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Everything on Display

Bridal show has it all for the big day

Story by Elaine Hobson Miller
Photos by Meghan Frondorf

Outdoor weddings, full meals instead of receptions and the Bohemian look are gaining popularity among today’s brides. So are body waxing, boudoir books, naked cakes and walking down the aisle to music other than the traditional, “Wedding March.” One of the biggest surprises, however, is how the COVID-19 pandemic may have worked in their favor.

“For thepast two years, brides went through postponements and reschedulings, but the benefit from this is that they saved more money up and so have had more to spend on their weddings,” says Amanda Robbins of AMR Bridal & Events. “Now they can afford add-ons like a vintage car for the getaway, a DJ or more lavish tablescapes at the reception.”

AMR was part of the second annual Bridal Show at Springville’s Woodall Building in March. Twenty-one vendors participated, from planners like Robbins to florists and caterers, singers, photographers and travel agents.

“It’s important to hire a planner because of the amount of stress it takes off the bride and her family,” says Robbins, who is in partnership with her husband, Jordan. “There are lots of planners out there. The goal is to find one who sees your vision best and that you can connect with.”

Most planners have packages that fit a wedding couple’s budget and needs, because one size doesn’t fit all. “I meet them where they are in their planning and lead and guide them from there,” says Robbins.

Some people want it all handled for them, while others just want “day of event” planning, according to Dee Wilson of Oh La La in Trussville. “In this area (St. Clair County), wedding budgets usually run from $5,000 to $20,000,” Wilson says. “Brides will allot so much to catering, photography, flowers, etc. I like to see them take that $20,000 they’ve budgeted, use $8,000-$10,000 for the wedding and the rest to pay off a student loan or to put down on a house.”

For the past 5-10 years, brides have been serving full meals more than the simple cake-and-mint receptions. Wilson says it’s cheaper to do a meal than hors d’oeuvres because the latter can mean a lot of pieces per person — usually about seven. “Alcohol is huge now,” she says. “Girls want more of a party, and when you offer free alcohol for four hours, people will party!”

Before the big day

Pre-wedding skincare and skincare parties are trendy with today’s brides, too.

Firming creams to lift faces and tighten thighs can be used in the comfort of one’s own home, says Katelyn Lear, who partners with Pure Romance, a company that specializes in women’s wellness. Lear sells bath and body products, lacy negligees and intimate products.

“One of our skin-firming creams works in 24-48 hours and one in two hours,” she says. “Lots of people are still using self-tanners, which are safer than tanning beds. If you don’t like the results, it (the tan) will fade in 72 hours. We also host bachelorette and lingerie parties.”

Springville’s Beauty Society specializes in clinical-grade skincare. Usage should start at least two-three months before the wedding, according to Ceil McDanal. “Our products are designed for skin repair, not just a quick fix,” she says. “Every person would have a different regimen, depending on their skin type.”

Nadia Johnson says another trend is body waxing for brides-to-be. “With waxing, you don’t have to worry about any body hair throughout the wedding or honeymoon,” she says. “It lasts three to four weeks.” Gaining popularity is the waxing party, where the bride and bridesmaids get together over drinks and have a portion of their bodies waxed. Some choose brows and facial hair, others their necks, legs, underarms or the Brazilian (bikini) wax. “Underarms and legs are really popular during the summer,” says Johnson, an esthetician at Isabella Anya Body Waxing Studioin Springville.

Glow Getters of Trussville also handles spray tans for a bride’s wedding day, bachelorette trips and the honeymoon. The company helps brides host bridal spray-tan parties, too. “People pay individually, and when four or more people buy a spray tan, the bride-to-be gets hers for free,” says owner Ashley Ritch.

Tabitha Austin of Steele is a hairstylist who does hair and makeup for weddings under the name of Beauty by Tab. She says today’s trend is toward a natural, glowy look for the bridal party’s makeup, along with thicker eyebrows. “I use a gel for the brows, because it’s a little easier than powder,” Austin says. As for hair trends, she says the Boho (Bohemian) look is in for brides and bridesmaids, where their hair is part up, part down and has lot of braids.

If a bride and her family don’t want to address dozens of invitations, they can hire Mrs. Scribbles Calligraphy. Kim Kimbrough uses calligraphy, a decorative form of handwriting, to address invitations to weddings, parties and bridesmaids’ luncheons, save-the-date notices and table cards. “I started doing calligraphy in high school and used it to address my own wedding invitations 30 years ago,” Kimbrough says. While the style is more popular now than then, today’s bride usually prefers a more modern script to the Old English font of yore.

Capturing the memories

When a bride is ready to line up a photographer to capture those precious wedding moments, the trend is to record and preserve everything from the proposal to the honeymoon, although not necessarily in that order.

“Lots of brides are looking for highlight trailers, which are photos or scenes that aren’t in chronological order,” says Crystal Gray of Gray Manor Creatives of Birmingham. “We might feature the reception first, then the vows, everything out of order,” she says. Her setup includes drones and creative angles that allow couples the chance “to experience their wedding day in a true, unexpected, cinematic way.”

One of the extensions to the basic bridal photo package is the bridal boudoir book. It contains more intimate photos of the bride for the husband. “We have an app available where they can download the photos and send them directly to him, or we’ll print a hardback photo album that she can give him as a wedding gift to be opened after the wedding, like when he’s getting dressed,” Gray explains.

Boudoir books aren’t something Soulgrown Photography’s Mandy Smith and Kimberly Gaddis wanted to get into. “But people started asking for them. They are very popular,” says Smith. Today’s bride wants “full-day coverage, not just the wedding and reception,” she says. “People are spending more on photography because they want more.”

Modern bridal parties want most of the formal photos done before the wedding so they can enjoy friends and family at the reception. “No more receiving lines,” Smith says. She and Gaddis strongly suggest an “unplugged” ceremony so the cellphones of friends and family taking photos don’t interfere with the professional efforts.

Makenzie Neely, the photographer behind Neely Creative, ofSteele, says it’s trendy to have adventure elopements where the bridal couple escapes to the mountains or seashore by themselves or with close family. “They’ll pick a destination local or away and ask us to photograph the event,” she says. “The farthest we’ve been is Crested Butte, Colo. It was for a Springville couple, and the wildflowers there were beautiful.”

Neely offers hardcover books and print albums, but most couples just print what they like and save the rest on their computer. “I give the pictures to them digitally,” she says. “Most of my galleries are 800-1,000 pics for an eight-hour day.” Some people still do film, but it’s an unnecessary added expense, she says.

The music

When it comes time to select the music for their special day, modern brides don’t always walk down the aisle to the traditional “Wedding March” by Felix Mendelssohn. Often, it’s to “Canon in D” by Johann Pachelbel or Johann Sebastian Bach’s “Jesu Joy of Man’s Desiring.” Just as often it’s to a particular piece of music that is special to the bride and bridegroom, according to three area music providers.

“One couple wanted music by a South Korean pianist named Yiruma, particularly, ‘Kiss the Rain,’” says Kara Lancaster of Kara Pure Music Studio. “Some of his songs sound like raindrops falling.” They also wanted a jazz version of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” during the ceremony. Lancaster, a pianist and vocalist, says wedding parties are walking out to more upbeat songs after the ceremony, too, such as Etta James’ “At Last.”

Rita Allen, who provides vocals over soundtracks for weddings and receptions, says selecting the music usually is a joint effort between the bride and the bridegroom. “A lot of them blend the traditional with the modern,” she says.

Allen, who can sing anything from opera to bluegrass in English, French or Italian, bought the old Murray’s Chapel Church of God building on U.S. Highway 11 in Springville and renamed it Allen Hall. It is now a concert hall, music teaching studio, tea room and event venue.

Lee Jeffrey, a Springville disc jockey who goes by DJ Lee L, sees a trend toward fall weddings. “Summer used to be more popular, but the weather is so blazing hot in summer,” he says. He, too, tailors the music he plays to fit the bride’s wishes, and sees more people foregoing the “Wedding March” in favor of pieces like “Canon in D.”

“They just got tired of the ‘Wedding March,’ I guess,” he says.

The flowers

Flower arrangements are featuring blushes and creams or simply ivory and greenery, with a touch of blue and maybe a dash of something whimsical, according to two area floral designers.

“A touch of whimsy, like pampas grass in arches and centerpieces, is popular these days,” says Hannah Steele of Steele Magnolias in Springville. “Peonies and dahlias are our biggest sellers. However, dahlias are for cooler weather because they wither in the heat.” Taylor, a home-based floral designer, says blue is a popular color used in many weddings now, such as white anemones with blue centers. “Tulips are suddenly being requested, too,” she says.

Simply Sage Florals, inthe Moody-Trussville area, arranges a lot of ivory and greenery at weddings, according to co-owner Tina Locke. “We use a lot of delphiniums with ivory garden roses, for example,” Locke says. “We’ll use them in the bridal bouquet, all the bridal party arrangements and the tables at the reception.” As an alternative to flowers, cylindrical candles and votives are cost-effective and popular. “Some venues won’t allow candles, so we’ll use battery-powered ones,” Locke says. “We might use bridesmaid bouquets as centerpieces on individual tables.”

The menu

Five to 10 years ago brides wanted finger foods at their receptions. Today, the biggest food trend is the taco-and-fajita bar, according to Sonya Bates of Our Family to Yours Catering and Events in Springville. “Another trend is stations,” she says. “They might have a ‘mashed-tini’ bar consisting of mashed potatoes in martini glasses with toppings, a macaroni-and-cheese station and a carving station.” Barbecue is always a safe bet at receptions, along with smoked ham, pork, brisket or ribeye at carving stations. Buffets are popular, too. Her brother and partner, Richard Harper, handles the meat side of the business. “Banana and blueberry shooters are popular desserts, usually at the bridegroom’s table,” she says.

Morgan Yundof The Flying Biscuit Cafein Birmingham says people are scheduling more daytime weddings, even as early as 9 a.m. “Then they’re going into brunch afterward,” she says. “Venues tend to be cheaper during the day.” She says weekdays are becoming popular and so are outdoor weddings. “People are getting creative because of their budgets,” she says. She and her husband, Greg, specialize in breakfast and lunch and are known for their biscuits and grits. “Lunch can be shrimp and grits or chicken and waffles, and they can be for breakfast and bridal teas, too.”

What’s for dessert?

What would a wedding reception be without a cake? It might just feature shaped cookies with messages or naked cakes, because both are gaining in popularity among brides and bridegrooms who don’t like a lot of gooey frosting.

“One woman did cookies instead of a cake at her reception because she didn’t like the traditional wedding cake,” says Michelle Green,owner of Sweet Pea’s Cookie Creations in Springville. She makes shaped cookies and decorates them with figures or messages. The latter are popular for teas, showers and receptions and are sometimes used as favors at wedding dinners. She once made boxes of cookies that said, “Will you be my bridesmaid?”

As for that “naked cake,” it has some icing, but most of it is on top, and there is far less decorating involved, according to Anissia Howard, owner of A Piece of Cake in Odenville. “It’s still a traditional three-tiered wedding cake with almond flavoring, though,” she says.

When her own daughter got married last December, mom made a three-tiered cake with whipped-cream icing and decorated it with greenery because daughter doesn’t like sweets. “More brides are ordering cupcakes instead of tiered cakes, and the groom’s side wants cookie and brownie trays instead of a groom’s cake,” she says.

The honeymoon

After they’re stuffed with dinner and cake and drive away in their rented stretch limousine, most brides want to fly off to Jamaica, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Costa Rica or Saint Lucia, according to two area travel agencies. They much prefer all-inclusive resorts to cruises and adventures.

“Most people have an idea of where they want to go,” says Ashley Ritch of Ritch Travels in Trussville. “Usually the bride selects the destination, and they’ll choose a resort over a cruise. Resorts are letting up on their COVID vaccination restrictions, but cruise ships still require vaccinations.”

Kathy Richards, of Ash Travel in Springville, says all-inclusive packages are the most popular for honeymooners. “All-inclusive means room, food, beverages and tips, and when I book, I include airfare and transfers to and from the hotel. I can book excursions, too.”

Honeymooners don’t go sight-seeing per se, but they do like ziplines, snorkeling, rafting or riding a dune buggy around an island. “People don’t book cruises much because they’re too crowded, and there’s not much privacy for a honeymoon, whereas resorts have nooks and crannies for privacy,” she says.

A big trend at these island resorts is toward the oceanfront, on-the-beach suite where you can swim right up to your room’s door or step out onto the balcony and into a pool. “Suites that have butlers and private pools for just your room are popular, because honeymooners want lots of room service, especially at breakfast,” Richards says. “They stay up late drinking and don’t want to get up early.”

The Ring

Central to the wedding ceremony is the ring, and there are plenty of new options to go along with the more traditional.

Gaining popularity because of its beauty and its price are Lab Grown diamonds, according to Michael Abernathy, vice president of sales and marketing at Griffins Jewelers. They are identical to earth-mined diamonds in every way, except that they are grown in a laboratory above ground.

They have the same chemical, physical and optical properties as mined diamonds and exhibit the same fire, scintillation and sparkle, he said.

“We offer lab-grown diamonds as an alternative choice for our customers. All lab-grown diamonds we sell are laser inscribed ‘LAB GROWN’ on the girdle,” he noted.

Griffins offers both mined and lab-grown diamonds. “We want our customers to know about all options available and to choose what is best for their budget and desires,” Abernathy said. “Lab-grown diamonds allow our customers the opportunity to choose a high-quality diamond at a much lower price point.”

For the groom, some are returning to white and yellow gold traditions, but alternative metals are still extremely popular. A new trend is Tantalum, a rare earth metal that is used in rocket engines, missile guidance systems, electronics and medical implants.

It has a cool dark gray modern color and is listed on the periodic table as Ta. It can be plain or have a textured design.

“These rings are extremely durable, hypoallergenic and will never corrode or tarnish,” Abernathy said. “We can create any style of jewelry you desire. Every piece of jewelry has a story. We want your story to begin with us.”

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Final Focus: Let’s bring back simple

Life through the lens of Mackenzie Free

Let’s return to slow.

Over the years, we’ve all grown so accustomed to busy and so numb to noise that we forget. We forget it wasn’t always this way. We forget the magic found in slowing down. We, our collective humanity, manufactured the rush, clamor and overstimulation of today. Sometimes it’s easy to forget there was a time before now when our greatest source of wisdom was rooted in wild things, and we didn’t carry the weight of the world in our back pockets.

But there is still magic that still exists if you know where to look. Out past the city lights and strip malls. Beyond the traffic and the noise. The houses get smaller, and the yards get bigger. Young and old congregate as peers at the local gas station on Saturday mornings to share coffee and the day’s plans. Local law enforcement isn’t above recovering lost pets. People still wave and ask about your momma. Kids still climb trees and roam pastures like small herds of cattle. And “Farm to Table” takes on a more literal meaning.

I know about this magic because I’m fortunate enough to live within its realm, although I didn’t always. I wasn’t born into it. But my four daughters were. They don’t know it yet, but they are part of dying breed: The children of magical childhoods. They also aren’t yet fully aware of the wild magic that surrounds them here. The gentle nods from nature. The ministry of simple things. The natural world in their backyard. Nature’s never-ending testimony for us to bear witness to.

I’ll do my best to remind them, though, to show them, to encourage them to slow down and adopt nature’s pace, to teach them that in life there is no easy fortune at the end. We only get what we put in. If we plant kindness and compassion, we will cultivate it. If we plant love and patience, they will surely grow. And of all the lessons this life has taught me so far, the truest for me is this: Both wisdom and children grow best in wild places.

I will continue to grow my children like my garden flowers: wild, rooted in the dirt, bathed in sunlight and creek water. I pray the earth will shape them just as much as my love. I want them to never to grow tired of the sounds the earth makes when we slow down to listen and don’t interfere. But mostly, I wish for them to live slowly, purposefully and be content. And that, once they see it, they never grow tired of life’s wild magic.

– Mackenzie Free –

Wife, mother, photographer & current resident of the unassumingly magical town of Steele, Alabama

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New development thriving in Cropwell

Story by Eryn Ellard
Photos by Graham Hadley

Jay Patel’s story is a classic American success tale. With roots in India, he immigrated at the age of 28 to make his way in the world. His latest business venture in Cropwell is proof that his American dream, built out of the beliefs in work and service he learned in India, is coming true.

A new 9,500-square-foot complex is up and coming on U.S. 231 near Rabbit Branch, and within it, Isabella’s Mexican Cantina is now open for business, along with a new gas station, an impressive bait and tackle selection, soon-to-be liquor store and a “meat and three” lunch spot.

Isabella’s features high ceilings, contemporary art and lighting, as well as inside and outside seating and is quickly becoming a lake community destination spot. The restaurant is also gaining recognition for its trendy menu options, as well as a colorful bar, offering dozens of unique cocktails for any connoisseur’s taste.

Patel has made a career working in retail and is an immigrant from Gugjarat, India, home to Mahatma Gandhi, India’s heralded civil rights leader, as well as many prime ministers of India. Patel now owns four retail stores and one sit-down restaurant from Cropwell to Ragland and all the way to Clanton. The new complex is his biggest business venture yet, and he has a far-reaching vision for it. In total, the new complex sits on 26 acres first purchased in 2020.

Soon, Patel said, the store, also known as Jaybo’s, after his young son, will also offer lunch service, buffet style, with a meat and three menu that changes daily.

“I have found the hot bar is very popular with my customers from my other stores,” Patel said. “It is just one of many ways we aim to serve the community.”

Once the first phase of the project is complete, Patel plans to embark on the second phase on the property, which will include a startup of 100 units of boat storage, as well as residential community of two bedroom-duplexes with garage for rent.

“I lived in an apartment in town for many years,” Patel said. “I did not like it – the maintenance was not good, and there were some not-so-pleasant experiences. I knew I wanted to build a new, clean and properly maintained place for renters to live.”

There are still several more avenues Patel is exploring to complete the sprawling acreage. From recruiting other new businesses and retail shops to the addition of another restaurant, Patel said there are other developments in store for the property.

Patel already employs 14 employees across all his stores, and he does plan to hire more people as the need arises.

Heather Hare, an employee and close friend of the Patel family for years, said she could not ask for a better job or boss. “He is such a hard worker, but an even bigger family man,” Hare said. “It is instilled in his Indian culture that family should always come first, followed by hard work and service, and I have been welcomed by Jay and his family and also learned so much over the years.”

Patel added that he was taught as a young boy in India the importance of hard work and dedication to work. “Our culture is that our children see and learn from our hard work, we mold our children’s work ethic and drive to be successful,” Patel said. “But we also do not groom our children to one day take over for us – but to instead start over with their own businesses or become a doctor or whatever their passion is, so long as it includes service to others.”

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Nichols Nook

Another special reason to shop Springville

Story by Roxann Edsall
Photos by Mackenzie Free

Walking through the massive, original wood doors, you are immediately greeted by Beth or Scott as if you were an old friend just returning from a long trip away. They do seem to know most people who walk in; but even if you’re a stranger, you’ll soon become a new “old friend.”

“I fell in love with the place the first time I came,” says regular Renee Wood. “Beth is so sweet. She remembers every little thing about you. She’s caring and goes beyond anything you would expect.”

Wood just found out about the place in October but has been coming to Nichols Nook in Springville every Friday since then. “I look forward to it all week,” she says. “I’m off on Fridays, so we meet my brother-in-law and his wife here and catch up, then go play pickleball.”

Today they are working through the recent loss of her mother-in-law. As they reminisce about her, the coffee shop co-owner, Beth, walks up and joins the conversation. Intently listening, Beth suggests the Nook host a celebration of life for her and in minutes has it all planned out.

Beth and Scott Walker opened Nichols Nook in 2016 after dreaming of what the vacant storefront could be. Scott had visited it many times as a child when it was a TV and stereo shop. It had been many things since then, most recently an interior design shop. Avid walkers, they would walk past the building and comment about all the things “someone” could do with the building. Then it occurred to them that they could be that someone. They began to think about opening a bookstore in the space.

There are many spaces, indoor and out, where patrons can relax.

They got in touch with the landlord, and she liked the idea. Still, they were not convinced they could do it. So, the landlord gave them the key to the building for a couple of weeks. “We would come in here and just sit and pray. We were asking for a specific vision and direction,” Beth says. “We had a general vision,” echoes Scott. “But it’s definitely been organic. It’s changed and evolved a lot.”

Built in 1892, not long after the city was incorporated, the building had been preserved and renovated by the previous owner. Marian Brasher, the building’s current owner, was adamant that she wanted something locally owned that would bring life to the area. The Nook, as locals call it, has become that place. Originally opening as a bookstore and gift shop that offered coffee, it has evolved into a true community gathering spot with full barista service.

In addition to serving a variety of coffee drinks and baked goods, they are a gift store, reading nook, community gathering spot and event venue. They host book clubs, birthday parties, anniversary and graduation events and wedding parties inside and in their two hidden courtyards.

But, Beth says, they don’t want to just rent the space. They want to be able to add to the memories. “The space lends itself very well to being a comfortable inviting space to gather,” explains Beth. “But it’s more about the experience. We learn bits about the honoree so that we can add small personal touches that make it special.”

The key for the Walkers is a focus on community. “We get to know people, and they get to know each other,” says Beth. “We want to be a part of their community. There’s so much going on that it’s important for people to come in and leave the world behind, even if just for a few minutes.”

Many people have walked in for a quick cup of coffee and ended up staying for the fellowship. Some have even become close friends and employees. Loretta came over after work from the kids program she was running at the Methodist church across the street. She now works for them part time for free. She just loves talking to people.

Then there’s Carol, who, Beth says, just walked in one day and said, “I just know I’m supposed to work here.” And now she does. And Bob, an 82-year-old mobile mechanic, who used to have his own coffee shop in Gulf Shores before it was destroyed during Hurricane Katrina, is a faithful customer and mentor. “He’s a great supporter. He comes in, meets people and talks to them. He’s part of what makes this what it is,” adds Scott.

Then there’s Susan, or “precious Susan,” as Beth calls her. She was taking a sabbatical from nursing and came into the coffee shop with her daughter. This was just a few days after they had opened. She immediately hit it off with Beth and Scott and ended up working for them. “I never did go back to nursing,” says Susan. “We have just enjoyed this journey together. It works because they care about the community.”

It’s not a stretch to care about the community that has been so much a part of Scott’s life. A graduate of Springville High School, he is a third-generation business owner in his hometown. His aunt and uncle, “Ma” and Lee Laster, opened the Laster’s Soda Shop and Pharmacy in 1927. When they passed, his aunt, Ovada Burtram, ran it until the late 1980s, when it was sold.

His great-grandfather, Pink Simmons, ran the Simmons Motor Company in Springville. Pictures from these old businesses hang over the couch, an heirloom from his grandmother, in one of the coffee shop’s reading nooks. The couch, itself, has a bit of history to it. Purchased from Bromberg’s in Birmingham in the late 30s or early 40s, it survived being hit by a truck that ran through his grandmother’s house.

Even the name of the coffee shop celebrates family and community. Beth’s maiden name was Nichols. She lost both of her parents to cancer when they were in their 60s. Her mom, Kay Nichols, was a fourth- and fifth-grade teacher in Springville. Her dad, Ron, also loved reading and had an affinity for both coffee and tea. So they came up with the name Nichols Nook to honor them. They believe it’s a place both of her parents would have enjoyed.

It hasn’t always been smooth sailing for the business. They had to shut down in 2019 to realign and improve the business model. Just about the time they were planning to reopen, issues related to the pandemic forced their doors to remain closed. They were able to reopen in the summer of 2021, but then had to close for two months after their family struggled through COVID-19 themselves.

They credit their oldest son, 21-year-old Ben, with being a huge help in reopening the business. “He’s been key to our success,” says Scott. “We couldn’t have made it without him.” Ben adds, “It’s cool to be a part of their business, to see it grow and to see all the people we’ve met through it.”

His future plans will take him away from the family business, though. At the end of the summer, he will begin a job as a commercial pilot. His brother, 13-year-old Sam, may one day take over the barista duties. For now, says Beth, his other interests are “much cooler” than the business.

What could be “cooler” than coffee? After all, President Thomas Jefferson called coffee “the favorite drink of the civilized world.” Coffee may be the favorite drink, but Nichols Nook makes it a favorite experience.

You can find them on Main Street in Springville or on the web at Nichols-nook.business.site.

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ONEeighty Church

Officials break ground on
18-acre campus in Odenville

Story and photos
by Carol Pappas

On a hilltop above Odenville a vision is rising up to meet the needs of the community and well beyond the city’s borders.

ONEeighty Church, just as the name implies, represents the degree to which lives can be turned around, and that’s the purpose of the 18 acres that hilltop overlooks. Officials have broken ground on a massive new campus near Interstate 59 on Alabama 174 at Odenville.

The church began in a vacant Ace Hardware building in Springville as a ministry of Clear Branch United Methodist Church in 2009. Two years into it, it grew to become a standalone church. Cam Price was pastor for a year and a half before Gresh Harbuck became the pastor, and she named it ONEeighty – symbolic of turning lives around. Four years ago, it launched as non-denominational and has now grown well past its walls.

Leaders were led to build a new church and other buildings on the acreage and even though it began in Springville, Harbuck said they never viewed ONEeighty as a Springville church. “It’s a community church – one gigantic circle of owners. They take ownership in the Great Commission. Members pay dues. Owners have responsibilities and are on a mission, winning one more for Jesus Christ.”

Pastor Gresh Harbuck motions toward the hilltop where the church will grow its new home.

When they were first looking for a new home, Realtor Lyman Lovejoy envisioned the ideal place as a piece of property that wasn’t even for sale. “They won’t sell it to me, but they might sell it to you,” he remembers telling them. He is credited with approaching the owner with the idea of transforming the piece of land into a place of worship and life-changing experiences.

The owners understood the vision, too, noting that it would be the perfect legacy for their father. And the deal was done.

“Our goal is to really focus on people who never would walk into a normal church,” said Harbuck, describing it as “very contemporary,” welcoming “all walks of life” to venture through its doors.

The growth has been evident. Easter Sunday, apparently all roads led to ONEeighty Church with people attending from Argo, Odenville, Pinson, Gadsden and Springville. “We’re not an Odenville church,” Harbuck said. “We’re not a Springville church. We’re a community church. We want lukewarm Christians to turn into purpose-filled Christians who will be the hands and feet of Jesus. We want to help the hurting and the broken.”

Of the church’s approach, Harbuck explained, “This is a great place to fall in love with Jesus.” Small groups are how they disciple people, giving them a more intimate, close-knit experience. The youth group is packed with activities and is “growing by leaps and bounds.” Celebrate Recovery – one of the largest in the state – continues to make a sizable impact on addictions throughout the region. It partners with Lovelady Center, Brother Bryan and jail ministries in Ashville and Oneonta.

Celebrate Recovery, coordinated by Ministry Leader Joyce Simonson, was 300 strong before the COVID-19 pandemic hit. They still feed 200 there every Friday night. “We view ourselves as recovery ministries,” said Harbuck, who once served as CR Ministry Leader himself.

Looking ahead to what that Odenville hilltop will become, Harbuck said, the new church campus will house the worship center, a sanctuary that can seat 600, lobby and children’s area in the first phase on top of the site. Second phase will be a dining hall, small group rooms and offices, and the third phase is a courtyard outside the worship area.

Beyond that, “God gives us the next steps,” Harbuck said. “We will look at the needs of Odenville. If the needs in the community change, we’ll change.

Johnny Evans and James Barker, who are active in the church and have a background in contracting, will oversee the project. Cline Construction is the builder.

“Even though we’re moving the building, it doesn’t mean the DNA changes,” Harbuck stressed. “We want to be a light to the community, helping the outcast and broken,” he said at the groundbreaking ceremony.

Lay Leader John Rich called it “a big milestone for us. This is a community church – one group, all together. This means a lot.”

And it means much to the community that surrounds it. “Thank you for your vision,” Odenville Mayor Buck Christian told those in attendance at the groundbreaking. “We’re excited to see what the future holds. The campus will be explosive” in terms of growth. “Welcome to Odenville. We are extremely excited about what this will mean to Odenville. The growth potential is unlimited.”

Harbuck agreed. “God has been blessing us and growing us.”

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Why St. Clair?

County named for Revolutionary War
soldier, American statesman

Story by Robert Debter
Submitted Photos

On Nov. 20, 1818, the Second Alabama Territorial Legislature representing 20 counties, seven of which had been created by the Mississippi Territorial Legislature (Washington, Madison, Baldwin, Clarke, Mobile, Monroe and Montgomery) and the remaining 13 (Morgan*, Lawrence, Franklin, Limestone, Lauderdale, Blount, Tuscaloosa, Marengo, Shelby, Bibb**, Dallas, Marion and Conecuh) established by the First Alabama Territorial Legislature earlier that year.

The first county created by the Second Territorial Legislature was taken from the northern portion of Shelby County and would bear the name of St. Clair.

A county older than the state itself draws its name from far away roots in Scotland. On March 23, 1734, at at Thurso Castle, in Thurso, County Caithness, Scotland, William and Margaret St. Clair welcomed a newborn son and bestowed the name, Arthur. After completing his formal education, he studied medicine at the University of Edinburgh and was apprenticed with Dr. William Hunter in England for a time. But like so many of his warrior ancestors, he heard the call of adventure and could not deny it.

In 1757, just in his early 20s, the young St. Clair purchased an ensign’s commission in the British Army and came to America during the French and Indian War, also known as the Seven Years War. He served in Canada during this almost decade-long conflict and was present at the Siege of Louisbourg.

For his heroism, Arthur was promoted to the rank of lieutenant (originally known as leftenant). The year 1759 saw the young soldier at the Battle of the Plains of Abraham in Quebec, where Lt. St. Clair seized the colors, which had fallen from the hand of a dying soldier and bore them until the day was won. In May of 1760, he married Phoebe Bayard of Boston, whom he had met while his regiment had been stationed there. They were joined in holy matrimony at Trinity Church in Boston. They would have 58 years and seven children together.

Two years after marrying, Lt. St. Clair resigned his commission and moved to Bedford, Penn., to survey land for the Penn Family. In 1764, the St. Clairs settled in Ligonier Valley, Penn., and through the establishment of several mills, St. Clair would eventually manage to become the largest landowner in western Pennsylvania. The parlor of his home, “The Hermitage,” remains preserved at the Fort Ligonier Museum.

He became surveyor of the Cumberland District in 1770, a justice of the court of quarter sessions and common pleas, a member of the proprietary council and justice, clerk and recorder of the Orphans’ Court.

In 1771, Gov. John Penn appointed him first prothonotary of Bedford County and deputy register for the probate of wills. Three years later, he was appointed magistrate and prothonotary of the newly established Westmoreland County. Penn described him as “… a gentleman … and in every station of life has preserved the character of a very honest, worthy man …”

Soldier, hero

St. Clair, commissioned as a colonel of a Pennsylvania regiment in 1776, raised and trained his regiment in the dead of winter and then marched six companies north to reinforce the American Army in Quebec. Unfortunately, St. Clair arrived to find the army in full retreat upon the death of Gen. Richard Montgomery, for whom the capital of Alabama is named. Col. St. Clair, through familiarity of the terrain and British strategy, saved the army from certain capture.

For his bravery, he was promoted to brigadier general and ordered to join Gen. George Washington and help him raise a militia in New Jersey. On Christmas night, St. Clair’s troops, now under the command of Washington, crossed the Delaware into Trenton and attacked the Hessians at dawn on the 26^th. The Continental forces were victorious with 22 Hessian mercenaries killed, 84 wounded and 918 captured.

The empire struck back on Jan. 2, 1777, attacking Princeton and routing the small garrison that escaped over the Assunpink Creek to where Washington had posted several cannons. These cannons, along with musket fire, managed to stalemate the British forces.

That night, a council of war was called and many of Washington’s generals advocated for retreat. St. Clair’s lone voice championed attack. He proposed a daring plan to outflank the enemy and take Princeton. For this, St. Clair’s brigade was given the honor of marching ahead of the advancing army, and his battle plan resulted in a resounding victory for the Continental Army.

It was here that Arthur St. Clair and George Washington formed a strong bond that would last for many years. Even when some would later contest and question the Scotsman’s abilities, Washington, with one exception, always remained supportive and faithful to his friend.

St. Clair was promoted to major general for his “fierce bravery and loyalty” and given command of Fort Ticonderoga in New York. Previously a British stronghold, the fort had been captured in 1775 by Gens. Ethan Allen and Benedict Arnold “in the name of the Great Jehovah and the Continental Congress.” St. Clair arrived in early June 1777 and found the fort in disrepair. Worse yet, it was ill supplied and manned by a garrison of only 2,500.

Gen. John Burgoyne, “known more for his baggage train than his battles,” according to local historian Joe Whitten, laid siege to the fort with an impressive force of 8,000 British regulars and 2,500 auxiliary members.

Not seeing for the needless waste of life, St. Clair ordered the fort evacuated and later recounted, “I know I could have saved my reputation by sacrificing the army; but were I to do so, I should forfeit that which the world could not restore, and which it cannot take away, the approbation of my own conscience.”

The same cabal who endeavored to replace Washington as commander in chief with Horatio Gates lobbied strongly against St. Clair, decrying him as a “coward” and “traitor.” A court martial was convened, and the trial concluded with St. Clair being acquitted, “with the highest honor, of the charges against him.” Afterwards, naval hero Capt. John Paul Jones wrote to him, “I pray you be assured that no man has more respect for your character, talents, and greatness of mind than, dear General, your most humble servant.”

A leader

Following his vindication, St. Clair continued his active leadership. He commanded at West Point, suppressed a mutiny, continued raising troops and sending them south to aid Washington and Lafayette and served on the court martial that condemned Maj. John Andre, the co-conspirator of turncoat Benedict Arnold. He joined Washington at Yorktown four days before the surrender of Lord Cornwallis. In November, he was given orders to reinforce Gen. Nathanael Greene in his campaign to expel the British from the Carolinas.

Lawmaker

The general returned to Pennsylvania following the war and was elected to Congress in 1785. The Pennsylvania Herald reported, “Quorum having been formed in Congress, they proceeded to the choice of President for the ensuing year, when his Excellency Arthur St. Clair, Esq., was elected.”

During his 1787 term, the Northwest Ordinance was adopted, and the U.S. Constitution was drafted. In 1789, he had the great joy of assisting in the inauguration of his friend as the first president of the United States and had once been named as a possible candidate for the vice presidency.

From 1788 to 1803, St. Clair served as first governor of the Northwest Territory and named the city, Cincinnati, Ohio. His second-in-command, Winthrop Sargent, would serve from 1798-1801 as the first governor of the Mississippi Territory, from which Alabama was carved in 1817.

Return to duty

In 1791, St. Clair was once again called into action. As major general, he was tasked with suppressing Native-American resistance, and his force, originally consisting of 2,000, eventually dwindled down through illness and desertion to less than 1,000.

The combined forces of the Miami, Shawnee and Delaware numbered over 1,000 and on Nov. 4, 1791, ambushed the American force. St. Clair, ill with gout, suffered a devastating defeat, and the cries of cowardice and incompetence were once again revived.

Arriving at Philadelphia, St. Clair immediately requested a court martial to clear his name. This was denied by President Washington who called him “worse than a murderer” and demanded his resignation as commander of the Army. Meanwhile, the House of Representatives began an investigation and sided with Gen. St. Clair. They found secretary of war, quartermaster general and other officials in the War Department had ill manned, equipped and supplied Gen. St. Clair’s expedition. The Congress voted against a resolution on the committee’s report, so St. Clair was never officially vindicated.

He was allowed to remain governor – a position he found increasingly difficult following his humiliating forced resignation as commander of the Army. St. Clair, a Federalist, believed that the Ohio Territory should be admitted as two states instead of one to increase the power of his party in the federal congress.

He delivered a speech at the Ohio Constitutional Convention that railed against the Convention and President Thomas Jefferson, “acting like a father betrayed by his son, he used a paternalistic tone and discussed his contributions to the territory, outlining what he had accomplished in fourteen years ….” Jefferson responded by removing St. Clair from office.

Returning home

At almost 70 years of age, the old soldier returned to the Hermitage and facing debts from loans he had given out during the Revolution, attempted to rebuild his wealth. However, the stars in their courses fought against all his attempts to replenish his life, and sheriffs began to sell his property for all the debts he had incurred.

St. Clair beseeched Congress for money he was believed owed to him for his services to his country. The Hermitage was sold, and the St. Clairs moved to a log house called “Chestnut Ridge,” situated near Youngstown, Penn. Several months later, the legislature of Pennsylvania finally granted St. Clair an annuity of $8,400, and shortly before his death, he received from Congress $2,000 in discharge of his claims and a pension of $60 a month.

On his way to Youngstown to purchase goods, St. Clair was thrown from his wagon and found unconscious on the side of the road. He was tenderly carried back to his home, where he passed away surrounded by his family on Aug. 31, 1818, after a departing message of peace forevermore. By November of that same year, St. Clair County, Ala., would be created and bear his name.

Patriot

He was buried at the St. Clair Cemetery in Greensburg, Westmoreland County, Penn., and his monument, a gift from his Masonic brethren reads: “The Earthly Remains Of Major-General Arthur St. Clair Are Deposited Beneath This Humble Monument, Which Is Erected To Supply The Place Of A Nobler One Due From His Country.”

Always the patriot, in his own words: “I hold that no man has a right to withhold his services when his country needs them. Be the sacrifice ever so great, it must be yielded upon the altar of patriotism.” l

Editor’s Note: Of Alabama’s 67 counties, more than a dozen are named in recognition of those who have some connection as leaders, statesmen or soldiers to the American Revolution. Arguably, none gave so much and received so little in return as Arthur St. Clair. But his name lives on in this Alabama county.

* Originally “Cotaco [co-take-oh]” until renamed in 1821 for American Revolutionary leader, Brig. Gen. Daniel Morgan of Virginia.

** Originally “Cahawba” until renamed in 1820 for William Wyatt Bibb, territorial governor and first governor of the state of Alabama, shortly after his untimely death.

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