Last I remember, it was May and our beach vacation at Myrtle Beach was ending. We were packing our car, but not to continue with our plans to drive north into North Carolina to visit family east of Raleigh.
The previous morning we received a phone call from our daughter in Florida, that she had been to the emergency room most of the night with chest pains and other symptoms of a heart attach. Praises to God, it wasn’t a heart attack.
My husband and I decided to not make an impulsive decision about our travel plans, ontinuing as planned or change them to check on our girl. We had made plans for a family get together and our cousins were looking forward to our visit, as we were.
We prayed for guidance during the day, then in the evening we shared our thoughts and feelings. We would be driving to Florida in the morning.
We spent a week in Florida. Our daughter was ok, but feeling extremely tired. I’m fairly certain she would have skipped suppers without some help getting the meals together.
Her Rose of Sharon bushes were in full bloom while we were there. I was hoping the Amaryllis would be blooming, but it was not to be. They bloom to their own timetable.
We were able to have dinner with our friends, DiVoran and Bill during that week and a lunch with another friend. And, of course, I got to spend time with my grand dog,
Back at home, reality came swiftly. When we headed to the beach we were in the middle of our mice wars and had emptied all closets, looking for mouse signs. Now it was time to “pay the piper” and put everything back,
Photo credit : WordPress A.I.
The chaos in our bedrooms was not this bad, but when we looked at our mess, it felt like the picture!
And then the month of June happened and suddenly it is almost mid July.
Photo credit : WordPress A.I.
Does anyone remember the television soap opera that opened each episode with this
“Life sands in an hour glass, so goes the Days of our Lives?” Well I can tell you, our hour glass is on steroids.
After my retirement, I decided to re-learn the canning and preserving skills I learned from my mother but hadn’t practiced for twenty years. I titled the blog Old Things R New to chronicle my experience. Since then I have been blessed to have six other bloggers join me, DiVoran Lites, Bill Lites, Judy Wills, Louise Gibson, Janet Perez Eckles and Melody Hendrix
In addition to blogging, I’m a general “mom Friday” for my author daughter, Rebekah Lyn. I also manage her website, Rebekah Lyn Books
My 2025 goal is continue to use my love of photographs and words to be an encourager on social media.
Summer is road trip season. My family had the blessing of taking incredible road trips, reaching as far north as Newfoundland, Canada, and as far west as the eastern edge of British Columbia. Mom diligently studied maps and AAA TripTiks to plan the best routes, and we were lucky to seldom come across detours.
If only our lives were so blessed. Detours happen when we least expect them and when they are most inconvenient. Rarely are they enjoyable so it’s easy to pout that we aren’t getting our way when we have to bend to the will of others – be that road crews or disrupted plans.
As Jesus’ days on Earth grew shorter, He spoke to His disciples about the way ahead of them. In John 14, Jesus tells them that He is going to prepare a place for them in His Father’s house and that they know the way to the place where He is going. Thomas is brave enough to question this, as they don’t yet understand where Jesus is going.
Thomas asked, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” (John 14:5) This is something we all grapple with at some point. Where is God leading in this situation? How can I follow when I can’t see the path? My GPS doesn’t have a destination, so how can it route me?
Jesus’ answer was simple. “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really know me, you will know my Father as well.” (John 14:6-7) We get to know Jesus by spending time with Him, praying, studying His word, serving others, and listening for His voice.
When our life takes an unexpected detour and there are no signs showing us the way, we can place our reliance on God to direct our steps, but only if we attune ourselves to Him. He is our hope in the darkness, our signpost on the unfamiliar road. We have to accept that there are reasons for the changes in our plans that we may never understand. Our ways are not always God’s ways and we have to trust that His ways are better for us.
The only way that truly matters is His Way, the way of life, truth, and eternal relationship with the Father. Walking in that way doesn’t guarantee a smooth trip, but it does guarantee a place for us in the eternal kingdom. That is a much better destination than any we can imagine here on Earth.
After breakfast this morning, I packed up my things and called my son, Billy, to let him know I was on my way to pick him up. We said our goodbyes to Lacey (she had to go to work) and Lisa (she was driving their car back to Florida) and Billy and I headed south 25 miles, thru morning rush-hour traffic, on I-85 & I-285 to visit the Waffle House Museum located in Decatur, GA. This small museum is located on the site where Joe Rogers and Tom Forkner opened their first Waffle House Restaurant in 1955. Since we didn’t have a tour appointment, we just took photos and headed for our next museum on today’s list.
Photo Credit: Bill Lites
Now it was only 15 miles southwest on I-20 & I-85 (more morning traffic) to visit the Hapeville Depot Museum located in Hapeville, GA but it was closed. So, we continued south another 10 miles on I-75 to visit the Old Train Depot Museum located in Jonesboro, GA. This museum is situated in the old 1867 M&W Railroad depot that replaced the original 1846 M&W depot and was restored in 1880. The museum displays early 1800s railroad artifacts and memorabilia, as well as being the home of the ‘Road to Tara’ Museum, which has a collection of ‘Gone with the Wind’ artifacts, costumes, and movie memorabilia.
Photo Credit: Bill Lites
After that interesting museum visit, it was only about 15 miles south on US-41 where we tried to visit the Army Aviation Museum located adjacent to the Clayton County Airport in Hampton, GA. We had no trouble finding the airport, and the sign for the museum. We followed the arrow on the sign, over some really rough roads and behinds some airplane hangars, but we just couldn’t find the museum anywhere.
Photo Credit: Bill Lites
So, we gave up on finding that museum and continued south about 100 miles to visit the Georgia Rural Telephone Museum located in Leslie, GA. For some reason Greta (my Garmin) took us over many back roads on a circuitous route (supposedly on US-19) to get us to this museum. We finally arrived at the museum and found it to be one of the largest and most interesting museums we have visited on this road trip. There were literally thousands of telephones, arranged in pretty much chronological order, dating from that instrument’s inception, in 1875 by Alexander Graham Bell, to the present. This is a very impressive museum! It was worth the trouble we went thru to find it.
Photo Credit: Bill Lites
After that amazing tour of the Telephone Museum, we discovered we had ended up almost 20 miles west of I-75 (the reason for all those back roads to get to Leslie). Now we needed to head back east on US-280 to visit the Cordele Rail Museum located in Cordele, GA but found that it was closed when we got there. So, we continued south another 40 miles on I-75 where we visited the Tifton Terminal Railway Museum located in Tifton, GA. This museum is situated in the old restored 1910 Atlantic Coast Line (ACL) depot and displays antique railroad exhibits, artifacts, and memorabilia dating from the mid-1800s.
Photo Credit: Bill Lites
By now we were getting hungry, and I gave Greta (my Garmin) the address of the motel 50 miles south, in Valdosta, GA and she took us right to it. I had told Billy the night before that I had a leftover Pork Chop dinner from the night before, so Lisa had made him some ham and cheese sandwiches for his dinner in the motel tonight. He told me that he was tired and was going to head to bed after we finished our dinner, so I warmed up my leftover Pork Chop plate and enjoyed that delicious meal again. What a treat that was. As usual I couldn’t find anything on TV to hold my interest, so I just recorded the day’s activities and went to bed.
Bill is a retired Mechanical engineer living with his wonderful artist/writer wife, DiVoran, of 65 years in Titusville, Florida. He was born and raised in the Southwest, did a tour of duty with the U.S. Navy, attended Northrop University in Southern California and ended up working on America’s Manned Space Program for 35 years. He currently is retired and spends most of his time building and flying R/C model airplanes, traveling, writing blogs about his travels for Word Press and supporting his wife’s hobbies with framing, editing and marketing. He also volunteers with a local church Car Care Ministry and as a tour guide at the Valiant Air Command Warbird Museum there in Titusville. Bill has two wonderful children, two outstanding grandchildren, and a loving sister and her husband, all of whom also live in Central Florida, so he and DiVoran are rewarded by having family close to spend lots of quality time with.
After breakfast this morning, I packed up my things and headed southeast for 35 miles on US-431 to Gadsden, AL where I turned east on US-278 for another 45 miles, across the border into Georgia, to visit the Cocoa Cola Museum located in Cedartown, GA but they were closed. So, now I headed east 30 miles on SR-113 and tried to visit the Savoy Automobile Museum located in Cartersville, GA but they seemed to also be closed. As I was driving around the building looking for the entrance, this guy, John, came out and told me they were closed. When I told him I was on a road trip from Florida he said, “Well, I guess I could show you around some.”
Photo Credit: Bill Lites
This is a really great museum! With 75+ beautifully restored unique cars and trucks of all types and models (many on a rotation basis), in five galleries, this museum tells the story of the varied aspects of the automobile’s evolution from its inception (the 1901 Oldsmobile Curved Dash Runabout is said to be the first mass produced car in the US-Wikipedia) to the present. John was very kind to act as my personal tour guide as the other workers were in the process of rearranging the museum’s five galleries for the next event. I thanked him for allowing me to see the museum’s collection and was on my way to the next museum on my list for today.
1901 Oldsmobile Curved Dash Runabout
Photo Credit: Bill Lites
From the Savoy Museum, I headed southeast 25 miles on I-75 to visit the Marietta Fire Museum located in Marietta, GA. This museum is housed in the original 1886 Fire Station #1 building and displays many antique fire engines, pieces of firefighting equipment, and firefighting artifacts, used by the Marietta Fire Department from as early as 1854. The museum’s centerpiece is their 1879 horse-drawn ‘Silsby Steamer’ steam-powered pumper.
Photo Credit: Bill Lites
While I was in Marietta, I wanted to visit the Aviation History & Technology Center, but they were closed. Not to be discouraged, I tried to visit the Lockheed-Martin Aviation Museum but discovered it was within the company gated complex not open to the public. So, now I headed the short 15 miles northeast on SR-120 (not so short in traffic) to visit the Southeastern Railway Museum in Duluth, Ga just north of downtown Atlanta. This museum is said to have the largest collection of rolling stock in Georgia, with 21 locomotives, including the ‘General II’ 4-4-0 Steam Locomotive, and 31 pullman, freight, and caboose cars dating from 1911 in their inventory. Rides in their restored Pullman car train are offered daily and during Special Events.
Photo Credit: Bill Lites
Several months ago, our son, Billy, had mentioned how someday he would like to join me on one of my road trips. I really didn’t think he would like the fast-paced type road trip I typically planned. So, this time I recommended that he meet me in Atlanta, where his daughter (our Granddaughter) lived, and ride with me the last three days of this trip. He thought that was a great idea, so he and his wife, Lisa, drove to Atlanta a few days before I was planned to arrive, to visit with their daughter, Lacey.
Photo Credit: Bill Lites
After my visit to the Southeastern Railway Museum, there in Duluth, I called Billy, and we linked up at the El Rinconcito Mexican Restaurant for dinner. I had the Chili Relleno, Beef Enchilada and Beef Taco plate with yellow rice and refried beans that was delicious. We had a great visit at the restaurant, and then went to Lacey’s apartment for some more reminiscing about family, jobs, and my road trip experiences. Lacey introduced me to her new dog, Russet, and then showed us her ‘garden plot’. After we were all talked out, I said my good-nights and headed for my motel a short distance away in Norcross for the night. Greta (My Garmin) found the motel without any problem, and after I got my things into my room, I recorded my day’s activities and tried to watch some TV. Nothing interested me, so I just went to bed with a full tummy.
Bill is a retired Mechanical engineer living with his wonderful artist/writer wife, DiVoran, of 65 years in Titusville, Florida. He was born and raised in the Southwest, did a tour of duty with the U.S. Navy, attended Northrop University in Southern California and ended up working on America’s Manned Space Program for 35 years. He currently is retired and spends most of his time building and flying R/C model airplanes, traveling, writing blogs about his travels for Word Press and supporting his wife’s hobbies with framing, editing and marketing. He also volunteers with a local church Car Care Ministry and as a tour guide at the Valiant Air Command Warbird Museum there in Titusville. Bill has two wonderful children, two outstanding grandchildren, and a loving sister and her husband, all of whom also live in Central Florida, so he and DiVoran are rewarded by having family close to spend lots of quality time with.
After Breakfast this morning, I headed south on US-65 for about ½-hour to visit the Lost Valley Fish Hatchery located just north of Warsaw, MO. This fish hatchery is part of a huge 969-acre state conservation project where a large variety of warm-water fish species are bred and raised to stock fish in the many Missouri rivers and lakes. It was early, and no one was around to give me a tour of the facility or tell me about how it all worked, so I took this photo and was on my way to the next place of interest on my list for today.
Photo Credit: Bill Lites
It was about an hour’s drive south on US-65 to where I found the Wommack Mill, also known as the Boegel & Hine Flower Mill, in Fair Grove, MO just north of Springfield. This original 1883 sawmill was converted into a flower mill in 1926 with the addition of the two concrete storage silos and other structures. The Fair Grove Historical Society is now in the process of a multi-year restoration of the mill to an operating flower mill using most of the original mill equipment, including the original buhr stones used by the Wommack family.
Photo Credit: Bill Lites
Now I headed south out of Fair Grove on US-65 for about 20 miles to visit the Route 66 Car Museum located in Springfield, MO. This museum displays an amazing collection of some 75+ beautifully restored vintage cars and trucks dating from as early as 1907 (Reo Runabout). My favorite was their fire engine red 1936 Cord 810 Sportsman. They also have a Batmobile used in the 1960s Batman series. I never get tired of looking at vintage cars and trucks.
Photo Credit: Bill Lites
While I was in Springfield, I wanted to visit the Pedalers Bicycle Museum just a few blocks from the car museum, but the traffic was terrible, and I couldn’t find a parking place anywhere around the square. So, I just headed south, out of Springfield on US-65 about 45 miles toward Branson, MO. I was not particularly interested in most of the famous attractions in Branson but did want to see what they had done for the Titanic attraction. DiVoran and I had seen the traveling Titanic Artifact Exhibition in Orlando several years ago, and I wanted see Barnson’s version. I was impressed with the half-ship replica of the Titanic but didn’t want to fight the crowds to see the artifacts again, so I took this photo and went on my way to the next museum.
Photo Credit: Bill Lites
After I weaved my way out of the traffic jam around the Titanic attraction, I headed south out of Branson for 30 miles on US-65, across the border into Arkansas, to visit the Boone County Historical Museum in Harrison, AR but it was closed. Continuing southeast another 40 miles on US-65 I visited the Buffalo River Historic Jail Museum located in Marshall, AR. This museum is housed in the original old restored 1902 Searcy County Jail and invites visitors to experience the turn-of-the-century jail conditions for themselves with antique jail artifacts, photos, and memorabilia.
Photo Credit: Bill Lites
Now I headed southeast again, for another 30 minutes on US-65, to Clinton, AR where US-65 turned south, and I stopped for a bathroom break. Then it was another 40 miles south to visit the Faulkner County Courthouse in Conway, AR. The first courthouse was built on this site in 1870, in the railroad town, then known as Conway Station, and had the distinction of being the first courthouse in Faulkner County, AR. The original building was replaced by the present building in 1936 and serves the city of Conway and the surrounding Faulkner County area.
Photo Credit: Bill Lites
Heading south out of Conway, it was only about a 30-minute drive south on I-40 to visit the Arkansas Inland Maritime Museum located in the Riverfront Park area, adjacent to the Arkansas River, in North Littlerock, AR. I had visited this museum once on another Road Trip, and this museum is usually the home of the USS Razorback (SS-394) Submarine and the USS Hoga (YT-146) Tugboat. Today I didn’t see either one of these boats tied up to the dock, and assumed that they had been taken somewhere for a maritime event or for maintenance.
Photo Credit: Bill Lites
It was getting late by now, so I gave Greta (My Garmin) the address for the motel there in North Little Rock, and she took me right to it with no trouble. After I got settled into my motel room, I heated up my leftover BBQ spareribs and sweet potato fries from Bandana’s BBQ Restaurant last night and enjoyed that delicious meal again. I found a good movie on TV that I had seen before and watched that until I couldn’t keep my eyes open any longer and went to bed.
Bill is a retired Mechanical engineer living with his wonderful artist/writer wife, DiVoran, of 65 years in Titusville, Florida. He was born and raised in the Southwest, did a tour of duty with the U.S. Navy, attended Northrop University in Southern California and ended up working on America’s Manned Space Program for 35 years. He currently is retired and spends most of his time building and flying R/C model airplanes, traveling, writing blogs about his travels for Word Press and supporting his wife’s hobbies with framing, editing and marketing. He also volunteers with a local church Car Care Ministry and as a tour guide at the Valiant Air Command Warbird Museum there in Titusville. Bill has two wonderful children, two outstanding grandchildren, and a loving sister and her husband, all of whom also live in Central Florida, so he and DiVoran are rewarded by having family close to spend lots of quality time with.
After Breakfast this morning, I headed south for 30 minutes on SR-29 where I had planned to visit the Historic Chippewa Village located in Montevideo, MN. I pulled up in front of what I thought was the entrance to the Historic Chippewa Village, but I soon discovered it was the entrance to the Artigas Plaza there in downtown Montevideo. I’m not sure why Greeta (My Garmin) took me to this address, but I was disappointed to miss that interesting re-creation of a late 1800s rural Minnesota community.
Photo Credit: Bill Lites
Of course, it was early, and this small town of Montevideo was not awake yet, and the streets were empty. I drove around looking for the Historic Chippewa Village, but for some reason, neither Greta nor I could ever find it. So, I headed just a few blocks down Main Street and stopped to see if the Montevideo Railroad Depot Museum was open. Nope, it was not open yet. I gave up on this town’s museums and gave Greta the address of the next museum on today’s list.
Photo Credit: Bill Lites
Now it was only 15 miles southeast on US-59 where I visited the Fagan
Fighters WWII Museum located adjacent to the Granite Falls Municipal Airport in Granite Falls, MN. This museum is situated on several acres and includes three large hangers filled with 13+ beautifully restored WWII aircraft that all fly. The museum also displays realistic WWII scenes of German & Japanese prison camps along with a flight Ready Room and Control Tower. Rides “Into the Wild Blue Yonder” in several of their historic WWII aircraft can be purchased.
Photo Credit: Bill Lites
After that great trip into aviation history’s past, I headed southeast another 50-minutes on SR-57/19, passing thru Redwood Falls to visit the Lower Sioux Agency located in Morton, MN and see what it was all about, but they were closed. I got back to US-71 and headed south an hour or so, across the border into Iowa, to visit what I thought was the Okoboji Classic Car Museum located in Milford, IA. This turned out to be a 65,000 sq. ft. display of some 70+_beautifully restored classic cars and trucks (most for sale) dating from a 1902 Nash. A walk thru the display area (I would call it a museum) included a life-size diorama of a 1950s Main Street, a huge Arnolds Park scene mural, and several other large unique murals. I especially liked their 1901 Fleming Motorcycle and their 1902 Nash Runabout. If you check out the video on the internet, it will show you what words can’t describe. I don’t believe I have ever seen a more impressive “Car Museum” in all my travels. It was simply amazing!
Photo Credit: Bill Lites
After that amazing visit, it was only about 15 miles south on US-71 to check out the Parker Museum in Spenser, IA. This museum is situated in the 1916 house that was first inhabited by Roy Webb and his family. The museum displays artifacts and memorabilia of the lifestyle of rural Iowa at the turn of the century. The James E. Parker family owned and lived in the house from 1928 to 1969, and most of the period furnishings in the museum today date from the early 1900s and were donated by surviving members of the Parker family.
Photo Credit: Bill Lites
Heading east out of Spencer on US-18, it took almost an hour to get to the Camp Algona POW Museum located in Algona, IA but they were closed. As I was leaving town, I saw an interesting-looking building and stopped to take a photo of it. I am always looking for unusual looking structures, and this one turned out to be the Methodist-Episcopal Church there in Algona. I had never heard of that branch of the Methodist Church, so I Googled it and discovered that the building was built in 1885 and was known as the Methodist-Episcopal Church of Algona. It is now known as the First United Methodist Church of Algona. Well, I learn something new every day on these road trips.
Photo Credit: Bill Lites
It was another 45-minutes south on US-169 to visit The Fort Museum & Frontier Village located just across the Des Moines River from Fort Dodge, IA. The museum and fort are a replica of the Fort Dodge (originally Fort Clarke) military outpost built in 1850, and displays an authentic log cabin and 12 other mid-1850s structures to describe to visitors the history of how the pioneers to this area lived, worked, and traded with the early Indian tribes in this western part of (what was then known as) the Wisconsin Territory.
Photo Credit: Bill Lites
By now I was ready to call it a day, and gave Greta (My Garmin) the address for this evening’s motel, there in Fort Dodge, and she took me right to it. After I got my things into my room, I asked the desk clerk for good places to eat close by, and he recommended the Mineral City Restaurant. I ordered their home-made Lasagna, and it was delicious. After that wonderful meal, I took my leftovers back to the motel, and recorded my activities for the day. No TV, just a good night’s rest.
Bill is a retired Mechanical engineer living with his wonderful artist/writer wife, DiVoran, of 65 years in Titusville, Florida. He was born and raised in the Southwest, did a tour of duty with the U.S. Navy, attended Northrop University in Southern California and ended up working on America’s Manned Space Program for 35 years. He currently is retired and spends most of his time building and flying R/C model airplanes, traveling, writing blogs about his travels for Word Press and supporting his wife’s hobbies with framing, editing and marketing. He also volunteers with a local church Car Care Ministry and as a tour guide at the Valiant Air Command Warbird Museum there in Titusville. Bill has two wonderful children, two outstanding grandchildren, and a loving sister and her husband, all of whom also live in Central Florida, so he and DiVoran are rewarded by having family close to spend lots of quality time with.
Every year for three years now, I have been researching and preparing a road trip that included time for visiting museums in different parts of Canada, but the Covid-19 pandemic has kept those borders to our northern neighboring country closed. In 2020 I had planned to fly to Seattle, WA and renting a car to tour museums in several of our U.S. northwestern states and British Columbia Canada. That didn’t happen because of Covid-19 Canadian border restrictions. Bummer!
I ended up flying to Denver, CO and renting a car to tour museums in 6 states including Colorado, Wyoming, S. Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, and Oklahoma. Then in 2021 I had planned to fly to Detroit, MI and renting a car to tour museums in several our U.S. northeastern states and Toronto, Canada. That didn’t happen because of Covid-19 Canadian border restrictions. I was really disappointed!
Photo Credit: Bill Lites
I ended up driving my van on my 2021 Road Trip on a long 17-day trip that included visits to museums in 13 states including FL, GA, SC, NC, VA, MD, PA, NY, OH, WV, KY, RN, AL, and back thru other parts of GA to FL. Then in 2022, I had planned to fly to Buffalo, NY and renting a car to tour museums in several more of our U.S. northeastern states and Ottawa, Canada. Again, that didn’t happen because of Covid-19 Canadian border restrictions. I was beginning to wonder if the Canadians were ever going to open their borders to visitors!
ended up driving my van on my 2022 Road Trip to visit museums in 11 states from Florida thru GA, AL, MS, TN, MO, IL, IN, OH, KY, TN, NC, and back thru other parts of GA to Florida. Finally in 2023 Canada lifted their Covid-19 border restrictions so I planned to drive my van to visit museums on the route thru the 17 states shown in the photo below.
Photo Credit: Bill Lites
In my researching, I have found that Canada has some very interesting museums, and the one that piqued my interest for this year’s Road Trip was The Royal Aviation Museum in Winnipeg, MB Canada. I am looking forward to seeing that museum’s great collection of beautifully restored military and civilian aircraft. There are many other unique museums in Winnipeg that I want to see while I am in that city. There are friends and relatives to visit along the way, as well as the many museums and points of interest in each state from my home in Florida to Canada and return.
—– To Be Continued—–
Bill is a retired Mechanical engineer living with his wonderful artist/writer wife, DiVoran, of 65 years in Titusville, Florida. He was born and raised in the Southwest, did a tour of duty with the U.S. Navy, attended Northrop University in Southern California and ended up working on America’s Manned Space Program for 35 years. He currently is retired and spends most of his time building and flying R/C model airplanes, traveling, writing blogs about his travels for Word Press and supporting his wife’s hobbies with framing, editing and marketing. He also volunteers with a local church Car Care Ministry and as a tour guide at the Valiant Air Command Warbird Museum there in Titusville. Bill has two wonderful children, two outstanding grandchildren, and a loving sister and her husband, all of whom also live in Central Florida, so he and DiVoran are rewarded by having family close to spend lots of quality time with.
This morning after breakfast, Terry and I headed off in search of the Blue & Gray Museum located in Decatur, AL. We found the address, but the museum had closed (another victim of Covid I guess). As we were walking down Bank Street, looking for the museum, I saw this historical marker and took a photo. It seems that Ellen Hildreth was the founder of the Alabama Women’s Suffrage Club, there in what was then called New Decatur, in 1892 and hosted many National Suffrage Leaders at the Echols Opera House which is also located there on Bank Street.
Photo Credit: Bill Lites
We gave up on the Blue & Gray Museum and it was only a few blocks to where we visited the Historic Decatur Railroad Depot Museum there in Decatur. This small museum is situated in the old restored 1905 Southern Railway Depot and displays many antique railroad artifacts and memorabilia related to the early development of Decatur and the surrounding De Kalb County, dating from the early 1800s. The museum also has a model railroad layout on the trackside of the depot. The curator informed us that as many as 100+ trains still pass by the museum in any given day. Busy place!
Photo Credit: Bill Lites
Terry grew up in the Decatur area and he and the museum curator, who was also from Decatur, had a wonderful time talking about old times in the area and the many things they remembered that had changed over the years. I finally pulled Terry away from the curator, so he could talk to other visitors, and we headed for one of Terry’s favorite restaurants there in Decatur. This turned out to be the Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Q Restaurant, where I ordered a plate of their St. Louis Bar-B-Q Ribs with a sweet potato, coleslaw, and a glass of their ‘real southern’ iced tea. The ribs were falling-off-the- bone delicious and tender. After that wonderful meal, I still had enough left over to enjoy that meal again tomorrow night.
After that fantastic meal, we headed back to Terry’s house in Lester where I took a quick nap. That was my first nap since I started this trip, and it really felt good. We spent the rest of the afternoon talking about the ‘Good Old Times’ in Titusville, what had happened to all the friends we had worked with, and how so many things have changed. We brought each other up to date on our children, grandchildren, our lives, and the many ailments us old geezers have to deal with. We pretty much exhausted every subject we could think of until it was time for dinner. Mary had prepared a light meal of chicken Taco Salad (Tostado) and it was delicious.
After dinner I called DiVoran with my nightly update, and we spent a good hour, each taking our turn talking to her. Mary went to bed after that, and Terry and I stayed up talking about my trip plans and all the new aviation books he had read.
Photo Credit: Bill Lites
So ended another great day with friends. The trip to the museum, all that good food, and reminiscing with Terry and Mary, were just the thing I needed to put me to sleep for a good night’s rest. ZZZZZ.
—–To Be Continued—–
Bill is a retired Mechanical engineer living with his wonderful artist/writer wife, DiVoran, of 65 years in Titusville, Florida. He was born and raised in the Southwest, did a tour of duty with the U.S. Navy, attended Northrop University in Southern California and ended up working on America’s Manned Space Program for 35 years. He currently is retired and spends most of his time building and flying R/C model airplanes, traveling, writing blogs about his travels for Word Press and supporting his wife’s hobbies with framing, editing and marketing. He also volunteers with a local church Car Care Ministry and as a tour guide at the Valiant Air Command Warbird Museum there in Titusville. Bill has two wonderful children, two outstanding grandchildren, and a loving sister and her husband, all of whom also live in Central Florida, so he and DiVoran are rewarded by having family close to spend lots of quality time with.
As I checked out the old Sciple’s water mill, I noticed a hand-written sign that pointed to the Water Mill Opry House across the road, and I just had to take a photo of that old place. It looked to be as old as the water mill and was all closed up. I wouldn’t have believed it, but their website informs me that on Saturday nights its standing room only for folks who come from all over Mississippi to enjoy the country music of Ed Sciple’s band and participate in some of the wildest boot-scootin’ and hi-steppin’ dancing around these parts.
Photo Credit: Bill Lites
After that wild ride in the countryside, I continued north 60 miles on SR-39 & US-45 to where I visited the Tennessee Williams Home located in Columbus, MS. I don’t believe I ever read any of Tennessee Williams’ books, but I have enjoyed the movies made from some of his books. I was the only visitor at the time, and the curator took the time to show me thru the entire house, pointing out little details as we went thru the various rooms. A framed quote by Tennessee Williams said, “I was composed of a little Welsh wildness, a lot of puritan English, and a big chunk of German sentiment.” That pretty much said it of the man.
Photo Credit: Bill Lites
Not far from the Tennessee Williams Home I visited the White Arches house there in Columbus. This original “Columbus Eclectic” home was built by Jeptha V. Harris in 1857 and is on the list of homes shown on Columbus’ Annual Spring Pilgrimage. The museum was closed when I was there, but the photo below shows the unique Greek Revival, Gothic, and Italianate design of the house with all its 19th century grandeur.
Photo Credit: Bill Lites
Now I headed north 35 miles on US-45 to visit the Aberdeen City Hall Museum located in Aberdeen, MS. This 1912 building turned out not to be a museum, but the operating Aberdeen City Hall. My mistake. This was another case of me not reading all the words about a given museum or subject. My wife, DiVoran, keeps telling me, “You have to read ALL the words Bill.”
Photo Credit: Bill Lites
While I was driving around Aberdeen, I noticed an Aberdeen Mississippi Blues historical marker in front of a Blues Mural on the side of a building. I stopped to get a photo and read all about the Mural. Not being a big blues fan, I didn’t know about Booker ‘bukka’ White, Chester Aurthur ‘Howlfn’ Burnett, and Albert King being born in Aberdeen, and about the mural dedicated to the Aberdeen Mississippi Blues artists. Now I’m a little more informed.
Photo Credit: Bill Lites
I continued north 30 miles on US-45 to visit the Tupelo Automobile Museum located in Tupelo, MS. I was expecting to get a look at their 175 beautifully restored cars. But when I got there, the museum was closed, and from what I have heard, its permanent, and all their cars have been put up for sale. What a bummer! So, I headed over to check out the Tupelo National Battlefield located just on the outskirts of Tupelo. This battlefield was the location of the July 1864 ‘Battle of Tupelo’ otherwise known as the ‘Battle of Harrisburg’ where the Union forces claimed a victory.
Photo Credit: Bill Lites
Now I headed over to visit the Elvis Presley Birthplace there in Tupelo. Even though DiVoran and I were Elvis fans when we were teenagers, neither of us knew he was born and raised in Tupelo. So, this was a new experience for me. I learned that he sang in the local Assembly of God Church choir from an early age and got his first guitar at age ten. In the years after his family moved to Memphis, TN in 1948, he and his cousins, Jerry Lee Louis, later known as ‘Mr. Rockabilly’ and Jimmy Swaggart, later known as ‘The Evangelist’ spent a good deal of their time hanging out with many of the early black Jazz and Blues performers who frequented the Beale Street clubs and restaurants. This is where it is suggested that a lot of the Blues, Jazz, and Southern Gospel they heard seeped into their souls and into their music.
Photo Credit: Bill Lites
Now, I gave Greta (My Garmin) the address of my motel there in Tupelo and she took me right to it. After I got checked in and got my things into the room, I warmed up my leftover fried Catfish dinner from the Blue Crab Grill and enjoyed that delicious meal again. Yummm! Then I tried to watch some TV but there was nothing worth watching, so I recorded my days activities and went to bed. What a long day this has been!
—–To Be Continued—–
Bill is a retired Mechanical engineer living with his wonderful artist/writer wife, DiVoran, of 65 years in Titusville, Florida. He was born and raised in the Southwest, did a tour of duty with the U.S. Navy, attended Northrop University in Southern California and ended up working on America’s Manned Space Program for 35 years. He currently is retired and spends most of his time building and flying R/C model airplanes, traveling, writing blogs about his travels for Word Press and supporting his wife’s hobbies with framing, editing and marketing. He also volunteers with a local church Car Care Ministry and as a tour guide at the Valiant Air Command Warbird Museum there in Titusville. Bill has two wonderful children, two outstanding grandchildren, and a loving sister and her husband, all of whom also live in Central Florida, so he and DiVoran are rewarded by having family close to spend lots of quality time with.
This morning after breakfast I drove over to check out Landrum’s Homestead & Village located there in Laurel, MS. It was early and this living history museum was closed, but their website informs me that the museum is a replica of an 1800s southern Mississippi settlement with historically accurate buildings, such as a general store, smokehouse, trading post, schoolhouse, blacksmith shop, chapel, and Indian village. The museum also hosts several family-based events throughout the year to celebrate several holidays.
Photo Credit: Bill Lites
Not far from the Landrum’s Homestead Village I visited the Veterans Memorial Museum located in downtown Laurel. This museum is home to a huge assortment of military artifacts and memorabilia, dating from the Civil War, that reflect the stories, deeds, and sacrifices of our courageous men and women from all branches of U.S. military service. The museum also hosts special events, throughout the year, such as the recent “Rolling Thunder 3” (June 11, 2022) which honored those veterans who gave the ultimate sacrifice in Kabul, Afghanistan.
Photo Credit: Bill Lites
Then I headed north 55 miles on I-59 to visit the Key Brothers Aviation Exhibit located in the Meridian Regional Airport terminal at Key Field in Meridian, MS. Key Field takes its name from Al & Fred Key who broke the standing flight endurance record of 23 days. From June 4 to July 1, 1935 the Key brothers flew over Meridian for a total of 27 days (using some of the earliest refueling methods known at the time-bucket and hose) to help put Meridian on the map during the Great Depression.
Photo Credit: Bill Lites
I drove into downtown Meridian where I wanted to visit the Jimmie Rogers Museum, but it was closed. I was disappointed to miss that museum as Jimmie Rogers, known as “The King of Western Music” has been one of my favorite western singers ever since I was a teenager. Bummer!
Photo Credit: Bill Lites
A few blocks away, I visited the Meridian Railroad Museum. This museum is located in the old restored 1906 Union Station depot and displays many antique railroad artifacts and memorabilia. The museum also has a model railroad layout depicting early Meridian, as well as several pieces of rolling stock, which includes a 1917 Baldwin Steam locomotive in the process of being restored. Amtrak still uses a portion of the station on a daily basis.
Photo Credit: Bill Lites
One of the Railroad Museum curators had told me how Mr. George W. Soule (1849-1922), an entrepreneur and inventor, had built the Soule Foundry & Museum across the street and that I should check it out. The museum was closed but many indications around the area said that she was right. I saw this historical marker in the Depot Park near the Soule Museum.
Photo Credit: Bill Lites
My last stop there In Meridian was to visit the Antique Dentzel Carousel located in the Highland Park area. This original carousel building is the centerpiece of the park which opened in 1906. The carousel was built by Gustov Dentzel of Philadelphia, PA in 1896 for the 1904 St. Louis Exposition, and was later sold to the city of Meridian. The carousel figures were hand-carved from poplar and basswood, and hand-painted with oils to match the carousel’s canopy and surrounding building walls. An amazingly beautiful piece of machinery.
Photo Credit: Bill Lites
Next, I continued north on SR-39 about 30 miles to visit the Sciple’s Water Mill located in De Kalb, MS. It wasn’t easy to fine the place in that rural part of Kemper County Mississippi, but Greta (My Garmin) finally found it. I wasn’t sure if the building was going to continue to stand long enough for me to take a photo. Built in the early 1800s by the Sciple family, this water mill has been in continuous operation all these years and still provides ground corn meal and whole-wheat flower for local residents.
Photo Credit: Bill Lites
—–To Be Continued—–
Bill is a retired Mechanical engineer living with his wonderful artist/writer wife, DiVoran, of 65 years in Titusville, Florida. He was born and raised in the Southwest, did a tour of duty with the U.S. Navy, attended Northrop University in Southern California and ended up working on America’s Manned Space Program for 35 years. He currently is retired and spends most of his time building and flying R/C model airplanes, traveling, writing blogs about his travels for Word Press and supporting his wife’s hobbies with framing, editing and marketing. He also volunteers with a local church Car Care Ministry and as a tour guide at the Valiant Air Command Warbird Museum there in Titusville. Bill has two wonderful children, two outstanding grandchildren, and a loving sister and her husband, all of whom also live in Central Florida, so he and DiVoran are rewarded by having family close to spend lots of quality time with.
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