Chandler Mountain landmark

Mt. Lebanon First Congregational Methodist Church

Story by Joe Whitten

Submitted photos

Pioneers settling here were generally people of the Christian faith, and very soon they formed churches. First Baptist Springville (1817) and Ashville United Methodist (1818) are documented as over 200 years old.

Two hundred years ago, St. Clair County’s forested mountains and lush valleys had welcomed a number of pioneer families into its boundaries. Early written accounts record that these hearty settlers established homes among the Native Americans who populated the area until their removal by President Andrew Jackson.

But oral history speaks of an older one. In the 1975 Some Early Alabama Churches, published by The Alabama Society Daughters of the American Revolution, is found written about today’s Macedonia Baptist in Ragland, “… this church is said to be the oldest church in St. Clair County, and it is thought [that] it was organized in 1812.” However, it gives no source for this date, and so far, none has been found. One hopes that someday an old diary or family Bible might establish the correct date of this church. Presbyterian churches appeared later in the 19th century, and as the century progressed, populations increased, and churches sprang up throughout St. Clair County. Several of these will turn 200 years old in a few years, and many have celebrated over 100 years of existence.

One of the loveliest places in St. Clair is Chandler Mountain’s high plateau, which extends about 10 miles in northwest St. Clair County. Today it is the county’s garden spot, but it lay a wooded wilderness when Joel Chandler settled at its base in the early 1800s. Oral history states that hunters had a trail up the mountain near Chandler’s home, and it came to be called Chandler’s Mountain. Over time, the apostrophe “s” dropped off, and we have today’s name.

Vivian Qualls, in her History of Steele Alabama, records that in 1855 Cicero Johnson was the first brave soul to forge his way up the mountain to settle. Gradually, other settlers followed, but it wasn’t until 1905 that the first church was established there. However, community worship and revivals occurred before 1905, for people of faith have always worshiped together in some fashion even when denominational churches had not organized. Established churches existed at the foot of the mountain, but getting there wasn’t easy, for the trip would have been by foot, horseback or wagon down a mountain trail. Like any early settlement community, believers met together in homes to worship as often they could.

One of the early settlers, Hezekiah McWaters, was a Methodist preacher, and Mrs. Qualls writes that he preached and conducted revivals in Greasy Cove at the foot of the mountain.

The roots of today’s Mt. Lebanon rest solidly in Ellijay, Ga., for a large percentage of early Chandler Mountain settlers came from there. Among those were the Robinson brothers, Bob, Jake and Dan. It was through the influence of this family that the mountain’s first church came into being.

Another Robinson brother, William J., a Congregational minister, would travel from Ellijay to Chandler and conduct revivals. It was a big event when William visited, and the collective Robinson families would attend his revival services. As a result of the 1905 revival, Mt. Lebanon Congregational Church organized with 11 charter members: William Robinson, J.J. Robinson, Elvina Robinson, Daniel Robinson, Elizabeth Robinson, Della Robinson, J.B. “Bent” Engle, Lucy Engle, Hettie Hyatt, Delia Wood and Ollie Engle Wood. Bent Engle sold the church two acres on which to build a sanctuary. Cost? $4.

William Robinson served as the first pastor of Mt. Lebanon from 1905-1911. He moved from the mountain, but in 1912, he returned to preach the revival services, and during that revival fell ill and died. His remains were interred in the cemetery across the road from Mt. Lebanon church.

The Congregational Church came to America through the English Puritans who suffered persecution for their non-Anglican doctrines. Coming to America, the Puritans established in 1620 the Parish Church, Plymouth, Mass., as the first Congregational Church in America. By 1640, 18 churches had been established in Massachusetts.

Jonathan Edwards, considered America’s greatest theologian, pastored a Congregation church when he preached the sermon, “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God.” A sermon documented as having a profound effect during the 18th century revival movement known as the First Great Awaking.

We don’t know who brought the Congregational Church to Ellijay, but we do know that members of that denomination moved to Chandler Mountain and organized Mt. Lebanon Congregational Church.

Mt. Lebanon’s name has changed more than once over the years as the original Congregational denomination became less traditionally biblical in their theology. In the 1970s, the denomination’s name changed to United Church of Christ, which changed the meaning of “congregational” church. Therefore, on Oct. 24, 1981, Mt. Lebanon held a conference to discuss membership in the First Congregational Methodist denomination. A month later, the church voted to make the change, and on Dec. 18, 1981, Lebanon was accepted to full membership. Today, the church’s name is Mt. Lebanon First Congregational Methodist Church. The denomination’s headquarters is in Boaz.

Early minutes record interesting history. In the November 1928 business meeting, offerings received from members totaled $28.44. After paying National Conference dues and other expenses, $6.95 was “cash turned over to church treasurer.”

From August 1947 a penciled note in the record books states that it was a wonderful year with nearly “100 conversions. Mary (Ma) Smith said, ‘the whole of Chandler Mountain got saved.’”

Unlike the United Methodist, the First Congregational Methodist local church owns its own property, chooses its pastors, baptizes by emersion and oversees itself rather than being presided over by bishops.

The church records contain the names of all who have served as pastors. The pastor who served from 1933 to 1936, Annie Moats, is of interest, for women pastors were not approved by most churches in those days. According to Mt. Lebanon’s history booklet, Annie and Alley Mathis “Mac” Moats came to Chandler Mountain in the early 1930s. Of German ancestry, Annie Struckmeyer Moats was an ordained Congregational minister. Having pastored churches in Cullman and Lawrence counties, she met and married Mac Moats in one of those counties. Annie died in 1937 and was buried in the Mt. Lebanon Cemetery. The Moats’ granddaughter, Barbara Robinson, was a member of Mt. Lebanon from 1959 until her death on April 13, 2019, age 92. Barbara’s husband, C.L., was a church member from 1948 until his death on Sept. 27, 2018, age 91, and served as a deacon until his death. He was a direct descendant of charter member Dan Robinson.

In the 1940s, Mt. Lebanon replaced the original wooden church with one of cement blocks painted white. This building had a covered porch at the entrance and three new Sunday school rooms at the back. These rooms were fitted with doors that folded so the space could also be used as a fellowship hall.

As years passed, the block church was bricked and a steeple added in the mid-1980s. Around 1989, the church added a Fellowship Hall and in the 1990s installed a baptistry in the sanctuary and added more restrooms and a pastor’s study. The 2000s saw the inside of the sanctuary refurbished with new drywall, carpet and lighting in time for the 100th anniversary in 2005.

Prior to the baptistry being added, Susan Kell remembers when the church baptized converts in the creek and later in Chandler Mountain Lake. Karen Beasley recalls being baptized in the lake. “I was baptized in Chandler Mountain Lake by Carl Gaskin and Wayne Deweese. It was so funny, because my sister-in-law, Faye Beasley, was being baptized the same day, and her dog went out into the lake, and we couldn’t get that dog to go back, and the preachers finally said, ‘Well, just let him come on out.’ And they went ahead with the baptizing.”

However, a building with all conveniences is not the church; the individual members and the pastor who shepherds them are the church. So it has been with Mt. Lebanon, and it has flourished through the years because of the members’ faithfulness in serving God and in nurturing family and friends.

Caring for one another

The story is told of a teenage couple who wed and started married life in relative’s home. This did not work out and the adolescent couple suddenly found themselves without a place to live. Needing work, the husband went to a member of Mt. Lebanon, told him his predicament, asked, “Could I farm with you?”

This godly farmer and his wife took the couple under their compassionate wings and provided the help needed. The farmer is now in Heaven, but not forgotten, for the young man learned to farm well and successfully. Recently, he saw the farmer’s widow and told her, “Your family has meant a lot to me. Your husband put me on my first tractor, and told me, ‘Farm.’”

Yearly events at Mt. Lebanon include the Easter Sunrise Service; Homecoming every fourth Sunday in May; Women’s Conference in August; an October Fall Festival with soup, chili and desserts; then in December, participation in Franklin Graham’s international Samaritan’s Purse ministry, a Christmas program, and a fellowship meal. Of the Easter Sunrise Service, Susan Kell said, “That is a beautiful service. It’s outside, right on the bluff overlooking the distance.”

Many of Mt. Lebanon’s activities and events occur in cooperation with Chandler Mt. Baptist and churches in the valley. Karen Beasley told of the October Trunk-or-Treat event. “Our men always come together and cook the hotdogs — we do 700 — and everybody helps wrap hotdogs. This event is sponsored by all the area churches donating and working together.” No hotdogs remain when the fun night ends.

Youth Night includes all churches. “We have Youth Service,” Karen said, “where we do a community Youth Night with all the local churches — Ashville First Baptist, Chandler Mt. Baptist, Steele Baptist, Deerman’s Chapel and Reeves Grove. We do that on nearly every fourth Sunday night. The churches rotate. Susan’s grandson, Garrett Spears, played the guitar at our last one at Chandler Mt. Baptist.”

Four churches work together to prepare Backpack Buddies. This local mission outreach provides nutritious food for families who need help in providing for their families.

A nursing home visit each month is another local mission’s outreach. “We go to the Attalla nursing home and Gadsden Healthcare,” Susan Kell said. “Brother Alvin Turner, our pastor, brings a short sermon, and the residents enjoy that spiritual contact — even the staff enjoys it. Our choir members who are not working also go. We take a keyboard with us. The lady who plays it is in her 80s, but you’d not know it. Afterwards, we go out to lunch.”

Mt. Lebanon has international missions outreach as well. For several years, the church has partnered with New Desire Christian Ministries Church and Mission in La Ermita, Honduras.

Bro. Alvin Turner has pastored Mt. Lebanon for 16 years, which is a testimony to his ministry considering the fact that some churches change ministers often. In an interview, he said that growth in numbers is good if it is connected with spiritual growth. His heartfelt desire is for the church members to continue to grow spiritually as the years progress.

In speaking of Mt. Lebanon’s missions’ work, Bro. Alvin’s voice revealed the excitement. “Going on a mission trip will change your life.” He feels blessed to have made several mission trips, for the church has worked a number of years in Honduras at La Ermita with a mission and a church owned and run by New Desire Christian Ministries. Mt. Lebanon has helped support them financially and physically with constructing buildings there. By returning year after year to the same place, the church has built a relationship with the community. Bro. Turner sees these mission trips as obeying God’s command to “go into all the world” and share the Gospel.

Current Mt. Lebanon deacons are Josh Kell, Jerrell Jordan, Jason Ballard, Steve Bryant, Eddie Beasley and Johnny Beasley. Bro. Alvin said that he and the deacons “have a wonderful relationship” working together in the church. Brothers, Eddie and Johnny Beasley, are descended from early Chandler Mountain settler Bob Robinson.

For the music of the church, Sandra Dobbins, pianist, and Bro. Alvin, choir director, work together in selecting congregational songs and choir specials.

When asked about the church’s senior member, Frances Kell, Bro. Alvin spoke of her as “an amazing lady” who is a godly influence in the church and community. He also spoke of Frances’ husband, Ernest, and of his work in the church, recalling that “he didn’t like to spend money.” And that’s a good thing since a church is using God’s money given by its members.

When asked about church members who are or were influential in the church, Karen Beasley and Susan Kell both responded with these names: Aunt Margaret Fore, Ernest Kell and Wayne Deweese. Both ladies talked of Deweese, telling how people used to walk to Mt. Lebanon, and “… you’d see them coming through the fields and hear the most beautiful singing as they sang all the way to church.” Ernest Kell’s widow, 94-year-old Frances, is a sustaining influence in the church today.

Of Ernest Kell, Susan said, “My father-in-law, Ernest, remembered coming from Ellijay to the mountain in a wagon. He said he walked a lot of the way, but when it would rain, he would get up in the wagon, and his mother would cover him with her long dress. He said somebody had been here and came back to Ellijay and said, ‘That’s where we need to go; there’s all sorts of farmland.’ He was 12 years old.”

An autumn drive up the mountain with the sunshine making a stained-glass canopy of arching multi-colored trees ended at Frances Kell’s home. Although in her 90s, she remains more active than many folks who are years younger. She drives herself to church and Steele Nutrition Center during the day, but confides, “I don’t drive at night.”

She and Ernest married right after he came home from World War II and settled in to farming, first growing cotton and then tomatoes. She recalled the early freeze of 1948 that caused enormous loss to the farmers. “We were picking tomatoes in that field right over there, and somebody said, ‘We’d better turn our buckets over, it’s gonna snow tonight.’ We turned the buckets over, but we didn’t think it would. But boy did it come a big one.” Interestingly she did not mention the financial loss, which gives evidence of faith and courage in the face of adversity.

She spoke lovingly of her church and workers there, mentioning Margaret Fore as having taught the Kell children in Sunday school. She told how Ernest had been a deacon, a Sunday school teacher and the song leader for many years. “He attended those old-timey singing schools,” she recalled, “and he really learned music. I went, but I didn’t learn it. When he was getting to where he’d forget which verse he should be on — that problem had started to set in — they were trying to decide on a new song leader. They talked to one they were interested in, and when they asked what he’d charge, he said, ‘Why, I’ll not charge you anything.’ And Ernest spoke up and said, ‘That’s your man!’” Declining in some ways, perhaps, but he was still thrifty with church monies. That was Ernest Kell.

Revivals, fellowship kindle memories

When asked if she remembered any special church event, she told of a revival conducted by Bro. Bean. “He tried to bring it to a close three times, and it kept going — went on for three weeks. People were going to the altar and getting saved. That was the revival that Ma (Mary) Smith said, ‘Everybody on the mountain got saved.’ And all of her family did get saved, and they were grown men. People prayed back then,” she said thoughtfully.

Every church-going person knows funny things sometimes happen in church meetings, and Frances’ memories go down this path. “People would shout back then,” she said. “Bellie Hyatt was shouting in a service one day, and she looked out the window and saw their mules had got loose from the wagon. She stopped shouting long enough to tell her husband, ‘Quinten, the mules are loose!,’ then went back to shouting.”

Another memory came to mind. “Aunt Mollie Barnes shouted, too. She had long hair that she rolled up in a knot on the back of her head, like women did back then. She’d get to shouting and her hair would shake loose, and bobby pins would go flying. Joe, her husband, would come behind her picking up the pins off the floor and give them to her when her shouting was over.”

The subject of church fellowship dinners came up, and when asked what special dishes she took, she replied, “I usually take cakes. I used to take different ones, but now they like for me to bring my strawberry cake.” This cake is famous at Mt. Lebanon for it is Frances’ own recipe. “My husband’s favorite cake was coconut — you know, the old-fashioned kind with seven-minute icing. Well, one year we had so many strawberries that I wondered why I couldn’t use strawberries and sugar instead of coconut and sugar for the icing. So, I tried it, and they loved it.

“I have a friend who’s been bedridden for years, and he loves that cake. So, I made him one for his birthday. I enjoy doing that for people.” Frances may never have given thought to this, but she has a ministry of baking that is as useful in God’s work as any other area of service. Recently on the PBS The Great British Baking Show, a contestant said this of her cooking: “When I cook for family and friends I mix in love. If I’m kneading dough, I knead in love; if I’m mixing cake batter, I mix in love. I bake with love.” That seems to describe Frances Kell’s method as well.

When Frances’ great grandson, William “Will” Kell Spears, was asked what he loved about his great-grandmother’s cooking, he said, “Her biscuits! Nobody can make biscuits like she does. I’ve tried and mother has tried, but we can’t make them as good.” When Frances heard this, she laughed and said, “They just don’t try often enough. I’ve been making ‘em a long time.”

Will Spears is a sophomore at the University of Mobile majoring in Special Education, and he bears the hallmarks of a godly heritage received from great-grandparents, grandparents, parents and church. At age 12, he went on his first mission trip to Honduras, and has returned seven more times. In January 2019, he wrote in an online article, “I truly have no words to describe how grateful I am that God has allowed me to be a part of New Desire Honduras from the very beginning, and has allowed me to experience His presence at work. … This ministry … has challenged me to grow in my faith, to love more, to listen and trust God’s will for my life, and to know that we serve a God who is good and can make even the worst of situations display His majesty and sovereignty over our lives.”

Of Will’s 2018 trip to Africa, Will told in an interview, “My Trip to Kenya changed me in ways I could have never imagined. I went on this trip to serve, love and share the Gospel with the people in a large village outside of Nairobi. I didn’t expect, however, to be taught so much myself, about God’s love, His faithfulness, and what true worship looks like from the amazing people I met there. … It truly rocked my world. Join me in praying for the believers in Africa, Honduras and America, and know that we are all called to make disciples, whether it be across the sea or across the street.”

Near the end of his Honduras article, Will wrote, “The people who make up the New Desire Christian Church are some of the most loving people you will ever meet in this world.” These words seem to describe Mt. Lebanon First Congregational Methodist Church as well. You’d be welcomed to worship with them on a Sunday or to join them for Bible study on Wednesday evening.

Try to visit on a day when they’re having fellowship lunch afterwards and Frances Kell is there with her famous strawberry cake. You’ll find food for both soul and body at this historic St. Clair County church.

St. Clair Tourism

Blair Goodgame promoting county in new post

Story by Leigh Pritchett

Photos by Graham Hadley and submitted photos

Blair Goodgame has been to 15 countries spanning four continents.

Though she relishes traveling, she tends to share Dorothy’s sentiments in “The Wizard of Oz”: “There’s no place like home! There’s no place like home!”

Enjoying the place she calls home … and encouraging others to do so … is what Goodgame does on a daily basis.

In September 2019, she became tourism coordinator with St. Clair County Economic Development Council (EDC). “It is a brand-new position and program, part of the EDC’s five-year plan, Partnership for Tomorrow,” Goodgame said. “We are in year one of that.” Hiring a tourism coordinator was one of the first-year goals.

As tourism coordinator, Goodgame spends her days exploring and discovering different aspects of St. Clair County and promoting them to potential visitors, businesses and industries.

Tourism “goes hand-in-hand with economic development,” Goodgame said. She called tourism a “clean” industry that is indicative of a vibrant life within a community. Such vitality is what business prospects want to see in a locale they are considering.

In quick succession, Goodgame enumerates one asset of the county after another, starting with the resort areas Neely Henry Lake in northern St. Clair and Logan Martin Lake in southern St. Clair. She adds to that Horse Pens 40 near Steele, Mustang Museum in Odenville and the Forever Wild park near Springville. She points out that the county has outfitters, outlets for kayaking, extreme sports parks, bouldering destinations, competitive events, motorcycle racing, off-road trails, aerobatics flight instruction, summer camps, national tournaments, nature preserves and Moody’s Miracle League, a baseball league for people with special needs.

As for the arts, St. Clair has a prolific visual, musical and theatrical community, Goodgame continues. A few examples would be galleries, concerts, entertainment, songwriters and music festivals and stage productions. She also mentioned learning opportunities, such as music schools and dance studios.

Plus, there are wedding chapels and venues for parties, reunions, receptions, conventions and conferences.

“We’re learning more every day. … (There are) so many more things I didn’t realize we have here … (and) other people in the county were not aware of also,” said Goodgame.

In addition to all that, Talladega Superspeedway to the east of St. Clair and Barber Motorsports Park to the west bring visitors through the county, visitors who may stop to eat, shop or refuel, Goodgame said.

“It is also hoped that the more people who visit on a regular basis, some of them will want to actually live and work in our community,” said Jason Roberts, EDC’s director of industry and workforce development.

When that happens, Roberts said, the county’s population increases, as does its workforce, which naturally appeals to prospective businesses and industries.

Among Goodgame’s responsibilities as tourism coordinator are compiling an encompassing list of sites, venues, parks, events and opportunities countywide; creating a calendar of events in the county; getting input from communities on promoting what they have to offer; establishing a multimedia means for disseminating information about St. Clair’s tourism aspects and using regional and state resources to spread the information beyond the county’s borders.

Soon, she will engage a branding company to create a slogan that captures the essence of St. Clair in a few words.

“Blair has really hit the ground running and has already begun cataloging and identifying assets throughout the county, while also building relationships statewide with other tourism organizations,” said Don Smith, EDC’s executive director. “She is preparing to begin a branding campaign the beginning of 2020, as well as meeting with event organizers for a variety of events in the spring. We had very high expectations for Blair after the extensive search (for a tourism coordinator), and she continues to impress us all daily. She is the perfect embodiment of our county’s tourism opportunities.”

Goodgame grew up on marinas and in campgrounds in the Pell City area, enjoying St. Clair’s warm climate and beautiful scenery. Logan Martin Lake and the great outdoors were her playground.

“I’ve always had a love of the outdoors, and the water still resonates with me,” Goodgame said.

She credits her mother, Cindy Goodgame, with nurturing that desire to be in nature. “She is always supportive. She shares a love of the outdoors,” said Blair Goodgame, who kayaks, camps, gardens and participates in community theater and yoga classes. “… (She) made me the woman I am today.”

After graduating from The Donoho School in Anniston, Goodgame majored in English at Auburn University and minored in art history. Her plan was to become an attorney. To prepare, she served as a congressional intern in the office of U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers, R-AL.

Yet, at law school orientation in 2009, she decided this was not the path her life should take. She returned to Pell City and became operations assistant for Goodley Corp., the family business.

“I love Pell City. I love St. Clair County. It’s home,” said Goodgame, who lives in a 1902 farmhouse.

In 2011, she became owner of Lakeside Package and Fine Spirits, which she operated almost five years at her family’s Lakeside Landing RV Park & Marina. Determined that Lakeside Package should be an “experience” rather than just a store, Goodgame offered party supplies and events, such as wine tastings and an appearance by Tim Smith from the television show, “Moonshiners.”

That marketing strategy translated into a sales increase of at least 35 percent each year. Pell City Chamber of Commerce selected hers as “emerging business of the year” in 2013.

The business venture, Alexandra Blair Calligraphy and Celebrations, has operated concurrently with her other work endeavors. As an artist and event specialist, Goodgame plans weddings, showers, birthdays and other memorable occasions and produces the artistic elements and hand-lettered envelopes needed.

In the community, Goodgame was president of Pell City Rotary Club and district Rotary governor, a board member of Pell City Chamber of Commerce, a graduate of Alabama Leadership Initiative, and a graduate and board member of Leadership St. Clair (which is an EDC program). In 2014, the Rotary Club deemed her “Rotarian of the Year” and a “Paul Harris Fellow.” She would receive the latter award again in 2015 and 2018.

Recently, Goodgame was selected to serve on the PARCA Roundtable of the Public Affairs Research Council of Alabama.

To help those in need, Goodgame serves as board of trustees secretary for Community Foundation of Northeast Alabama and was chairwoman of the YWCA Purse and Passion fundraising luncheon in St. Clair. During her four years as Purse and Passion chairwoman, corporate and community support for the St. Clair luncheon increased manifold, reaching $105,000 in 2017. In 2014, the Alabama Chapter of Fundraising Professionals chose Goodgame “volunteer of the year.”

Candice Hill, EDC’s retail/marketing specialist, sees Goodgame as the ideal fit for the tourism coordinator position.

“Blair has a vast knowledge of tourism assets in St. Clair County, as she has a history here and has always been an explorer of things around her,” Hill said. “In both her educational background and her personal experience, she has a host of abilities to bring to the table for tourism in St. Clair County. I believe that her spirit and energy, along with her love for St. Clair County, will make her very successful in this position.”

Goodgame finds that the more she discovers and learns about the county, the more enthusiastic she is to call attention to those assets.

She excitedly talks about one of her ideas, which is to establish “trails” through St. Clair for things like barbecue tasting, birding, history, outlaws and moonshiners, locally made items, you-pick farms. …

“Our options,” she said, “are endless right now.”

Editor’s Note: St. Clair County Economic Development Council is funded through the St. Clair County Commission and private partners. The EDC is housed on the campus of Jefferson State Community College in Pell City.

St. Clair growth

Economic trend continues for county

Story by Carol Pappas
Photos by Graham Hadley

If anyone is keeping score of late, St. Clair County’s tallies in the economic development column looks enviable from most vantage points.

Calling activity in the investment and jobs creation arena “robust” in 2019, St. Clair Economic Development Council Director of Industry and Workforce Development Jason Roberts also hints at a just as lively start to 2020.

“We are working on two large projects with international companies that we hope to be successful in recruiting in the very near future. One of these projects could be potentially the largest private investment in St. Clair County’s history.”

St. Clair EDC Executive Director Don Smith took it a step further, saying that it underscores that St. Clair is not only competing statewide and regionally, it is competing on a global stage. And, it’s doing quite well.

Like an accountant calculating record sales, Roberts recounts the activity and announcements for year-to-date, where St. Clair has experienced growth in existing industry – TCI, Ford Meter Box, WKW’s two expansions, Allied Minerals, Benjamin Moore, Unipres, J&M Exotic Foods and Advanced Tank.

Investments amount to more than $103 million and approaching 150 newly created jobs over the past 18 months.

WKW, which is in the automotive sector, completed its second expansion at the end of September and brought another business line from China. The new line will begin production in 2020. WKW, already in St. Clair’s top five employers, is adding another 30 jobs through its $13 million investment.

Allied Minerals represented a $12 million investment with retention of 60 jobs plus 30 new ones created by consolidating a facility from the east into the brand-new Pell City construction.

Unipres in Steele completed a large expansion at its stamping facility for metal automotive parts. Add $40 million in investments and 70 new employees to St. Clair’s economy in just that one project.

Benjamin Moore is adding a 10,000-gallon latex reactor to its paint facility, generating eight new jobs, $33 million in investment and illustrating the county’s successful venture into high tech competition. “The last couple of years, the community has been able to flex its muscles when competing domestically and internationally,” Smith said.

J&M Exotic Foods in Moody is doubling the size of its facility that produces spices and herbs with custom blending and packaging. Figure in another $2 million investment and 11 new jobs to St. Clair’s credit.

Roberts called Advanced Tank’s growth a “relatively small, but important expansion. St. Clair competed with a site in Colorado, the base of Advanced Tank’s operation, for the upgrading of its plate processing and sandblasting.

Advanced Tank has had a presence in Pell City since 1978, and while the $3.5 million investment and 12 new jobs created is impressive enough, “that we got it to come here is pretty important. New investments in new facilities usually are the last to suffer cuts” if there is a downturn, he said. “New investment means viability in the future.”

In other economic news, Smith pointed to an improving housing market, a new car dealership announced for Odenville and a half dozen or so retail and restaurant projects as reasons to be optimistic about the future.

A major retail development is hoped at I-20 at the site of the old county hospital, but there are no final plans or announcements to be made right now.

“We have had good announcements in nearly every community in the county in the past 18 months,” Smith said. And those without announcements thus far, “we’re working on very large projects. Hopefully, it will be a record-setting end of 2019 and beginning of 2020.”

Why all the focus on St. Clair? “We have all the amenities of a large, urban area like Birmingham combined with safety and low cost of a rural community and the close-knit family friendly aspects of a suburban community,” Smith said. “We’re able to market all three of those.”

Geographically, St. Clair sits in an enviable spot with two major thoroughfares – Interstate 20 and Interstate 59 running through it.

“Our leadership throughout the county works extremely well together,” added Roberts. “It makes it easier to operate here. It is an unparalleled level of collaboration and cooperation.”

Tally it all up, and it appears St. Clair County continues to be in the economic driver’s seat.

Good news in Moody

Economic trend continues with new openings

Story by Linda Long
Contributed photos

Ribbons may soon be in short supply in Moody thanks to a flurry of grand openings and ribbon cutting ceremonies. The old tradition of putting scissors to ribbon symbolizes a new start that says, “come on in, we’re open for business.” And Moody is definitely open for business. 

Proof lies in the sounds of the times: That annoying, but necessary, ‘beep-beep’ warning as a construction foreman lets folks know his heavy bulldozer is backing up. The nearby rat-a-tat-tat of a noisy jackhammer is heard playing its raucous tune. And the cement trucks maintain a steady drone as concrete is smoothed out for a new foundation. 

Some might call it noise. But for Moody Mayor Joe Lee, it’s music to his ears.

And, why not? Lee loves seeing the town grow from barely a blip on a map to the second largest city in St. Clair County. He has been in public service for the past 27 years, first as a member of the Moody City Council, then as mayor for the past 16 years.

Commenting on the number of building projects, both commercial and residential, under way right now, Lee said, “I’m real proud of what I see happening here. I’ve been part of the leadership of this city for a long time, now. I’ve put a lot of effort into making sure we have grown and grown in the right way.”

The new Metro Bank building, which opened its doors officially with a ribbon cutting in November, is testament to that growth. It’s the newest and, perhaps, brightest gem in Moody’s economic crown. 

“They were leasing a spot in the Professional Building, and people couldn’t find them,” said Lee. “Now, they’ve got their own brick-and-mortar store and the location is promoting new business. People drive by them every day. They say Moody has a Metro Bank that’s here to stay.”

Although the bank building is new, Metro Bank has been open in Moody for the past 10 years. Still, Metro Bank President and CEO Jason Dorough agrees with the mayor predicting new customers will come with the new location built by Goodgame Co.

“We really needed more exposure,” said Dorough. “We had people tell us they didn’t even know we were in Moody.”

That problem should be eliminated with the building’s new location, right on Moody Parkway and its 6,500 square feet. The bank’s lobby is graced with a stately cathedral ceiling with lots of cheerful windows to bring in the light.

“What can I say?” laughed Dorough. “We’re a newer, bigger, prettier facility.”

He was quick to point out that despite moving upscale, the one thing that will not change, is Metro Bank’s commitment to remain Moody’s only community bank. “All of our employees are Moody people.

“They live here, shop here, work here. They’re making a big commitment here,” Dorough said.

“Most of the other banks are larger, not headquartered in St Clair County. We try to leave the bank business to the people who run the branch. They are all good people, with a lot of experience. We let them make their own decisions. If they need our guidance, we’re here for them.”

One of the biggest pluses with the move is “we’ve got room to grow. In all of our other locations, we’ve wished we had more offices and things of that nature. Moody is a growing town, and we want to grow right along with it. We feel like there’s a lot of potential here in Moody.”

More growth ahead for city

Apparently, Metro Bank isn’t the only investor seeing potential in this St. Clair County community. According to Lee, several new businesses are in varying stages of completion.

A 95-room Holiday Inn Express is under construction fronting Interstate 20. According to Lee, “the same folks building the Holiday Inn are also building a new Exxon station with an additional two new store fronts for lease, though we don’t know yet what’s going in there.” Those structures are located on U.S. 411, across from Adesa Auto Auction.

Popeye’s Fried Chicken, located on U.S. 11 and Markeeta Spur Road was 90 days away from opening in November and according to Lee, another yet to be identified, retail store will be built on property located between Popeye’s and Bojangles.

“We’re expecting a real shopping hub to develop in the area around Popeye’s,” said Lee.  “We’ve got more property for sale around there and behind Bojangles, there’s eleven commercial acres for sale. We look for it to develop in the near future.”

Two other business developments that are expected to bring new jobs to Moody include a supermarket located in the shopping center at Moody Parkway and an expanding J.M. Exotic Foods, located in Industrial Park.

“We’re in negotiations right now with a supermarket to try to backfill the space left vacant when Fred’s went out of business. That’s going to create 55 new jobs, Lee said. “Also, Exotic Foods has a new packing contract that’s going to double the size of their operation.

That will bring in 11 more jobs.

The growth is seen well beyond retail and industrial, though. “All the commercial growth we’re having is pushing residential growth as well.” A 58-unit senior citizen complex is under construction for those 55 and up. Completion date is expected around the first of the year. “It’s a little village in itself,” said Lee.

“It has a clubhouse and common areas, and each unit is for rent.”

The mayor said some new subdivisions under construction include 120 new homes at The Reserve in the Highlands and 135 houses being built in Oak Hills. 

Population in Moody following the last census was 12,457. According to Lee, the projected population following the next census in 2020 is expected to be 15,000, underscoring the fact that Moody has long since shed its status as a blip on the map.

Holiday Decorating

Experts tell you how to deck the halls the easy way

Story by Eryn Ellard
Photos by Gerald Ensley Jr.

It can be the most wonderful time of the year, but the stressful pace of the holiday season seems to heighten during the holidays when decorating worries are in the mix.

Take it from the experts. It doesn’t have to be.

 According to two top preforming retailers, both of whom specialize in décor and gifts, and one creative interior designer, if its gets to be too overwhelming, it isn’t worth doing, and if you’ve tried, and things didn’t turn out as planned, the sun will still rise in the morning, as the old saying goes.

From timeless classics to eclectic, over-the-top interior designs and everywhere in-between, some of the county’s top talent share some tips and tricks of the trade when it comes to decorating for Christmas, so that you can get back to the real meaning of the season.

Well-known local retailer Jordan Morton of Magnolia’s Gift Shop, which has now grown into three separate locations, says she learned her ways of decorating from her mother, and it was always a family tradition preparing for Christmas. “When I was a little girl, my mom would put a tree in every room and decorate every spot of our home,” Morton said. “It was so magical!” Morton’s business is probably most well-known for their trademark giftwrapping, and their “go big” approach when it comes to Christmas, in both decorating and unique gifts.

As far as trends for this holiday season, Morton says it is both a challenging and unique experience to gather what customers really value in each of her stores. “Each store has its own little personality, so we can tailor certain things to the local communities,” she said. “We try to create a space where you can enjoy finding a really nice gift or decoration for any occasion in life.”

Morton’s tips for decorating seem easy enough to follow, but just as easy to create a mess. The biggest mistake she sees her customers making is trying to figure out decorating all at once. “Whether you’re just starting out, or wanting to refresh what you already own, it’s best to take it one step at a time,” Morton said. She also believes that a good Christmas tree is a great investment, as well as mantle garland.

“Then, next year you look to build off that look by adding garlands for your staircase or decorative items for your centerpieces,” she added. By doing smaller areas at a time, Morton says it also alleviates the stress and cost of decorating by trying to do it all during the busiest time of the year. It also gives you room to experiment with different themes, greenery or statement pieces that you may not even like the next year.

This year, Morton says the buffalo check pattern has been a strong seller, and it seems to be sticking around. She also added that the “vintage” Christmas feel is making a comeback, “… and of course you won’t ever be out of style with red and green decorations.” Morton also points out that a good rule of thumb is to have a few “statement pieces” incorporated within your home. “These can be large trays, pottery pieces, lanterns or pottery pieces you can dress up or down throughout the year, and you can always give them a different look based on the time of year, just by adding different floral pics or ribbon.”

Special decorations for special places

For the last 29 years, Gerald Ensley, owner of Southern Manor Interiors in Pell City, has been decorating and designing special spaces for his clients. Always dressed to impress and driving what he has dubbed the “glitter van” because he always carries glitter and other special touches with him to use in his plans – from simple to elaborate. Ensley loves to see his client’s vision come to life, all year long, not just during the holiday season. However, Ensley stays booked every year for the six weeks of Christmas with design work he delivers to his clients.

“As far as decorating goes, don’t ever be afraid to try something new. If it doesn’t work, don’t be afraid to try again.” Ensley believes it is easy for people to see a vision or an idea they would love to see in their home for Christmas, but can often be hard to execute, so they become overwhelmed and quit altogether.

Known for his eclectic and larger-than-life creations, Ensley also believes in working with what you have. “Anything can be used in a tree,” said Ensley. “I’ve put lanterns in trees, signs, statues meant for tables, you name it.”

When asked if he had to choose a few key pieces that are timeless and necessary for Christmas decorating, he responded that a good tree that actually “fits” the room it will be in is always a great investment, along with a good nativity scene and a good wreath. “When I start decorating a tree, I always start with the topper, which doesn’t always have to be at the top of the tree, and work around that,” Ensley said. “From there, I am able to see what (clients) have and what I have to work with, and what I need to bring in.”

He also advises not to be afraid to mix different types and sizes of greenery, ribbon, beads, lights, anything you’ve got when decorating your tree, mantle, tables, anywhere you are planning to place something as a decoration.

Everyone is different, and their decorating should reflect what they want. Flocked trees have been very popular in recent years, but there really aren’t any “one size fits all” Christmas trends, it just all depends on each client. “I just don’t think inside the box,” he said. “I don’t look at it as a one-size-fits-all type job, but rather creating spaces where you can make new and special memories with family and friends.” 

Just down the road a piece, flustered decorators and perfect gift hunters can be found at Main Street Drugs, a pharmacy and gift shop, also with three locations. Owner Jennifer Eddy ascertains a strong love for family – especially children. “I know my son loves the color blue, and he loves football,” Eddy said. “So, I know we will have a blue football-themed tree somewhere in our house just for him.” 

Her personal take on decorating is just that – what she likes. That might include classical looks with a traditional topper and heirloom ornaments, to just downright fun decorations, like an upside-down elf tree topper. Or it might be festive threads of ribbon and ornaments with clever sayings, that when you see it all set up, you can’t help but feel happy. 

With signature wrapping of red and green polka dots, to themed trees, she carefully plans and budgets each year, in order to remain pocketbook friendly, as well as effective with her decorating pieces. She, too, also shares her love of adding different styles of accents – from greenery, to peacock feathers, to floral pics, she believes it should express who you are and what you like.

Eddy also has searched for special pieces from local vendors, ranging from Mississippi to Pell City.

While Christmas can become a stressful time, Eddy admits, it is all about its magic to the children. “Kids love to help,” Eddy said. “Buy a box of plastic shatterproof ornaments and a small tree for them to decorate themselves. It means the world to them and makes them feel included.”

She loves the look on a customer’s face when she creates a custom bow or helps pick out a great gift. It is what she loves most about this season, and it’s her way of giving back to the community.

St. Clair Remembers

At 99, memory of French Liberation still clear to World War II vet

Story by Scottie Vickery
Contributed Photos

As First Lieutenant William E. Massey plummeted 26,000 feet toward the ground, the 23-year-old bomber pilot realized he had reached the end. “This is my last mission,” he thought. “It’s all over.”

It was June 19, 1944, and Massey was flying his 19th mission in World War II when his B-17 Flying Fortress was shot down over Jauldes, a small village in France. Hurtling through the air, he worked frantically, managing to partially attach his parachute to his harness and pull the rip cord just in time.

After a miraculous landing, he spent more than two months with members of the French Underground, who helped hide him and other Allied soldiers and airmen from the Germans.

“We were on a mission that took 76 days,” Massey said, recounting his story just days before the 75th anniversary of the Liberation of Paris on August 24. “I like to tell my story. Most people think that war is just shooting at each other, but there’s a lot more behind a military life.”

Massey, who will celebrate his 99th birthday in November, has lots of memorabilia decorating his room at the Col. Robert L. Howard State Veterans Home in Pell City. There’s a framed map of France – the one he carried the day he was shot down – and a large photo of a B-17 cockpit. A collection of awards dot the walls, as well, including a 2015 letter stating that he would be presented with the Legion of Honor, France’s highest order of merit.

He accepted the award in January 2016 on behalf of all the soldiers who volunteered their services during the war. “They say that 1 in 4 airmen didn’t make it back,” said Massey, who flew with the 401st Bombardment Group of the 8th Air Force out of England.  “So many paid the ultimate price.”

Volunteering for service

Born in Bessemer, Massey was 21 when he enlisted shortly after the U.S. entered the war in 1941. He saw a poster for Aviation Cadet Training and knew that’s what he wanted to do. “I had never been in an airplane,” he said. “I’d never been off the ground. I had such a desire to fly, though, I knew I could do it.”

He had 240 hours of training before his first mission and eventually flew two separate missions on D-Day, the Allied invasion of Normandy. The fateful flight, which he wasn’t scheduled to make, came 13 days later. “One of the pilots showed up drunk, and his crew refused to fly with him,” Massey said. “They asked me if I wanted to just take his place or go with my own crew. We had flown 18 missions together, and I knew what each man was capable of doing, so I chose to take my own crew.”

They were headed for an airfield in Bordeaux. “Our intelligence had learned that the Germans had amassed large numbers of troops and equipment to combat the invasion. The mission was to destroy the airport and as much of the equipment as possible,” he said.

Thirty minutes from their target, they ran into anti-aircraft fire. The cockpit filled with smoke, and Massey knew the plane’s hydraulic system had been hit. “There was no chance in putting that fire out, so I immediately hit the bail out switch,” he said. “At an altitude of 26,000 feet, the temperature runs about 32 degrees below zero. I was trying to buckle my chute to my harness, but my hands were so cold, I couldn’t get them to function right.”

Finally, as the air grew warmer closer to ground, he managed to get the left buckle hooked with about 3,000 feet to spare. “The ground was coming fast,” he said, and he had to decide whether to keep trying to fully attach the chute or pull the rip cord with just one buckle attached.

“That’s what I did, and thankfully it opened clean and blossomed out,” he said. “The jolt was so strong it pulled my boots off. I hit the ground in my stocking feet.”

Massey knew he could see German soldiers at any time, so he hid himself and his parachute in the woods. He tried to catch the attention of a French farmer in a nearby pasture but was unsuccessful. A little later, another farmer came by and seemed to be searching for something. “I took a chance the old gent told him where the American airman was,” Massey said. “I summed that one up just right. He had a horse cart filled with hay. He hid me under it and off we go. Where, I didn’t know.”

Massey spent the night in a barn, hiding in the hayloft. The next day, the man brought two more members of Massey’s crew – 2nd Lt. Lewis Stelljes, a bombardier, and Sgt. Francis Berard, a waist gunner – who had also survived the crash. They later learned that the seven other members of the crew perished on the plane, a reality that still haunts Massey today.

A network of safety

The man who helped them was part of the French Underground, which maintained escape networks to protect Allied soldiers and airmen from the Germans. It was one effort of the French Resistance, which sabotaged roads and airfields and destroyed communications networks to thwart the enemy. It also provided intelligence reports to the Allies, which was vital to the success of D-Day.

“Their job was to be a nuisance,” Massey said. “They were going to look after us, and we were going to stay and fight with them. From then on out, we moved about quite frequently to different houses. We mostly slept in barns.”

Massey fondly remembers a 5-year-old girl who occasionally brought them food, which was getting scarce in France. “It was normally a piece of bread, cheese or a boiled egg, but Lord have mercy, it sure was good,” he said.

Eventually they met a man named Joe, who said he was a member of the Office of Strategic Services, a predecessor of the Central Intelligence Agency. He promised to help them escape. “One night, a cargo plane came in with more ammunition and food,” Massey said. “When it took off to return to England, there were three happy Americans on board. We were on our way home.”

During a debriefing with an intelligence officer, Massey learned that paperwork supporting his promotion to captain had been sent in the same day his plane went down. When he asked about the status, the officer told him, “It will catch up with you.” The promotion never did, and it is one of Massey’s biggest regrets.

“I was presumed dead, and they didn’t promote dead men. I worked for years to get it straightened out,” he said, adding that records from the 8th Air Force were destroyed when the National Personnel Records Center in Missouri burned down in the 1970s. “Getting shot down changed my whole life, but I was happy to be able to do something for my country. My country has done so much for me.”

Massey returned home and attended the University of Alabama, where he earned an industrial engineering degree and met his wife. The couple raised two children and were married for 56 years before she passed away. Massey, who worked for General Motors for 31 years and retired in 1980, continued to fly with a Reserve unit for about six years.

In 1961, Massey, Stelljes and Berard returned to France for the dedication of a monument honoring the crash survivors and the seven men who perished. While there, they visited with many of the people who helped them escape, even reconnecting with 21-year-old Jean Marie Blanchon, who had brought them food when she was 5. Shortly after the trip, Massey was quoted in The Birmingham News as saying, “We were there to thank them, but they were still thanking us for coming over to fight for their liberation.”

For years, Massey continued to correspond with the mayor of Jauldes, who wrote the following in an undated letter to the American airman:

Every year on the 8th of May (Victory in Europe Day) the population goes to the monument and after ringing bells to the dead, the mayor places a wreath and observes a moment of silence. Nobody here has forgotten the sacrifice of your compatriots.