to each event’s precise needs, dividing into two expansive ballrooms at the snap of a finger. A stage equipped with a premier audio-visual system (that extends to all areas throughout the facility) proves perfect for concerts, plays and other performances.
The Venue’s stainless steel commercial kitchen caters approximately 2,000 people, alongside a concession stand in the main lobby. Two mirrored dressing rooms with bathrooms and nearby backstage access join a multi-functional green room and a fully furnished patio, directly intertwining with the riverfront parks and marina, so guests can freely filter indoors and out. A special opening allows for vehicle access inside the facility, making event preparation, assembly and organization simple and efficient.
“Mayor Guyton, the administration and the City Council all bought in on the project,” said Davis. “The Venue has helped with local events, but it has also expanded what kinds of events we can host and bring to Gadsden. I don’t know of another facility like it in Northeast Alabama.”
Holiday parties, exhibits, fundraisers, conventions, trade shows, banquets and conferences are among the ceaseless types of events The Venue houses on a regular basis. From enticing food vendors aligning the walls at A Taste of Northeast Alabama to childhood literacy supporters gathering at elaborately decorated tablescapes at The Girlfriend Gala, from private birthday parties and weddings to Mixed Martial Arts fighting and Gadsden’s first-ever Latin Festival, The Venue encompasses all spectrums of entertainment.
The Venue Administrative Supervisor Scott Elkins oversees the facility’s successful operation, working closely in conjunction with his fellow staff members and Marketing Director Deb Hawkins.
Prior to supervising The Venue, Elkins held a position at Gadsden’s Parks and Recreation Department, managing the Downtown Civic Center, 210 at the Tracks, the Pitman Theatre and Convention Hall. While Elkins’ previous experience with rental venues enlightened him to the importance of premium customer service, he shared that one unique aspect of working at The Venue is the freedom to recruit events to the space himself. He and Hawkins brainstorm events beneficial for the community for citizens to enjoy, giving them the opportunity for new experiences in the comfort of their hometown.
“The Venue reaches the whole community,” said Elkins, describing how its multi-purpose design accommodates all preferences and interests.
Elkins said pleasing his customers remains synonymous with The Venue’s success. He hopes for further growth in The Venue’s future, with the location serving as a hub where the community can convene time and time again.
“What I’ve learned is even though we might have 160-plus events in a year in the Main Hall, to that one person (hosting the event), that’s their only event that year,” said Elkins. “You have to treat that as the only event you have the whole year. You have to make sure that it’s special, regardless if it’s a birthday party for 25 people or an event for 1,500. I enjoy the people the most, of course … seeing them happy. I enjoy the people the most, of course … seeing them happy. Making people happy – that’s what it’s about.”
In August, the City of Gadsden announced the opening of Park Boulevard, yet another addition to the riverfront. As a $1.3-million project financed through Tax Increment Financing funds designated specifically for the area, the road connects The Venue to the Coosa Landing Boat Launch.
Convenience and safety are two positive impacts Park Boulevard poses for the city, with the location home to several fishing tournaments and events throughout the year. Park Boulevard allows for overflow parking at The Venue, improving traffic flow and providing anglers and boaters with a direct route to the boat docks.
“Most cities would love to have a river running through downtown,” said Mayor Sherman Guyton. “This road is an important step in continuing to develop the riverfront and make the area more accessible.”
If you ask Terri and Don Uptain to pick their favorite spot at their Neely Henry Lake home, they’d be hard pressed to choose between the kitchen and the gazebo just outside its door.
Story Scottie Vickery Photos by Kelsey Bain
If you ask Terri and Don Uptain to pick their favorite spot at their Neely Henry Lake home, they’d be hard pressed to choose between the kitchen and the gazebo just outside its door.
Like in many homes, the kitchen is the gathering place for family and friends, and every detail in theirs was planned to accommodate their lifestyle, needs and even their kitchen gadgets. The eight-arch brick gazebo, just off the breezeway that runs the length of the house, boasts cool breezes and is the perfect spot to read a book, enjoy a peaceful meal or spend some quiet time in nature.
Don and Terri Uptain
“This lot was just a hidden gem that sat here for years,” Don said. The Uptains, who built their home near Shoal Creek 11 years ago, were thrilled to make it their own. Each living area – the family room, kitchen and all five bedrooms – has a spectacular view overlooking Rock Island.
One of a series of islands that made up the area of the Coosa River known as Ten Island, Rock Island is the only one that remains visible after the construction of Neely Henry Dam. “All the others were flooded,” Don said. “Before COVID, someone used to do a fireworks show on the Fourth of July on Rock Island. We had a great seat.”
Holidays on the lake were the perfect opportunities to fire up the grill, something Terri said Don do often. “Actually, he’s a better cook than I am,” she said. “I’m definitely a recipe follower. Some people taste to see if the seasonings are right, but I smell. I have to get him to do the tasting.”
Although they share many of the kitchen duties, Don acknowledges that Terri has come a long way. “I’ll say she’s much better than she was when we got married,” he said with a laugh. They both remember the time she served pork chops with undercooked, crunchy rice.
In fairness, the Uptains, who recently celebrated their 49th wedding anniversary, were only 18 when they got married after graduating from Erwin High School in Center Point. Don joined the Navy a few years later and they count San Diego and Guam among the places they lived.
“When we were stationed on Guam, one of the wives was from the Philippines, and she could really cook,” Terri said. “She taught us to make lumpia, and it’s still one of our favorite things.”
The dish, which is similar to an egg roll, includes ground beef, carrots, bean sprouts, black olives and corn wrapped in a thin wrapper and fried. “For me, it’s an all-day process, but we love it,” said Terri, adding that she found the lumpia wrappers at Rainbow City International Market in Gadsden.
In recent years, Terri and Don have picked up some more recipes during their travels. One of their favorite dishes is Grilled Mediterranean Lamb Chops that they pair with Mediterranean rice. “We went on a cruise to the Greek Isles, and I figured that they would know how to do lamb,” Don said. He’d been disappointed when he’d ordered lamb in a Birmingham restaurant, but one bite of the dish on the trip convinced him of its merits.
“The way you season it is important,” he said, adding that he and Terri got some tips from the chef and experimented in their own kitchen until they found the perfect blend of ingredients. “If you overcook it, it’s nothing but shoe leather,” he said.
Property features a boardwalk
the length of the waterfront
Building a home
There’s plenty of room for creating in the Uptains’ kitchen, which features a large island with lots of storage, a Wolf gas range, a Sub-Zero refrigerator and a deep, single-basin sink. A huge pantry just off the kitchen offers plenty of room for groceries, serving dishes and small appliances.
Terri, who designed the home before turning it over to an architect to make it official, oversaw every detail. She focused on the flow of the kitchen and even measured her bread machine before determining how wide the cabinet she planned to store it in should be.
“She designed this house and the one we lived in before in Beaver Ridge” in Ashville, Don said. “She’d take her drawing to the architects and tell them that this is what she wanted, but she didn’t know if it would work. They never changed a thing.”
The Uptains weren’t planning on building when they bought the lot with nearly 600 feet of shoreline. They had looked for years for a lot at Logan Martin and kept a boat there when a friend from church told them they ought to take a look at the lot on Neely Henry.
Paul Kell, who was the owner of Kell Realty before he passed away in 2011, had owned the lot and built the boathouse and the boardwalk in the 1990s, Don said. The lot is about eight miles from Ragland’s Main Street, and “once we got here, I said, ‘There’s no way I’ll drive this far out every day,’” Don said.
He couldn’t get the beautiful scenery off his mind, though, so they took another look a few weeks later. “That time it didn’t seem as far,” he said with a grin. They used it as a weekend place for nearly a year before deciding to build and moving to the lake full time in May 2010. “We decided we liked it out here,” he said. “You just can’t beat the views.”
Room for a family
Although they didn’t know it during the building process, their daughter Amber and her two boys ended up moving in with them, and they were there for 10 of the 11 years they’ve been in the home. “When we were building, there was space for a bonus room upstairs over the garage, and the builder said they could add flooring and wiring,” Terri said.
“We weren’t planning on doing anything with it, but we ended up finishing out the room,” she said. “Then we found out Amber and the boys were coming. It was the perfect place for them, and it had to be God’s work.”
Dining room view to patio
The lake was a wonderful spot for the boys, who were 3 and 10 months old at the time, to grow up. The Uptains’ other daughter, Dana, and her family were frequent visitors, as well. “Her husband is an avid fisherman,” Don said. “He took our neighbors’ grandson out one time, and they caught about 20 bass in just a few hours.”
Don and Terri said they have especially enjoyed all the wildlife on the lake. In addition to fish and turtles, they’ve seen everything from red foxes, gray foxes, turkeys and deer to osprey, bald eagles, egrets and herons. “We were sitting in the gazebo one day and looked up and there was a deer swimming across the lake,” Terri said. “I’d never seen that before.”
Don’s favorite spot is the gazebo, and Terri knows that if she can’t find him, it’s the first place she should look. “I’d be out here 80 percent of the time if I could,” Don said. “My favorite thing to do is just sit our here and watch the boats, the people and the wildlife. There’s always something to see here; it’s the most relaxing place on earth.”
Although life on Neely Henry has been a wonderful chapter in their lives, the Uptains have listed their house and are making plans to build a new one in the Friendship community of St. Clair County. “I was an Army brat growing up, so I would move every few years or so,” Don said.
Terri said that 10 or 11 years in one place seems to be their norm. “That’s how long we seem to stay before we move,” she said. “I think our interests change or something happens in our lives. Now that the boys are gone, we just don’t get the Sea-Doo or the boat out much.”
Although they’ll miss the water and the laid-back lifestyle the lake affords, they know it’s time for a mountain view and for someone else to love life on Neely Henry. “I hope someone with a family can enjoy it as much as we have,” Terri said.
Grilled Mediterranean Lamb Chops
8 Lamb Chops, about 1¼” thick ¼ cup Olive Oil 1¼ teaspoons Granulated Onion 1½ teaspoons Salt 1¼ teaspoons Granulated Garlic Olive Oil Salt 2 Tablespoons Fresh Rosemary, finely chopped 2 Tablespoons Fresh Oregano, finely chopped
Wash and pat dry the lamb chops. Drizzle olive oil on the top side of chops and spread with your hands. Sprinkle each chop with salt, onion, garlic, rosemary, and oregano. Use your hands to work the seasonings into the olive oil. Carefully, turn chops over and repeat this process on the other side. Place chops on preheated grill (500 degrees). Cook to medium/rare or medium doneness. Be sure to not overcook. Remove from grill, cover with foil and allow to rest for 5 minutes. Enjoy!
Mediterranean Rice
3 cups Jasmine Rice, cooked 1 teaspoon Cavender’s Greek Seasoning ½ teaspoon Salt 4 Tablespoons Greek Dressing ¼ cup Black Olives, chopped ¼ cup Onions, chopped ¼ cup Canned Muchrooms, chopped 3/8 cup Canned Artichokes, chopped 1/8 cup Capers
Combine all ingredients thoroughly. Adjust ingredient amounts to suit your taste. Enjoy!
The months of November and December can be one of the most fun times to fish Logan Martin Lake. Throughout the month of November, the bait fish tend to start their move to the back of creeks, and the bass will follow.
The lake should be at its winter drawdown level at this point in time. I usually target water that is no deeper than five feet. Look for shallow cover – like stumps, docks, and rocks.
I keep my bait selection simple this time of year. My main three baits are usually a squarebill crankbait, bladed jig and some type of topwater walking bait. I can fish with these three baits the whole month of November and find success.
As December rolls around, and the water gets colder, I tend to make a transition out to the main lake. I fish really deep bluff style banks with either a medium diving crankbait or finesse jig. If the current is pushing strong, I might mix in the bladed jig as well.
Look for banks that get the most sunlight first and will warm up quicker. I usually target rocks and clay banks that will hold heat this time of year.
Bites might be a little harder to get, but the ones you do catch will be big!
On Neely Henry
Neely Henry can be fished very similar to Logan Martin this time of year.
Watch for bait fish moving to the backs of the creeks and pockets right off the main body of water.
My three main baits for the month of November are a squarebill, buzzbait and bladed jig. I can put those three rods on the deck of my boat and cover water to find success.
When December arrives, I take a little different approach. I tend to still find fish super shallow on Neely Henry this time of year. It’s hard to beat a flat sided crankbait and finesse jig this time of year.
I will switch my focus to the main body of water and look for stumps and laydown trees. Rocky points and clay are also awesome places to check out as well.
Wintertime fishing can be tricky, but the reward will be big if you can figure out what the fish are doing. Some of the biggest fish bite this time of year.
Good luck!
Editor’s Note: Zeke Gossett of Zeke Gossett Fishing grew up on the Coosa River and Logan Martin Lake. He is a former collegiate champion and is now a professional angler on the B.A.S.S. tour circuit and is a fishing guide.
Holidays on display on Neely Henry and Logan Martin Lakes
Story by Katie Bohannon Submitted photos
Over 30 years transpired before Etowah County welcomed the Christmas boat parade back on its waters, with the community collecting in droves to witness a spectacular show for the seasons. Last year’s Christmas Boat Parade – the first in decades – inspired a resurgence on the horizon, as twinkling lights illuminated the lake once again, drifting happy golden days of yore closer to home.
This year, Etowah County will have not one, but two Christmas boat parades to usher in the season. The Gadsden Boat Parade is set for Dec. 3, and the Southside-Rainbow City Christmas Boat Parade will launch on Dec. 5, a relatively new addition to Christmas festivities in Etowah.
Southside resident Randy Elrod treasures fond childhood memories of Gadsden’s Christmas Boat Parade and street parade, recalling the excitement and joy he experienced during the holiday events.
Today, Elrod owns and operates Victory Marine & Outdoor Toys, LLC, a boat and outdoor toy repair shop in Glencoe. As a board member of the Neely Henry Lake Association, Elrod understands the importance of preserving, protecting and improving the quality of life surrounding Neely Henry Lake and Etowah County’s neighboring waters.
Formed as a nonprofit environmental and recreational organization, the Neely Henry Lake Association educates the community on practices that directly affect the lake, while partnering with likeminded advocates and municipalities to host engaging activities and projects for the public.
Elrod’s affiliation with both his personal passion for lake life, his professional involvement as a business owner and his public service with the Neely Henry Lake Association coincided with his desire to revive an event unlike any other holiday gathering – the Christmas boat parade. Although the parade returned to Gadsden first, when COVID-19 cancelled the city’s events, Elrod sought other alternatives. Keen to provide the community with a safe, entertaining evening and spread some holiday cheer, he decided to move the parade to Southside and Rainbow City.
Elrod partnered with Southside Mayor Dana Snyder and Rainbow City Mayor Joe Taylor to organize the event, where boats launched from Rainbow Landing and aligned with other participants on the Coosa River above Little Bridge Marina. The parade traveled down the river past Buck’s Island and looped back. While 2020’s parade featured only seven boats, its audience surpassed all expectation.
“I was really shocked,” said Elrod, discussing the crowd that arrived. “Since it was such short notice planning), and the weather turned bad on us a couple of days prior, I expected it to be a small crowd. I was really impressed with our community turnout…it was great. It’s really overwhelming to see that many people turn out the first year in Southside and Rainbow City.”
Over 200 cars parked to witness the parade by the bridge, traveling from across Etowah County and neighboring areas, including out of state. Decorated vehicles mirrored the promenade of boats, with lawn chairs ordaining the grounds as viewers settled into their seats. Families and friends gathered along the water, with children brightening and laughing as the parade passed by.
Though the parade is not a city-sponsored event, Snyder and Taylor proved instrumental in ensuring its success. Snyder shared that while Southside only prepared for a week prior to the parade, the community’s response served as a paramount reminder of the support citizens extend to one another countywide.
“It just blew up,” said Snyder. “I think the community is starving for new things to do, and they were excited about the new administration. It was amazing to see who came from other counties and out-of-state to see this Christmas boat parade. We put the parade on within a week, then we had the lighting of the Christmas tree, with the Southside High School band playing Christmas music for our Christmas with Santa event. A lot of people turned out for that, too. Those were two different events that got people excited about what the future was going to bring.”
Taylor expressed that the parade represented more than an enjoyable evening for citizens, but a unified effort that illustrated Rainbow City and Southside collaborating as two municipalities with the betterment of their residents in mind. While Southside and Rainbow City both house populations of approximately 10,000 each, combined, the two make up a large portion of the county. As neighboring cities, the pair’s residents share multiple assets and resources – from educational systems to entertainment and businesses.
Connecting communities
“The river is our connective tissue,” said Taylor. “It’s the muscle strand between our areas that we understand. We’ve called each other our sister city. Our governments (Rainbow City and Southside) work together and we do very well. Southside has a great mayor and council and we’ve been able to do some collective work.
“We’re continuously flowing back and forth in our education, and we just felt if we could do that in entertainment, we could move up and begin to share business and residential opportunities. I think that’s one of the things people want to see – that we’re going to come together and not be the city on the other side of the river.”
Taylor hopes the parade serves as only the beginning for a stronger partnership between Southside and Rainbow City, as both strive to enhance their riverfronts and the quality of life for their citizens. With so many shared areas, from Little Bridge Marina to boat ramps, Taylor and Snyder welcome a positive relationship that benefits both cities, willing to assist one another to achieve success.
Elrod commended the Neely Henry Lake Association, Snyder and Taylor for their contributions to the parade, expressing his gratitude for their efforts. Following the success of last year, preparation for the 2021 Christmas Boat Parade began the moment the boaters returned to dry land. Plans for this year’s parade include 45 minutes to an hour of dazzling boats, garnering a greater quantity than 2020. Elrod anticipates a larger crowd than before, hoping to increase every year.
“It’s a great season to do things that bring the community together,” said Snyder, inviting the community to attend. “I think with COVID going on for these past two years, this will give them something to do outside that they feel safe. Bring your lawn chairs, visit with each other, enjoy the lights and the season.”
Gadsden boat parade returns
In addition to Southside and Rainbow City, a second boat parade is scheduled for Gadsden on Friday, December 3. Gadsden’s boat parade marks its first since COVID-19 cancellations occurred.
“Residents of Gadsden and Etowah County enjoy the Coosa River every day of the year, and the annual boat parade is an opportunity to add some Christmas spirit,” said Gadsden Public Affairs Coordinator Michael Rodgers. “Many cities would love to have a river flowing through downtown, so it’s great that the community is able to capitalize on our special situation with a special event.”
Those interested in joining the parades are encouraged to contact Randy Elrod at 256-490-5959. No entry fee is required – participants just bring their boats, light them up and enjoy the ride.
“We all love a parade, but this offers (the community) something totally different,” said Taylor. “To find out there are people getting out and decorating a boat, requiring lighting and generators, I think it’s one of those things that makes people laugh and smile and have a moment out. It’s kind of small (and we’d like for it to get bigger), but it’s meaningful. It’ll make for a really good evening – it gives us an opportunity to show our hospitality.” “I think the boat parade offers the community a chance to come together and participate in something other than a stand-on-the-street Christmas parade,” said Elrod. “I do it because of the children – seeing them light up when the lights come by…I enjoyed it then like these kids enjoy it now. We are a lake community, so it’s the perfect opportunity for the community to come out and support something on the lake.”
Christmas at the Falls a spectacular light show
Ready to be dazzled for the holidays? Head to Christmas at the Falls as Noccalula Falls and the City of Gadsden team up to provide millions of lights throughout the park. Take in the view from paved walking trails or ride the park’s train.
Christmas at the Falls is slated for Nov. 25 – Dec. 23 and Dec. 26 – Jan. 1 from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. each day.
Santa will be appearing in the post office and general store and due to COVID-19 concerns, he’ll be able to talk to the kids from a safe distance.
Weather conditions may cause closure at certain times, and the train will not be running in inclement weather.
Looking for a way to make sure your holidays are merry and bright? Make plans to visit Lights in the Park, the Pell City Parks and Recreation Department’s annual gift to the community. The drive-through lights display at Lakeside Park has become a beloved tradition, and it’s one that keeps getting better.
“It’s gotten a little bigger each year,” said Valerie Painter, who is manager of the Pell City Civic Center and oversees the yearly event. “People really look forward to it.”
The tradition started more than 20 years ago, and the event was designed to give local businesses, churches, organizations or individuals an opportunity to spread some holiday cheer and get free advertising in the process. Participating groups can include signs with their displays, and anything goes for the decorations – as long as the display is lighted, holiday-themed and family-friendly.
“It’s a great way for businesses, especially small businesses to get their name out there,” Painter said. In keeping with the spirit of the holidays, there’s no charge for the organizations or the community members who come to enjoy the displays. “This is just a fun way for the city to give back to the community,” she said. “The park is such a beautiful venue, even in the fall and winter.”
Thousands of people drive through Lights in the Park each year, scheduled this holiday season from Dec. 1 through Jan. 2.
It’s gotten so popular, in fact, that the number of cars has more than doubled over the past three years. In 2020, more than 9,300 cars drove through the light display, up from just over 7,300 the year before and 4,070 in 2018. “We have some people who come through two and three times a week,” Painter said.
Each year, there are spots for 55 to 60 displays, depending on size, and they go fast. “It’s first come, first serve, and the businesses start calling months in advance,” said Painter, who got her first call in April this year. “We hate to turn anyone away, but we only have so much electricity,” she said.
In addition to decorations, various churches have provided live nativity scenes on certain nights. Last year, visitors could sync their drive with holiday music from a local radio station, and that will be the case again this season. Vignettes from past years have ranged from Santa and his reindeer to toy soldiers, Christmas trains and a candy shop.
“Everyone has really come a long way in recent years and stepped up with their displays,” Painter said, adding that a little healthy competition has made the event even more special. “A lot of the businesses will add something each year because they see that everyone else’s is getting bigger and better. They want their display to be the one that everyone’s talking about.”
Lakeside Park is the place to be Nov. 13 as Lakeside Live takes center stage for central Alabama’s brand-new music festival, car show, motorcycle poker run and Battle of the Badges.
This mammoth event, featuring live bands from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. with hit musical artists, “Disciple,” headlining a host of other bands and musical groups, including Tristen Gressett, Cory Jr. and Company, Fuzz Huzzi, Kudzu and Echoes of the Abyss.
Gates open at 10 a.m., and it is free to the public. Proceeds from the event will benefit Pell City’s police and fire departments.
The car show is slated from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. A motorcycle poker run is planned, and Battle of the Badges from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. is sure to entertain. It pits the Pell City Police Department against the Pell City Fire Department in tug of war, 3-legged race, doughnut eating contest and more. The winner will receive a “Championship” style belt to compete for every year. The belt will have winners engraved on it every year.
Vendors of all descriptions will fill the park, and organizers plan a day and evening fun for the whole family.
This time of year, you really start to see the bass key in on smaller bait fish
by Zeke Gossett Photos submitted
On Logan Martin
The months of September and October on Logan Martin is when bass start to make their big move to shallower water.
A couple of things cause this transition. First, the cooler nights in the fall cause water temperature to go down. Second, the shad begin their move to the backs of the creeks. Moreover, oxygen is depleted in the deeper water causing the bait fish and bass to move up shallower.
This time of year, you really start to see the bass key in on smaller bait fish. Baits I use to target these fish are small top waters like a popper.
Find rocky banks or seawalls first thing, and you should have success. As the sun comes up, I’ll usually switch over to a squarebill crankbait in any type of shad color using it in the same types of places.
Piers become a big factor as well this time of year. I’ll throw the squarebill or a finesse jig in and around the docks. I’ll usually target piers in water ten foot or less.
This time of year, remember to focus on shallow water in creeks, and you should find success on Logan Martin.
On Neely Henry
Neely Henry is going to have a lot of similarities to Logan Martin this time of year. The bass will make a push toward the backs of the creeks.
The main difference between Logan Martin and Neely Henry is the winter draw down will begin on Logan. Because of the draw down, there will not be as much grass to fish, especially starting in October.
Starting out in the morning on Neely Henry, I will usually either start in grass or seawalls toward the back of any major creek. I’ll throw either a popping style frog or whopper plopper down the edge of the grass or seawalls. Both of these will be in any shad color.
Keep an eye out for baitfish on the surface because the fish will usually be hanging around close by. As the sun comes up, I’ll start focusing on shade, whether it be from a tree limb or docks.
For docks, I will either use a finesse jig or some type of creature bait in green pumpkin. If it is cloudy, I will just keep the topwater in my hands throughout the whole day.
As these months progress, and the water temperatures start to cool, the fishing will only get better.
Editor’s Note: Zeke Gossett of Zeke Gossett Fishing grew up on the Coosa River and Logan Martin Lake. He is a former collegiate champion and is now a professional angler on the B.A.S.S. tour circuit and is a fishing guide.Learn more about Zeke at: zekegossettfishing.com.
After months of cancellation and anticipation, one of the Southeast’s select street parties resurged in The City of Champions – with the free event’s June debut proving bigger and better than ever.
The return of downtown’s beloved First Friday restores a pre-pandemic feeling of fellowship for locals and tourists alike. Meander through downtown at the dawn of each month, and Gadsden will greet you with something special.
When First Friday blocks off Broad Street, downtown comes alive. Eye-catching antique automobiles, with vibrant colors and bold styles, beckon admirers to weave into the 1950s and out of the 80s with a simple stroll. Eager listeners cluster, tapping their feet where bands perform on street corners, inhaling the sweet aroma of powdered sugar from food vendors or savory scents of freshly cooked meals floating from favorite restaurants.
Children pull apart funnel cakes with sticky fingers, trailing behind parents pushing strollers, waving at familiar faces sitting outside storefronts. Boutiques swell with customers browsing unique merchandise, making note of their next visit. Reflections of laughing friends pass in shop windows as artists gather in the museum, while families reconnect with neighbors and jovial store owners welcome guests by name.
Though First Friday prompts people to reminisce about Gadsden’s “good old days,” its paramount success serves as a reminder that good is far from gone.
COVID-19 brought First Friday to an unprecedented halt in March of 2020, the hiatus proving wise in its mission of maintaining the health and safety of in- and out-of-town residents. As First Friday celebrates its 15th anniversary in 2021, Gadsden celebrates the event’s influence on the city, recalling the spark that ignited tradition.
In the beginning
First Friday began in January of 2006, when East Gadsden native Sylvia Smith cultivated a blueprint to attract visitors to downtown Gadsden to shop and dine. Smith, who owned and operated The Stone Market on Court Street, mirrored Gadsden’s First Friday from a concept her daughter discovered while living in Augusta, Ga.
In downtown Augusta, Smith’s daughter joined crowds of friends and families with their children, visiting art galleries and listening to musicians playing in the street. Smith’s daughter shared that while the event is fun for the community, it also serves a dual purpose – to boost downtown’s worth.
Live entertainment
Smith was no stranger to Gadsden’s value. As a child, she and her sisters frequented downtown Gadsden with their mother, who entertained them with window shopping and walks up and down Broad Street. She treasured fond memories of 10-cents worth of malted milk balls at McClellan’s and registering (and winning) door prizes when stores held promotions.
“Going downtown was a really happy thing we did in my childhood,” said Smith. “That was the way I viewed downtown. I was in Gadsden as a young adult with children when Gadsden died. Downtown was full of empty buildings. Teenagers were driving up and down Broad Street in cruisers, making messes of the storefronts and breaking windows. Businesses were closed. That was the saddest thing, to see that as my hometown. My hope was to see that go away, to see businesses have storefronts with products and lights in the windows – and I’ve gotten to see that.”
Smith planted a seed in her quaint store, inviting artists like Earthborn Pottery’s Tena Payne to provide interactive insight for guests on how she created her designs. With Italian hand-painted dinnerware and wines from small family-owned vineyards across the world, Smith welcomed the public to The Stone Market to promote her vendors, featuring wine tastings and in-house cooking demonstrations.
“That (first) night, my store was completely packed with people,” said Smith. “People came in fur coats and diamond earrings! I was so blown away by what people thought about me doing that. It was funny and rewarding and so cool … I was in awe of the support. I didn’t view First Friday as just for me, ever – not once. It was something citywide I was working for.”
The interest The Stone Market’s First Friday generated for Gadsden soon turned heads. Before long, Smith’s fellow business owners, who shared her drive to rejuvenate the city, gathered for a meeting at The Mary G. Hardin Center for Cultural Arts. During the meeting, local business owners underwent a training session to discover the best methods of promotion for downtown, brainstorming ideas and forging a toolkit for future events.
In October of 2007, Director of Downtown Gadsden, Inc. Kay Moore joined the coalition of merchants seeking to better their city. As a nonprofit community partnership that fosters the economic development of downtown, DGI’s purpose aligned with First Friday’s mission and laid the foundation for Gadsden’s growth.
Moore partnered with downtown merchants and instrumental figures like Smith and Little Faces Doll Shop’s Terry Jennings, whose endless connections with classic car clubs incorporated the vintage vehicles that would bring First Friday fame – drawing visitors from all over the Southeast from Mississippi to Florida. In June of this year, the Rainbow City Hot Rod Club invited classic car enthusiasts from Tennessee and Georgia to display 550 cars for the summer cruise-in.
“(Since First Friday) we have gone from a 60% occupancy rate to a 90% occupancy rate on Broad Street,” said Moore. “If I have somebody call and ask to rent a space, I don’t really have a space for them to rent. I would attribute the great majority of that to First Friday, because people would come and see Gadsden has a great downtown.”
“First Friday has enabled us to be a bigger part of the community. It has been something that has really helped our restaurants and retail stores to grow. It brought businesses that were looking to expand. And for different people who were wanting to open a small business, First Friday gave them the courage to step out and do it.”
While Broad Street featured few restaurants at the time of First Friday’s inception, Smith echoed Moore’s sentiments of First Friday’s inspirational influence. Today, downtown Gadsden offers guests a plethora of dining options – from pizza at Blackstone Pub & Eatery and pimento cheese burgers at The Rail Public House, seafood at C&J’s Crab Shack to chicken and waffles at Harp & Clover. First Friday goers can satisfy their dessert cravings with ice cream at Scoop Du Jour, indulge in specialty cheesecakes at Gadsden Variety Café or stop by one of the friendly food vendors parked throughout Broad Street.
Food trucks and vendors
Moore’s passion for Gadsden, like Smith, is rooted in a childhood enriched with family visits to downtown, which she described as “the center of the community.”
Those involved with First Friday’s creation, with their commitment and keen eye for Gadsden’s potential, parallel the incredible community response to the event. First Friday lifted the fog for neighboring municipalities to witness a hidden gem just a few miles away and reminded Gadsden residents of the merit abiding in their hometown.
Year after year, droves of enthusiastic supporters flock to the monthly event, drawn by the festive and cheerful atmosphere that never ceases.
“First Friday is fun for all who come,” said Moore. “People come for several different reasons. For some, it’s just to meet up with friends, wander around and look. Some of them come to listen to the entertainment we have, some of them come to just enjoy themselves and get out. It’s evolved over the years, but it’s one of those things that’s come about to bring people together.”
From crowds standing shoulder-to-shoulder watching July 4th fireworks on the Memorial Bridge to First Friday visitors who fall in love with downtown and decide to make Gadsden their permanent home, the event’s camaraderie and impact on its community prove profound.
Smith, who now lives in Foley, where she owns and operates upscale, American restaurant Local and Company Food + Drink with Ephraim Kadish, attested to First Friday’s realm of influence that drifted as far as the coast. Smith shared that Foley recently selected Gadsden to model after, learning from her hometown methods of improvement for The Forward City.
“Even in Baldwin County now, almost every single day someone comes in the restaurant who heard I’m from Gadsden and tells me a story about someone in their family, a friend or someone they know who is from Gadsden,” said Smith. “And I know them a lot of times. It’s amazing the connection. I always say, Gadsden raised some of the best people in the world. They may leave for other opportunities, but they come back.”
As First Friday continues to evolve, the event represents more than a mere incentive to rekindle a city’s spot on a map. First Friday illustrates a lasting legacy fashioned among residents committed to sparking a positive change, welcoming visitors near and far to experience an event as worthwhile as its people.
“I think I knew that First Friday could become what it is today,” said Smith. “That the people who live in Gadsden and surrounding cities would start coming back, like when I was a child and walked up and down the streets with those beautiful buildings and went into shops where people knew you by name. Gadsden is a gorgeous city – the river runs through it, and the people there are so generous and friendly. It’s truly a hometown feeling to be there.”
Judi Denard stood in her kitchen overlooking Logan Martin Lake and pointed to a headline in a newspaper clipping that was yellowed with age. The accompanying story focused on Judi and her husband, Carlton, who had just moved into a townhome on the water. “A great place to start a new life,” the headline read.
“Look at that title from 1998,” she said. “It could still be the same title today.” That’s because Judi, who will turn 80 in January, is starting over once again. After Carlton passed away in February 2020, Judi sold the large home they renovated together and moved back to Harbor Town Townhomes, where they lived when they first got married.
“Twenty-four years later, I’m back where I started from,” said Judi, who returned to Harbor Town last August. “This unit came up for sale and when I walked in, I didn’t even have to look around. I’ve always loved these condos – I’m just a river rat at heart.”
One of the things Judi loves most is the view from her kitchen counter. “When you stand back here, you don’t see the land, you just see water,” she said. “It’s like being on a cruise ship. You can go to a different place every day.”
Small spaces
Although the kitchen is about a third of the size of the one in the four-bedroom lake home she and Carlton eventually renovated, Judi is rediscovering that good things come in small packages. “It’s not a big kitchen, but it gets the job done,” she said. “It’s a fun kitchen to work with.”
Judi had plenty of time during the height of the pandemic to get her new, compact kitchen just like she wanted it. She had lots of help from her daughter Parys Scott, who splits time between Atlanta and Pell City and owns the condo two doors down. “We’re trying to get my granddaughter to buy here, too,” Judi said. “Then we’d have three generations here.”
Judi’s current kitchen overlooks a dining area, which is open to a living area with a vaulted ceiling. “My other kitchen was as big as the whole living area here,” Judi said. “My big kitchen was great, but we nearly walked ourselves to death.”
In her new kitchen space, which previous owners renovated, she has a built-in cabinet for her microwave, pots, pans and dishes, a built-in wine rack, and a functional area that allows her to complete all her tasks without moving around too much. She stores serving pieces and other items in the guest room closet, which is just off the kitchen.
“I’ve had fun coming up with creative ways to make the most of the space,” Judi said. She found a roll-up dish drying rack that fits over her sink when she needs it and allows her to cut vegetables or dry dishes without taking up space on the counter. She‘s especially fond of her noodle board, a wooden tray with handles that covers her stovetop and provides an additional workspace.
“They’re all over Pinterest,” she said. “I love all this stuff that gives me the wherewithal to make my space more functional. I can’t wait until it’s football season. I can just make some snacks, put them on my noodle board, pick it up and take the whole thing over to the television.”
Her Greek meatballs and Greek layer dip made with hummus and Greek yogurt are sure to make an appearance. “I love to cook, and I just love Greek food,” she said. “I love entertaining with themes.”
Theme or not, Judi has always loved entertaining, period. That’s why the loss of Carlton and four dear friends, who all have died within the past year, have made this year of isolation especially difficult for the vivacious Judi.
“We used to do a lot of entertaining,” she said. “We had a football group, we had dock parties every Friday night, and we had lots of people over for dinner. After Carlton died and COVID hit, I only saw my daughter and granddaughter, who came in from Atlanta on the weekends. We didn’t see anyone else. We’ll all start back eventually, I guess.”
A place to call home
When Judi and Carlton married in 1996, it was a second marriage for both. They had each lost a spouse to cancer, and Judi was living in Atlanta while Carlton was a builder in Trussville. “I said, ‘Let’s move to that little city on the water,’” Judi remembers.
Living room featuring a silk wall hanging
They lived in the townhome for 10 years before buying the lake house, which was just a mile away. They lived there for 14 years, until Carlton’s death. “I knew I didn’t want the upkeep of that big house and yard, so when my daughter told me this unit was available, I jumped at it,” she said. “There’s a lot to be said for downsizing, and when you get to be my age, it’s amazing how little you have to have.”
Although she got rid of a lot of things, including some of the elephant figurines and artwork that were part of a large collection – “I’ve always loved elephants,” she said – Judi kept many things that are special to her. A crazy quilt tapestry that she made from Dupioni dupioni silks has a place of honor above the fireplace. One of the tapestry’s 12 squares features labels from her mother’s clothing that represent a variety of Birmingham department stores, including Loveman’s, Blach’s and Burger-Phillips.
The downstairs living area also features several paintings created by artist friends, and a gallery of animal-themed artwork hangs next to the fireplace. “We had animals all over the house over there, and they ended up all together over here,” she said.
Another prized possession is an old recipe box filled with handwritten cards of some of her family’s favorite dishes. “Sixty years ago, we were all swapping recipe cards,” Judi said. “A friend I went to grammar school and high school with texted me recently that he had just run across one of my old recipe cards. We’ve gone from recipe boxes to cookbooks and now to Pinterest.”
Dining Area
A new life
Although the past year has reminded Judi that she can’t take anything for granted, she tries to look forward instead of back. She loved the memories she and Carlton created in the townhome and their house, and she’s looking forward to creating more memories in this next season of life.
She’s making plans to see The Rolling Stones in concert in November, and she’s thinking about making her own music. “My neighbor plays the violin and has a friend who plays the guitar. I play the piano, so we’re going to form a band,” she said with a laugh. No matter what she does next, she’s happy to be in a place that’s familiar. “I loved our house, but I love my condo, too,” she said. She’s fortunate that both places have the one thing she needs most: a fabulous view of the water. “You can’t beat it,” she said of life on the lake. “We saw the sun come up there, and you see the sun go down here.”
Greek Layer Dip
1 cup mayonnaise 1 cup unflavored Greek yogurt 2 tsp. dried dill ¼ tsp. Lawry’s seasoned salt 1 tsp. minced onions Salt and pepper to taste 2 tsp. lemon juice 1 cucumber peeled and diced 1 container hummus Feta cheese Sliced black olives Tabouli (I buy it in the deli section at Publix.)
Combine first seven ingredients and refrigerate. Spread hummus on bottom of bowl with a spatula. Spread mayonnaise and yogurt mixture on top of hummus. Continue layering the following: Tabouli, diced cucumber, feta cheese and olives. Serve with pita bread.
Greek Meatballs
1 ½ pounds ground beef 1 small red onion, finely diced 2 garlic cloves, minced ¾ tsp. salt 1 tsp. dried oregano 1 tsp. cinnamon powder 1 tsp. black pepper 1 tsp. dried parsley 1 tbsp chopped fresh mint ½ to 1 tsp. red chili flakes 1 bread slice 2 tbsp milk 1 egg ½ cup flour ¼ cup olive oil (if frying) Tzatziki sauce (I use the kind from the Publix deli.)
Soak bread slice in milk and tear up. Combine all ingredients except oil and flour. Mix well and refrigerate for 1 hour. Grease hands and make round balls, using 2 tbsp of the mixture per meatball. (You can make them any size you want, though.) Dredge meatballs in flour. Fry meatballs in olive oil or bake them at 350 degrees for about 30 minutes. Serve with Tzatziki sauce.
Story by Leigh Pritchett Photos courtesy of Edna Daffron, Margaret Green, Buck Humphries (from the Scarboro Collection), Alabama Power
Many times in her life, Ellen Hare had heard that a dam would be built on the Coosa River near Ragland.
“I have heard that all my life,” she said in the 1950s to family members.
“Big Mama,” as she was called, wanted to see that dam. “She loved to think about things like that and picture it in her mind,” said Jerry Sue Brannon of Ragland, Hare’s 84-year-old granddaughter.
Later, though, Big Mama resigned herself to the likelihood it would not happen in her lifetime, according to Brannon. “She said, ‘I just won’t live to see that.’”
Crane work during construction
Indeed, she did not. Hare died in the early 1960s, which was also when construction was starting on H. Neely Henry Dam. The dam went into operation in 1966.
“The first time we crossed the dam,” Brannon recalls, “we said, ‘Big Mama, we’re crossing the dam you didn’t think would be here!’”
Big Mama had been right. Talk about developing the Coosa River had spanned her entire life. The beginning of those discussions date to 1870, according to the publication, Alabama Power Company’s Coosa and Warrior River Projects.
“Many surveys of the Coosa River had been authorized by Congress beginning with a recommendation in the 1870s for 34 locks and dams, with later recommendations in 1892, 1904, 1909, 1931, 1943, 1947, 1952 and 1953 for varying numbers of dams,” the publication reveals. “The last study by the United States Army Corps of Engineers recommended eight dams.”
The river, before the dam was constructed, was “free-flowing,” said Gene Phifer of Riddles Bend in Etowah County.
“It was shallow, but it was swift” and in constant motion, said Ohatchee’s Lewis “Buck” Humphries.
Beth Evans-Smith of Ashville was a little girl when Alabama Power undertook land negotiations to prepare for Neely Henry Dam and the lake it would form. She remembers going to an Alabama Power office with her dad and granddad during negotiations. The Evans family lived three miles from where the dam would be built.
After negotiations were finalized, landowners had two years to get their property ready for the reservoir that would result, Evans-Smith said. Her parents and grandparents had to relocate several structures on their Greensport farm to higher ground, get rid of some cattle and complete other building projects.
“I remember it was chaotic and stressful,” said Evans-Smith.
Leading up to and during the dam’s construction, travel in the area could be a challenge. A road between Greensport and Ragland was closed, and its bridges and culverts deconstructed because it eventually would be under Neely Henry Lake, said Evans-Smith.
There was also an effort by some area residents – among them Brannon’s husband, Charlie (now deceased), Margaret Green of Ashville and Junior Dover (now deceased) of Ohatchee – and archaeologists to find and preserve as many artifacts as possible. Some archaeological activities focused on the Lock 1 area where Green and her parents lived.
“When I was a little girl living at Lock 1, I can remember going to what my father called ‘the bottoms.’ This was land that lay beside the river bank,” said Green, who has researched the Greensport area history and chronicled steamboat travel on the Coosa. “… It was not unusual to find arrowheads down on the bottom land. As we picked up these arrowheads, my father would tell me stories of how my grandfather used to plow that land, and human bones or pieces of broken pottery would be turned to the surface. I think it must have been such a common occurrence every spring when the fields were plowed, and no one thought about the significance. In the early 1960s before Neely Henry Dam was built, and the bottom land was flooded, a team of graduate students from the University of Alabama’s archaeology department came to the area and unearthed several Indian skeletons.”
Runner, lock 3 Dam
Humphries said his brother-in-law, Norman Henderson, helped to build the dam. While moving dirt with equipment at the upper end of Wood Island (above Lock 3 on the St. Clair side), Henderson also uncovered graves of Native Americans.
“(Wood Island) was actually a huge trading post (for Native Americans) at one time,” said Humphries, whose knowledge of the Coosa River and the area’s history is extensive. The site had also been a natural ford.
Wood Island, part of the Ten Island series, had been a settlement for Creek Indians, notes Natasha Reshetnikova, in the March 23, 2013, article A magnet for civilization, exploration, conflict on Alabama Power’s Alabama NewsCenter website. Ten Island also held strategic significance in the Creek War and Civil War and was in proximity to Fort Strother, built in 1813.
Like any other massive project, the dam’s construction piqued curiosity and people wanted to see what was happening at the site.
Joan Ford of Ragland and friends would go past the barricades and sneak up for a close look at the work and the huge machinery. “We had a front-row seat,” she said.
Her husband Jack reminisced about seeing large encirclements that were being pumped dry of water for drilling to be done.
And of course, there were stories to share about what was seen, heard or experienced.
Mike Goodson, in History Revisited posted Sept. 27, 2009, on The Gadsden Times’ website, relates a fish tale that circulated. “The divers who worked on … the Neely-Henry Dam at Ohatchee surfaced with stories about giant catfish as large as a man on the murky bottom of the Coosa River.”
Preparing for the lake’s arrival
While the dam was being built, a teenaged Kenneth Swafford undertook a building project of his own, anticipating the fun that would ensue when Lake Gadsden (on the Coosa) deepened.
“I was building a homemade, pontoon boat,” said Swafford, who lives in Rainbow City. “I was just 14 or 15, building my own boat.” The vessel sported a 9.5-horse power motor and pontoons of 55-gallon drums lined with resin.
Boats were an infrequent sight on the Coosa at that time, and when they did appear, they were usually fishing boats, Swafford said. His pleasure boat would surely be a novelty.
Launches and marinas also were few, which limited access to the river, said Steven Baswell, mayor of Ohatchee.
When the dam went into service, what a time of excitement that was.
Phifer, then 18, and his dad went to see – by boat – the dam in operation when it was only a few days old. They found themselves among others watching with great interest from the water.
“That was very memorable,” Phifer said. “That was very fascinating.”
This new dam and the lake it created quickly transformed the landscape, changing communities, travel and the way people regarded the river.
Those who witnessed this metamorphosis said property owners subdivided their land and sold lots for riverfront homes. Property values increased. Marinas, launches, docks and piers were built. Businesses in the vicinity added bait and tackle to their inventory. The river became a popular destination for recreation. Before long, fishing tournaments were being held, drawing anglers from other areas.
The number of boats on the river was ever increasing. “Nowadays, it’s just covered up with boats,” said Phifer.
Added Swafford, “They’re out there night and day, winter and summer.”
With the dam in service, the Coosa River’s level rose. The water became clearer, and fish grew larger in size and number, said Phifer.
He attributed the increase in size and number of fish to two factors. One is that Alabama Power had left some trees that, when covered by water, offered a great habitat for fish. (The trees became a hazard to people and water vessels, an issue that later had to be addressed.) The other is that the nutrients from recently submerged parcels of land seemed to have a positive effect on the fish.
“It really changed this river system when it was put online in 1966. … It was a totally different ecosystem,” said Phifer, who is knowledgeable about the Coosa River environs. He later worked for Alabama Power and, with company support, began in 1999 what would become the Renew Our Rivers cleanup project.
The fact that the river’s water was no longer free-flowing meant anglers had to adjust to stillwater fishing.
“It changed fishing so much that my dad quit fishing (commercially) because he had to go fishing in still water and didn’t know it as well,” said Humphries.
As for travel, Alabama 144 traversed the dam and provided constant access between Ragland and Ohatchee, unlike the ferry services on which people had to depend previously, Baswell said.
This advantage increased traffic into and out of Ragland, said Ford, who served a term as the town’s mayor.
Although its primary function was as a hydroelectric power plant, the dam also became an attraction, a museum and a classroom all in one.
Evans-Smith said some relics found in the vicinity during construction were put on display at the dam for a while.
Ford, who was an educator for three decades, took years of students on field trips to the dam. “Going down under the dam was exciting for them.”
Jerry Sue Brannon got to go into the operations room with husband Charlie, an Alabama Power employee, to watch the dam produce what Charlie called “good, cheap electricity.”
Regarding the Ten Island series, Wood Island had been incorporated into the dam and all the remaining islands, except the top of Rock Island, were covered with lake water, states the Reshetnikova article.
Alabama Power now maintains Ten Island Park, an outlet for swimming, pier and bank fishing, boat launching, hiking, birding and picnicking.
“It ended up, it was the best thing because it generates a lot of energy,” Humphries said of the dam.
Though much history is concealed underneath the lake, one nugget revealed itself in 2007, affording Humphries a rare find.
While walking on Janney Mountain on the Calhoun County side of Lock 3 during drought conditions that had lowered the water level, Humphries spotted three fish weirs that Native Americans had used to trap fish.
So excited he was to see that bit of history before him that he immediately got the camera his wife used for photographing weddings and documented his find … in drizzling rain!
Additional assistance with this article provided by Penny Owens (Town of Ragland); Will Mackey (The Chamber, Gadsden-Etowah County); Hugh Stump (Greater Gadsden Area Tourism); and Karin Cosper (Town of Ohatchee).
Watson said, “the large concrete structure with the fisherman is the north half of dam 5, looking back at Talladega County. This did not go across to St. Clair, only part of the way.”
More about the fifth dam
Photos submitted from Lincoln Mayor Lew Watson By the time construction commenced on H. Neely Henry Dam in the early 1960s, the quest to improve navigation on the Coosa River was nearing its 100-year mark.
During the first 48 of those years, some projects were completed to make the Coosa River navigable south of Greensport in St. Clair County. In a previous edition of LakeLife 24/7®, an article stated that three locks and the dam for a fourth lock were constructed before Congress stopped appropriating funds for the project.
However, information has been received since, showing more work actually was done.
The publication, Alabama Power Company’s Coosa and Warrior River Projects, states: “Under various Congressional authorizations, six government projects had been completed on the Coosa River by 1918. They consisted of the lock portions of Locks 1, 2 and 3 completed in 1890, Lock 4 and dam completed in 1914, Mayo’s Bar completed in 1915, and dam only No. 5 in 1918. Their continued operation was not justified, so in 1920, the Chief of Engineers reported to the Secretary of War his opinion that the whole existing project should be abandoned due to lack of commercial use.”
Lincoln Mayor Lew Watson took photos in 1963 before Neely Henry Dam was built to record what it was like before the lake was created.
