Historical societies great assets, need more participation
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In My Humble Opinion
Jodi McDade
Most of you know I am not originally from Coosa County. My husband and I moved here almost 25 years ago so, since I don’t have at least five generations buried here, I am a relative “newcomer”!
But, once we got here and started looking into Larry’s genealogy, we did learn that he WAS related to people who lived and died in Coosa County. His family goes back to Thomas Ridge White and Missouri Fields Buffington and their family who moved from the Brasstown, N.C., area to Weogufka to escape the Trail of Tears.
With that knowledge we became more interested in learning the history of Coosa County and how his family fit in to it. Larry became very proud of the fact he had Coosa County in his blood, but he never really connected with any family members before his death. I’m sure he really regretted that. So, I continue his journey.
He was born in Wetumpka and had family from that area, also, so we started attending some of the Elmore County Historical Society meetings when they related to the Native Americans from that area.
Then, we learned about the Coosa County Historical Society, and we started attending some of their meetings. Larry ended up spending hours at “The Coosa County News” office talking to Jo Scarbrough and buying copies of the historical books that were available. That’s about the time he found out about his Coosa County roots.
Historical societies help maintain and share the history of their area and the families who lived there. The people created the history that needs to be shared to later generations, and the best way to do that is through documents and documentation from the past. Granted, many of the legal documents are housed in courthouses, but the societies also collect personal information and hold events to maintain them.
They also help document historical buildings, photographs, etc. Unfortunately, many of these groups are made up predominately of older people, and they really need some of the younger (under 60) people to get involved.
Coosa County is in that group. I really don’t know if Coosa County history is taught in the school system here. I certainly hope it is. But, it can be learned by participating with the Coosa County Historical Society. It would even be great if some extra credit could be given to any student who attends our meetings!
We need new members in order to continue to maintain and share the enormous amount of history about Coosa County. The CCHS meets the fourth Sunday of January, April, July, October, and December at 2 p.m. at the historic Crews Drug Store building (now Twenty-Two & Crew) in Rockford.
The Coosa County Historical Society was formed in 1972, so last year was its 50th anniversary. Because of illnesses it was not celebrated last year, but an event is being planned for April 2023. It would be great to have new members to help with this event.
In other things going on in Coosa County, the clean up efforts are still going on in the Equality/Nixburg/Rehobeth/County Road 304 areas. Coosa County has received a Disaster Declaration from the federal government which will help provide some financial assistance to those who lost their homes and belongings.
FEMA now has an office set up in Rehobeth to help these people. Please continue to pray for our neighbors as they go through what will be a long recovery situation.
The state and federal legislatures are in session so try to keep up with the good and bad bills they may be plotting on. Supposedly, there will be a push in Montgomery for a more extensive school choice bill. If you happen to be following the problems with the educational systems in many of the other states you need to be prepared for those very same issues to eventually get to Alabama and Coosa County.
As long as there is a U.S. Department of Education in Washington dictating to the state education departments, local schools will never be in charge of what and how our children are taught. The priority seems to be convincing our children they are victims, can decide their own sex, and that the education system overrides their parents. We DO NOT need or want that in Coosa County.
Well, until next week! God bless you all – and thank you to all of you who have given me such wonderful compliments on my column. It is a labor of love.