Red Mountain Makers Fundraiser and Open House

   

Birmingham, Alabama was once well known for its  iron and steel industry.  

There was a running joke when I went off to school, that if you were from Birmingham, Alabama your Daddy worked at one of the steel mills. Not always true but, close. 😊 

Though the steel mills have closed, their  history will never be forgotten. Steel was the bread and butter income of many families.  Sloss Furnace,  now a historic landmark, was once a blast furnace producing pig iron. It was open from 1882 until 1971.

 Further notoriety of the iron and steel business in Birmingham, Alabama is seen through it's permanent fixture of  the cast iron statue atop Red Mountain, known as Vulcan, 

Signage could have been a little better. Had to walk two blocks to the entrance

 Jiggly octopi made from 3-D Printer

The welding I did not get to see because I didn't want to wear a sweaty welding hood

Auto darkening hood

that unknown other people  had been wearing.        Icky!! 😖

I did get to see blacksmithing and the forging of a sword.

 

Red Mountain Makers is not only paying homage to the city's steel and iron industry. It is keeping alive many of the crafts and vocations that might otherwise be lost without those who continue to practice them.

That's it 🔥🔥🔥

Archwell Health

Located where Rite Aid once was, Archwell is a health clinic for those aged 60 and above located in Roebuck Center.  I'd long wanted to know what services they provided. Today's Open House afforded me that opportunity.

After registering, attendees were free to mingle with other guests and explore vendors. Some people I met were already members of Archwell and seemed to be pleased with the offerings.  There were representatives from  Medicare Advantage , Salvation Army, Jefferson County Department of Senior Services and the staff at Archwell.

The tour guide gave us valuable information and answered our questions. Doctors book no more than 5 patients a day. Being able to see a/your primary care physician when needed was a positive that got my attention. Having to wait two weeks to see a doctor and given little time of his or her time is a turn off for me. Also, patients see the same doctor when they visit. 

I asked if there is a fee to join Archwell and was told no. 👍  Although, there are caveats to everything. There are only two insurances they accept. Those are Cigna and United Health Care.  Sadly, I do not have either of those.🙁 I know that I have the option to change from what the retirement board gives me but, I am hesitant to do so. I don't care to investigate options. I don't want to do THAT much thinking.  

It was  a wonderful event. The staff was friendly and accommodating.  The schedule in the picture above shows programs and activities they have during the week.  Non members are welcomed to attend. 

That's it***

 

 

Red____________________________lining

 taken from Birmingham Times

 I viewed the exhibit Redlining last year, 2019 during the month of October at the Birmingham Museum of Art (BMA). On display was photography done by Celestia Morgan on the Federal Housing Administration's practice of redlining. During the 1930's this department would single out housing areas considered to be undesirable for whites by drawing a red line around them on city maps.  Conversely, banks denied  mortgages and loans if a person of color or certain religion wanted to purchase a home in an all white area.

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Photographing the sky shows that there is no difference and it is limitless. Sky is sky.  Drawing connecting lines  indicates enclosure.

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Visitors were invited to give their views on three questions. Post-it notes were provided and answers could be placed underneath the questions.  Here are some of their thoughts.

• My grandparents had to personally fight to get the roads paved in their community though they pay taxes the same as others
• Hard to bring neighborhood back to its original state
• Redlining has impacted their opportunity to move to better areas ultimately causing them to live in poorer neighborhoods without healthy eating options and limited exercise abilities leading to unhealthy living and outcome.
• Many people I know have been in unsafe places because of this program. It is heartbreaking to know that something could happen to them. It truly hurts.

Click this link for a short (6:29) interview film on Celestia Morgan's redlining exhibit.

That's all __________________***

Next week:  Ensley, Alabama

NOTE:

 Blogger has changed its print size.

This is small

This is normal

This is large 😕 Go figure?

The Other White House

 It was stately, still standing and living life

NORWOOD  was the wealthy side of town during the late 19^th century and well into the 20^th century. 

copied from Flickr

 The economic boom at the turn of the century afforded the newly rich to build grand mansions and stately homes.  Many of the homes from that era are still standing. They range from well-maintained to neglected and demolished.

Recently I read of Lenell’s Beverage Boutique opening in historic Norwood. 

Street view of J.R. Copeland home on right with Lenell's Beverage Boutique on the left 

2019

Up close entrance to Lenell's Beverage Boutique (left). Back

of J.R. Copeland home (right) 2019 Yes, I suppose I did trespass to take these pictures.

No one was there. It was on a Sunday.

(Left) Outside going up the drive to Lenell's Beverage Boutique.

(right) According to the article, Lenell and her daughter live nearby

and plans are underway to restore the home. Perhaps the café & bar

are part of the restoration. 2019

My interest was raised when I saw the address.  It was The White House. That’s what my coworker T.P. and I called it.

At that time, it was occupied by either a mortgage company or an insurance company.  I don't remember which. We passed it daily going to and from work. T.P. and I wondered what it looked like on the inside. 


I said to her, “I wonder if they’d let us look inside?”


One day we stopped by after work and asked if we could look around.  The ladies who worked there allowed us to look around on our own.  I guess we didn’t look threatening. They couldn’t have been nicer. 


You could see remnants of its grandness. One of the odd things I noticed was a staircase that ended at the ceiling. As I was researching this piece, I found out why those stairs went to the ceiling. In the 1920’s after the family moved out the home was divided into six apartments.


Over the years the property was home to Banks Armored Car Company, and Changes Salon Spa and Wellness Center. In 2011 there were plans to turn it into a Musicians Cooperative, but those plans fell through. In 2012 the house was sold out of  foreclosure to Lenell Camacho Santa Ana.


The home was built in 1905 for J.R. Copeland, president of Copeland Brick Company later named Copeland-Inglis Shale Brick Company. 


There are people who collect bricks. One person was searching for a Copeland-Inglis brick. Many companies would have their name engraved on the bricks.

copied from: worthpoint antiques

An ebay site offered an envelope and stamp with the Copeland-Inglis letterhead for $7.64 or the best offer.

Copeland-Inglis letterhead on ebay

The Norwood community has efforted to revitalize itself and has had success with home sales to those who love old houses and are willing to put in the sweat equity to restore them.

copied from: http://www.bhamwiki.com/w/J._R._Copeland_residence
1910

That's it***
Next week: 

Museum in the Midst-Pictorial

Disclaimer: Since I'm not an auto expert, there'll just be a few pictures.

For those living in Birmingham, Alabama you'll know where this is.

Just off of Parkway Blvd. between 17th Street and Polly Reed Road in Center Point is Moore Oil Co.  Operated by Ron Moore, they've been in business since 1954. They are a gas and diesel distributor. (They're the ones who haul the gas and diesel to the gas stations where most of us buy our petrol.)                :)

I pass this way frequently and have seen this sign tucked to the side. 

I wanted to see what it looked like inside. I did a cold call. The owner wasn't there but one of the employees came out and showed me around. They were very nice but I have to admit, I felt a little guilty about interrupting them without an appointment. 

This place is a vintage car lovers dream.

Below is only a fraction of what I saw.

If you'd like a tour I would definitely suggest calling ahead and making an appointment at the number listed above. Though they showed me around, I did tell them that if it was inconvenient I could make an appointment and come back another time. They're occupied  with running a  business and can't stop what they're doing for everyone who's inquisitive like I was.

If you'd like to see more of what's inside click here

That's it ***

Next week: Bottle heads