Tourism Resource Guide

Frank l in • Notasu lga • Shor ter • Tuskegee

RREESSOOUURRCCEE GGUUIIDDEE2012/2013

MACON COUNTY & THE BLACK BELT REGION OF ALABAMA

IINN TTHHIISS IISSSSUUEE

History of Gees Bend and Its Hidden AssetsWhat is the Black Belt Community Based Tourism Network (BBCBTN)?

Tuskegee University is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award doctoral, professional, master’s and bachelor’s degrees. Contact the Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097 or call 404-679-4500 for questions about the accreditation of Tuskegee University.

FOR INFORMATION VISIT WWW.TUSKEGEE.EDU OR CALL (800) 622-6531

FOR MORE THAN A CENTURY, TUSKEGEE UNIVERSITY

HAS IMPACTED SOCIETY IN NEARLY EVERY

INDUSTRY BENEFICIAL TO MANKIND. FROM BOOKER T.

WASHINGTON’S VISION IN 1881 TO TODAY’S EVIDENT

REALIZATION OF ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE, TUSKEGEE

CONTINUES TO SOAR TO GREATER HEIGHTS, MAKING ITS

MARK ON A GLOBAL COMMUNITY.

MMAACCOONN CCOOUUNNTTYY......PPEERRFFEECCTT FFOORR AA BBAACCKKYYAARRDD BBRREEAAKK--CCAATTIIOONN

Not so long ago, we never would have thought that driving to places that are close to where we live would amountto much of a vacation. We felt that if it wasn’t several states or countries away to the beaches in the Carribean Islands or mountains in Montana or wine country in California, it just wasn’t a real break from the everyday grind.

But now the cost of travel makes us think twice about jumping on an airplane to get to a destination. Airline ticket pricesar sky high and airline companies are charging for everything from baggage to peanuts. Driving is not much betterwith gas prices close to $4.00 per gallon. So, its time to take a different approach.

We don’t have to give up the pleasure of a great vacation. We just have to cut back on the number of miles we travel.Here in Macon County, we have something for everyone, making this a perfect place for a break-cation right outsideyour backyard. We have history, culture, beaches, mountains, caves, hiking, hunting, bird watching, festivals, museums, parks, rivers, lakes, wineries, historic homes, food, shopping, national forests and many other tourism assets for enjoyment and enlightenment.

A list of Macon County’s tourism assets includes:

All of this can be had on ONE TANK OF GAS. Lets break-cation in our own backyard!

• Old South Equine (Horse Training)• Possum Day (May, Franklin, AL)• Rosa Parks Birthplace• Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church (Notasulga, AL)• SuCaro Ridge (The Farm at Milstead, Horse Training)• Taska Recreation Area: Tuskegee National Forest• Tsinia Wildlife Viewing Area: Tuskegee National Forest• Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site (Museum)• Tuskegee Downtown Historic District• Tuskegee Heritage Museum• Tuskegee Human and Civil Rights Multicultural Center• Tuskegee National Forest• Tuskegee University• The Oaks (Booker T. Washington Family Home) • Whippoorwill Vineyards (Notasulga, AL)• White Oak Plantation (Hunting and Fishing Lodge)• Zora Neale Hurston birthplace (Notasulga, AL)

• All Macon County Day Celebration (August-Tuskegee)• Bartram Trail: Tuskegee National Forest• Booker T. Washington Church home• BPA Labor Day Fly-In (September- Moton Field)• Burial Site of Booker T. Washington• Burial Site of Dr. George Washington Carver• George Washington Carver Arts & Crafts Festival (May)• George Washington Carver Museum• Harris Barrett School• Hillbilly Mall (Little Texas)• Historic Homes• Hounddog Day (May, Little Texas)• Juneteenth Celebration (June-Tuskegee)• Lake Tuskegee• Lionel Richie Birthplace (Grammy Award Winner)• Little Texas Tabernacle and Campground• Macon County Historic Courthouse (Built in 1907)• Moton Field Airport (Home of the Tuskegee Airmen)

12012/2013 Tourism Resource Guide

A County Rich in History, Heritage and Hospitality101 East Rosa Parks Avenue • Tuskegee, Alabama 36083 • 334-727-5120 • www.maconcounty-al.org

Macon County Agencies Working Hard To Serve All Citizens:

Macon County Sheriff’s Department • East Central Mental Health Services • Macon County Library • Macon County Water Authority • Macon County Health Department • Macon County Elderly Nutrition Program • Macon County Rural Transportation • Emergency Management Agency • Macon County Juvenile Services • Macon County Extension Service • Macon County Community Action • Macon County Emergency Medical Service • Retired Senior Volunteer Program • Senior Aid Services to the Elderly • County-Wide Water System • County-Wide Solid Waste System • Macon County Council For Retardation and Rehabilitation

ALABAMA

Miles RobinsonDistrict 1

Louis MaxwellChairman

Andrew Thompson, Jr.District 3

Robert “Mike”Berry

District 4

Edward “Coach”HuffmanDistrict 2

T U S K E G E EHISTORY...HERITAGE...HOSPITALITYTHE EPITOME OF

TUSKEGEE was incorporated in 1843.The momentum that occurred duringthe rest of the 1800's established theCity's reputation as an educationalpowerhouse.

TUSKEGEE has wisely preserved itshistory while simultaneously preparingfor the years ahead. Today it still has oldworld charm, with a city centerdominated by the town square. Thereyou will find a serene park, quaint store-fronts and genuine southern hospitality.The future will usher in a new era ofprogress and prosperity that will includehealthy nurturing of tourism by business

and government leaders and friendlyovertures to tourists. We hope you takeus seriously when we say it's time torediscover Tuskegee.

TUSKEGEE, the home of TuskegeeUniversity, is located 40 miles east ofMontgomery. The populat ion isapproximately 10,000, includingapproximately 3,000 students atTuskegee University. Tuskegee is “thecradle of Black aviation” in America andhome of the famous Tuskegee Airmen.Visitors will find Tuskegee a beautifulcity with a topography of rolling hills,spruce pines, lakes and meadows.

For More Information Contact:City of Tuskegee

Tuskegee, Alabama 36083334.720.0500

or visit:www.tuskegeealabama.org

Tuskegee Municipal Complex

Downtown Tuskegee

Lake Tuskegee

Tuskegee AirmenMuseum

The Oaks - Home ofBooker T. Washington

GRAY, LANGFORD, SAPP, McGOWAN,GRAY, GRAY & NATHANSON, P.C.GRAY, LANGFORD, SAPP, McGOWAN,GRAY, GRAY & NATHANSON, P.C.

AREAS OF PRACTICE

110088 FFrreedd GGrraayy SSttrreeeett •• TTuusskkeeggeeee,, AAllaabbaammaa 3366008833 •• 333344..772277..44883300 pphh •• 333344..772277..55887777 ffaaxxwwwwww..ggllssmmggnn..ccoomm

AdministrationsCivil litigation (Plaintiff & Defense)Civil RightsCorporate Legal ServicesCounty and Municipal Law Criminal Law

Education LawEstate and ConservatorshipsEstate PlanningFraud and Bad FaithPersonal InjuryPremises Liability

Probate ServicesReal EstateWillsWrongful Death

HISTORY

Gray, Langford, Sapp, McGowan, Gray, Gray & Nathanson, founded in 1960, developed from thesole practice of Fred D. Gray, which started in 1954 in Montgomery, Alabama. This nationallyrecognized minority-owned law firm has offices in Montgomery and Tuskegee, Alabama.

We advocate for and stand with our clients in arbitrations, mediations, and court rooms. The firmconsists of six attorneys and eight support staff. Attorneys Fred D. Gray, Walter E. McGowan, FredD. Gray, Jr., Stanley F. Gray, Allan Nathanson and Bridgett Vasser Gray advocate for right.

Admitted to practice in: Alabama, Arizona, Ohio, Washington, Washington. D.C.; all federalcourts in Alabama, 11th Circuit Court of Appeals and the United States Supreme Court.

We are a community based law firm with significant national trial experience

No representation is made that the quality of legal services to be performed is greater than the quality of legal services performed by other lawyers.

ATTORNEYS ADVOCATING FOR RIGHT

Contents

PUBLISHERNoah Anthony Hopkins

EDITORIAL DIRECTORKarin Grant Hopkins

EDITORSKarin Grant HopkinsDionne Y. Inman

ART DIRECTOR/GRAPHIC DESIGNNoah Anthony Hopkins

PRINCIPAL PHOTOGRAPHERNoah Anthony Hopkins

COMMUNITY TOURISM NETWORK, INC.608 Dibble StreetTuskegee, Alabama [email protected]

SPECIAL THANKS TO:

*Historic photos courtesy of Tuskegee University Archives

1 BACKYARD BREAK-CATION

3 TUSKEGEE (History...Heritage...Hospitality)

7-8 THE RIDGE (A Macon County Archaeology Project)

11 BPA LABOR DAY FLY-IN

13 JAMAICA (Learning About Community Based Tourism)

14-15 WHERE TO WORSHIP IN MACON COUNTY

17-18 TUSKEGEE UNIVERSITY

21-22 THE FARMERS MARKET

23 THE GEORGE WASHINGTON CARVER MUSEUM

25 SHILOH MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH

27 TUSKEGEE AIRMEN NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE

29-31 GEES BEND

32 WHAT IS BBCBTN?

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Taking a road trip from Birmingham to Nashville a few yearsago, I decided to jump off the interstate every third or fourth exitjust to take in the charm and beauty of small towns along theway. To my surprise, many of them needed a little TLC. Manyhad historic markers identifying places or buildings, but oftenthese treasures were hidden by high grass or showed signs ofneglect. The bones were there and you could see that it was athriving, colorful, wonderful place to live, at one time. I wouldtake note of lakes, monuments of heroic figures and historic architecture from the 1800s.

As I drove through these towns and villages, I had this great ideathat maybe I could do something about the decaying of smalltown and cities, maybe there is a way to show people that usingyour past is a great way to build your future. I came home andthought about it awhile, discussed it with my wife and remembered all of the tourism events and projects I had been involved with in my historically rich hometown — New Orleans.

After careful consideration and thoughts, I decided to form anon-profit 501(c)3 organization called Community Tourism Network, Inc. This enterprise was created to act as a curator forsmall towns and cities, to conduct the research, analyze theplaces and things with historic value, decide whether or not theseplaces also had natural resources with tourism potential likestreams or waterways, mountains or parks.

The job of Community Tourism Network, Inc. is to identifytourism assets and work with community stakeholders on development of a plan that allows them to capitalize on thoseassets. After this preliminary work has been accomplished,strategies and tools are activated to showcase and market thecity, town or neighborhood. This process culminates with a newtourism spirit—a sense of joy and pride that citizens and visitors can feel and see. In fact, as you peruse the pages of thismagazine, you will experience this spirit, joy and pride withincommunities in the Alabama Black Belt.

Welcome to this edition of THE TOURISM RESOURCE GUIDE.

Enjoy!

Noah Anthony HopkinsPublisher

5

Though you may associate archaeological diggingwith Egyptian, Mayan or other ancient cultures, you

can now dig for archaeological treasures right here inMacon County. Shari Williams, a visionary with deeproots in the Creek Stand/Warrior Stand area of MaconCounty is responsible for this project named “TheRidge” as homage to its underlying history.

Almost 200 years ago, the Old Federal Road wasbuilt a long a scenic r idge in southeast MaconCounty and it served as a gateway for emigrat ingpioneers to pursue their quest for new economic,social and cultural opportunities.

Today, “The Ridge” Archaeology Project of southeast Macon County is a gateway for the

development of new cultural and her i tage tour ismopportunities in this same area.

After diligently renovating and equipping a singlestory house to serve as the interpretive center, the

Archaeological Digging in Macon County

Shari Williams, the Project Manager shares information about the history of “THE RIDGE” with the Macon County Commission Chairman, LouisMaxwell

This house, has since been renovated and serves as an interpretive center for THE RIDGE


facility opened in May 2012 and immediately began welcoming visitors. Williams says, “Our mission is to collect, display and preserve artifacts, oral histories andrecords to tell the story of the people and the evolution of “The Ridge” villages of Boromville, CreekStand and Warrior Stand. Our vision is to raise awareness of the areaʼs rich Native, European andAfrican American heritage and the significant contributions these groups made to the growth and development of the culture, history and economy of Alabama and the United States.”

Responding to this intriguing opportunity, for fourweeks during the summer of 2012, Tuskegee University history students braved brutal temperatures

and sizzling heat to participate in archaeological missions. Under the watchful eye of Tuskegee University archivist, professor Dana Chandler, the students engaged in excavations just like real-world archaeologists. They learned the right way to dig, remove artifacts, document locations, identify findingsand best practices concerning storage. As to the discoveries uncovered, one student stated, “We found awide variety of objects during our time at the ridge, someinclude pieces of pottery, pottery flakes, bullets, dropforged nails, a knife and several other items.” Attributing observations to Robert Perry, the newsletterstates that it appears the artifacts are Native American,European and pre-Columbian. The i tems are undergoing lab analysis to determine the original periods of usage.

“The Ridge” is located in the Warrior Stand community about 12 miles south of Tuskegee and 9miles north of Hurtsboro. The mailing address is 10735Macon County Highway 10, Union Springs, AL 36089.Admission is free. Donations are welcome. To donate orinquire, contact Shari Williams at 770.843.1913 or [email protected].

Artifacts discovered by students at “THE RIDGE” dig.

Professor Dana Chandler, Lead Archaeologist with students fromTuskegee University

Rob Perry, Assistant Archaeologist demontrating the proper way to dig

Continued from previous page

8 2012/2013 Tourism Resource Guide

117 Westside StreetTuskegee, Alabama 36083

334.727.1007

COFFEE • TEA • SMOOTHIES • SANDWICHES • GREAT SERVICE

BEER • WINE • OTHER SPIRITS

“Every vine was once a seed and every company was once an idea."

Whippoorwill Vineyards4282 County Road 31Notasulga, AL 36866Phone: 334-257-2711

Email: [email protected]

Our hours of operation are:Monday: 10am - 6pm

Tuesday: Closed Thursday - Saturday: 10am - 6pm

Sunday: Closed

Our Wide Variety of Wines Will Satisfy any Palate

The Winery

AwardWinners

Our Expansive and Well-Nutured Vineyards

Family Owned & Operated


The slow drop of a high-flying parachutist, whose giantAmerican flag waves gently against the sky, always mesmerizes spectators. The

crowd knows there is muchmore in store after the skydiver lands, officiallykicking off the annualBPA Kid AdventureLabor Day Fly-in held atMoton Field in Tuskegee. This event combines

airplanes, history, fun, food and transformative progress.

Planes and pilots welcome anyonewho stops by to marvel at the variousspecimens of aviation that are parked onthe tarmac. Children can create greatmemories by just sitting in the cockpit andthey can even go for a plane ride. Theschedule for the BPA Kid AdventureLabor Day Fly-in also includes an FAAsafety briefing, a model aircraft-buildingworkshop for children and tours of the TuskegeeAirmen National Historic Site.This event, which is free and open to the public,

is sponsored by the Golden Hawks of Tuskegee, a chapter of the Black Pilots of America (BPA), which iscomprised of pilots or airplane owners who know firsthand thejoys of flying. BPA members also feel an obligation to the pioneers who made their passion possible — the TuskegeeAirmen.

And this is where the transformative progress is on full display. In recent years, major changes have occurred at MotonField, where the Tuskegee Airmen trained for military serviceduring World War II. Operations now include a modern airportwith capacity for refueling and airplane detailing along with apilot’s lounge, Internet access, conference rooms, 5,000-foot runway and concierge services.

The ever-present spirit of the Tuskegee Airmen blazedeven brighter in July 2012 during two ceremonies of historic significance: groundbreaking was held to showcase the nextchapter of growth and progress and also, the Legacy FlightAcademy graduated its first class of students, who underwentaviation training at Moton Field. This program equips participating youngsters with the skills, ethics and attitude to further the legacy of the Tuskegee Airmen.

The Kid Adventure Labor Day Fly-in is a time for attendeesto celebrate Moton Field’s deeply profound past and also relishthe airport’s top-flight services and amenities. For more information call 334.727.6485 or e-mail [email protected].

Celebrations: Aviation Inspirations

Children can both play pilot and take a plane ride with a real pilot at thecontrols

Visitors review the static display of airplanes at Moton Field

Groundbreaking held on July 21, 2012 for the 11,000 square foot “T”hangar that will tremendously expand capacity at the airport located at Moton Field in Tuskegee

Family fun and an opportunity to visit historic sites and learn about theTuskegee Airmen Pilots and thousands of navigators, parachute packers, mechanics and others referred to as “Tuskegee Airmen”.

This article was originally composed by the Utilities Board of Tuskegee (UBT) as part of anongoing commitment to promote community assets. The article is reprinted and slightly modified with permission.

2012/2013 Tourism Resource Guide 11

Milton C. DavisAttorney at Law

LAW OFFICES OFMILTON CARVER DAVIS

“Dedicated to Advocacy and Excellence for all Clients”

330044 NNoorrtthh MMaaiinn SSttrreeeett •• TTuusskkeeggeeee,, AAllaabbaammaa 3366008833 •• 333344--772277--66550000No representation is made that the quality of legal services to be performed is greater than the quality of legal services performed by other lawyers.

EXPERIENCED PROFESSIONAL WITH OVER 34 YEARS OF PRACTICEAARREEAASS OOFF PPRRAACCTTIICCEE::

• Serious Personal Injury and Wrongful Death• Auto/Truck Accidents• Civil Trial Litigation• Insurance Claims• Fraud• Guardianship/Conservatorships

• Governmental Practice• Family Law• Wills, Trusts and Estates• Real Estate• Contracts and Business• Transactional Law

Partial List of Professional Development Course Offerings“Expand Your Horizon for a Brighter Future through Professional Development”

• MicrosoftWord 2010 • Microsoft Excel• Microsoft PowerPoint 2010 • Microsoft Publisher 2010• Introduction to Computers • Systems Approach to Team-building• Managing Conflict • Stress Management• Office Administration Management • Leadership and Supervision• Executive Leadership • Thesis/DissertationWriting Made Simple• GrantWriting Made Simple • Writing for Professional Journal Publication• Effective BusinessWriting • Business and Social Etiquette• Conversational French and Spanish • Crisis Management

Tuskegee University Continuing Education Program can assist you in tailoring aprofessional development program for your organization and employees. Pleasecontact us to discuss your needs.

For more information and registration, please contact:Shari Stoudemire at 334-727-8601

or email [email protected] or www.tuskegee.edu/continuingeducation

Continuing Education Program


Ever have one of those “A Ha” moments, when a light bulbflashes in your head and you just know an idea can work? It happened to me when I learned how tourists’ destinations are placing ordinary people as the centerpiece of experiences enjoyedby visitors. It’s called Community-Based Tourism (CBT) and I sawa great interpretation of it while visiting Jamaica as part of a South Eastern U.S. delegation on Wealth Creation sponsored bySustainable Rural Regenerative Enterprises for Families (SUR-REF). Our goal was to study solutions in this tourism paradise thatcould work in our respective communities back home.

We went up in the mountains to places like Beeston Springwhere we met a beekeeper. While there, we bought some of thebest honey I’ve ever tasted. We visited historic churches, gawkedat spectacular nature, sampled mango, guava, tangerines and grapefruits pulled directly from fruit-bearing trees, got a lesson onthe fruit’s medicinal properties, ate at community food stands andwent to a small farm run by a married couple who feed their family off their land and are a good example of multi-tasking. Boththe husband and wife are musicians and they produce monthlymusic concerts in their neighborhood.

These concerts are free but their effect is priceless. They bringneighbors together in the spirit of fellowship. Tourists, who seethis side of a community’s personality, connect with the roots andsoul of a culture. The Jamaican neighborhood concerts celebrateheritage and traditions in a way that is timeless, pure and organic. Countrystyle Community Tourism Network (CCTN) is an or-

ganization that works aggressively to expand tourism into indige-nous communities. This is advantageous for visitors who get anauthentic experience as well as the Jamaican hosts in the 36-tar-geted villages who get the benefits of tourism commerce. Diana

McIntyre-Pike, the lady who runs Countrystyle CommunityTourism Network, believes tourism has the power to establish andsustain an international image and brand for communities. Shetakes that philosophy to heart in how she promotes and practicestourism. She has travel packages that place tourists in homes, onfarms and other housing that is true to everyday life.I am grateful for the opportunity to participate in this learning

journey and I thank the Sustainable Rural Regenerative Enterprisesfor Families (SURREF) for including me. I expanded my tourismadvocacy capacity and observed complex and creative tourismmethodologies. I am especially intrigued by community-basedtourism as compared to commercial tourism.You need developers with a lot of money to build fancy spas and

other sophisticated luxuries for commercial tourism to thrive. Con-versely, community-based tourism is about people with history inthe community, perpetuating their traditions, their authentic cul-ture and their stories. It made me see that we can create our owninterpretation of community-based tourism, while we seek in-vestors who are willing to build chic amenities that will add to ourexisting tourism attractions. Officials in Mandeville enthusiasti-cally support their innovative “Pioneers of Community Tourism”and appreciate that a slice of the tourism economic pie is benefit-ing ordinary Jamaican citizens. In the Jamaican model we studied, the value chain heavily em-

braces and nurtures children, teaching them about their heritageand culture and involving them in all aspects of community- basedtourism. In every community or village we toured, children wereinvolved in music, art, dance or hospitality and were seriouslycommitted to knowing how history and commerce are intertwinedwith tourism. Many children said they aspire to own tourism re-lated businesses when they become adults.

Everywhere we visited, from Maidstone in Manchester, theBlack River community in St. Elizabeth Parish to the beautifulTreasure Beach, the experience included children and they were avital part of the CBT value chain. I realized that as a partner withSURREF that I am in the value chain for Macon County and theBlack Belt in Alabama. Through the SURREF organization, ourcommunity also is linked to an international value chain that af-fords us opportunities such as the learning journey to Jamaica thathas me seeing tourism from a fresh perspective.

JJaammaaiiccaaA P E R F E C T P L A C E T O L E A R N A B O U T C O M M U N I T Y B A S E D T O U R I S M

By Karin Hopkins


Where to Worship in

Macon CountyAntioch Baptist Church 1220 County Rd 5...........334-727-5824

Apostolic Faith Mission Inc3820 Washington Av........334-727-2631

Bethel Baptist Church802 Bethel St Tskgee.......334-727-7961

Bradford’s Chapel UMC2091 County Rd 29.........334-727-6333

Butler Chapel AME Zion Church1002 N Church St Tskgee334-727-3550

Chehaw AME Zion ChurchHighway 199....................334-727-9159

Church Of Christ1702 S. Main St...............334-727-7200

Concord Baptist ChurchChurch 11:00....................Notasulga, AL

Daniel Baptist Church1201 Gautier St..............334-727-1900

Divine Bethel Missionary Baptist ChurchCentral Milstead Rd Shrtr.334-727-1317

Divine Inspirational Gospel Church4771 Hwy 199 Tskgee......334-727-9846

Eternal Life Temple of God89 West Ave Tuskegee....334-725-1555

Faith Ministries PAW2501 Holy Ghost Circle...334-727-1491

First Baptist Church Reeltown16963 Highway 49S........334-257-4515

Fort Hull Community Church4774 County Rd 45.........334-727-1287

Franklin Church2700 Cnty Rd 27 Tskgee..334-727-4411

Friendship Baptist ChurchBrown St...........................334-727-3455

God House Of Prayer408 S Elm St...................334-724-9961

Greater New Life Church, Inc.1315 Old Montgomery Rd.......334-724-0617

Greater St. Mark Missionary Bpt Church3403 W MLK. Hwy...........334-727-1780

Greater White Church35779 Cnty Rd 2 Shorter..334-725-0091

Greenwood Missionary Baptist Church1510 Washington Av........334-727-0871

Hicks Chapel AME Zion Church576 Lowe Road................334-252-8001

Jehovah’s Witnesses Tuskegee AL1410 Notasulga Hwy........334-727-3152

Jubilee Christian Fellowship IntlMidway............................334-727-5833

Macedonia Baptist Church1260 County Rd 10 Tskg..334-727-6468

Macedonia Baptist Church444 Auburn Road..............334-257-3343

Mary Magdalene Baptist Church4294 Cross Keys Rd Shrt.334-727-2923

Masjid Ash-Shura 906 Franklin Rd, Tuskegee, AL 36088

Mt Calvary Missionary Christian Church1504 Bruce St..................334-727-1006

Mt Nebo Baptist Church7677 US Hwy 29S Tskge..334-727-5113

Mt Olive Missionary Christian Church410 Cedar St Tskgee........334-727-3080

Mount Olive Missionary Baptist Church33800 County Rd 2 Shrtr..334-727-2439

Mt Pleasant Baptist ChurchHighway 26......................334-727-5383

Nebraska Missionary ChurchHardaway........................334-727-4603

New Elam Missionary Baptist Church1707 County Rd 48.........334-724-9907

New Exodus Apostolic Chuc-Pentcostal7074 County Road 53......334-257-1445

New Hope Baptist Church1903 Chappie James Dr...334-727-0613

New Hope Baptist Church 11585 Banks McDade Rd..334-727-5004

New Mount Pleasant Baptist Church426 County Rd13 Shrtr.....334-727-9026

New Life Church of God In Christ1205 E MLK Hwy Tskgee.334-727-5011

Notasulga First Baptist185 Hardwich St................334-257-3481


Notasulga Methodist Church80 Church Street...............334-257-3791

Pine Grove Baptist Church7936 County Rd 40.........334-724-0020

Pit Stop People in Transition302 S. Elm St Tuskegee...334-727-6940

Pleasant Grove Baptist Church5040 AL-81.......................334-257-4571

Pleasant Springs Baptist ChurchPleasant Springs Dr.........334-727-1166

Providence Missionary Baptist ChurchSo-ciety Hill Rd.................334-727-2063

Rising Star Baptist Church2603 County Rd 53..........334-724-6600

Rock Of Ages Baptist Church3004 County Rd 27.........334-727-4179

Saint James AME Church609 White St.....................334-725-1486

Saint John AME Zion Church1406 Clark Av Tuskegee..334-727-0970

Salem Macon Baptist Church4647 Tallapoosa St..........334-257-4498

Shady Grove Missionary Baptist ChurchShady Grove Rd..............334-727-4477

Shiloh Baptist Church7 Shiloh Road..................Notasulga, AL

Solomon Chapel AME Zion Church4214 MLK Jr Hwy Tskgee334-727-2308

Springhill Baptist ChurchMorgan Russell Rd......334-727-1725

St Andrews Episcopal Churc701 W Montgomery Rd.....334-727-3210

St. John Baptist Church515 St. John Church Rd....334-257-4261

St Paul’s AME Zion Church 18716 US Hy 80 W Shrtr....334-727-2967

St Paul Baptist ChurchSociety Hill Rd..................334-724-9467

Sweet Canaan6067 US Hwy 80W Tskge..334-727-5795

Sweet Gum AME Zion Church560 Old Mont Hwy Shrtr....334-727-0680

Sweet Pilgrim Baptist ChurchCrossroads.......................334-727-7634

Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church1325 County Rd 14..........334-724-9396

Tuskegee AOH Church of God1701 Tolbert Cir Tskgee.....334-727-9069

Tuskegee Christian Center711 W MLK Hwy................334-725-1700

Tuskegee Islamic Community1103 South Main St., Tuskegee, AL 36088

Tuskegee Seventh Day Adventist Church377 Lennard Av.................334-727-7198

Washington Chapel AME Church2508 Old Montgomery Rd..334-727-4821

Westminster Presbyterian Church1806 Franklin Rd Tskge....334-727-4994

Woodland Presbyterian ChurchChurch 9:00 -10:00

Where to Worship in Macon County

TTOOUURRIISSMM DDEEVVEELLOOPPMMEENNTT

IISS OOUURR GGAAMMEE

[email protected]

Community Tourism Network, Inc.

334.725.8496 or 205.567.6397


The power to make it better

Meeting:2nd Thursday of each month 10amSt. Andrews Episcopal Church 701 W. Montgomery RoadTuskegee, Alabama 36088

Contact info:Maggie Antoine, President

(334) 727-7779Donna Summers-Bradford,

Membership(334) 727-6373

Representative Pebblin Warren

Advocates that a well trained workforce is thekey to successful economic development inour community. She believes that everyonedeserves to be gainfully employed, but knowsthat we must encourage our citizens to obtainthe skills needed.Pebblin W. Warren

State RepresentativeLegislative District #82

113 East Rosa Parks Avenue Tuskegee, Alabama 36083334.727.0092 ofc 334.727.7117 fax [email protected]

*My Practice:

• Civil Law• Criminal Law• Administrative Law• Domestic relations• Wills• Serious Bodily Injuries• Real Estate• Education Law

* No representation is made that the quality of legal services to be performed is greater than the quality of legal services performed by other lawyers.

Deborah Biggers is the legal counsel for theMacon County Alabama Board of Educationand the Macon County Racing Commission ofMacon County Alabama

Deborah Hill BiggersDeborah Hill BiggersAttorney at Law

Margaret FraserBroker

608 Dibble StreetTuskegee, AL 36083cloudrealtors.com

[email protected]

334.742.3306 ofc334.444.1528 cell334.727.9995 fax

RealtyProperty Management

IF YOU ARE MOVING INTO THE AREA, WE WOULD LOVE TO HELPYOU FIND THE PROPERTY YOU NEED

CALL TODAY!For information on the above properties or any other

Sales or Rentals


When Tuskegee University opened its doors onJuly 4, 1881, our first president and founderBooker T. Washington had a vision of improving

lives through education. Washington knew that the path totrue freedom was through education. With an education,once oppressed people could expand their knowledge andtruly define their own destinies. More than 131 years later,Tuskegee University remains committed to helping its stu-dents unveil the greatness within them. In 2011, U.S. News and World Report ranked Tuskegee

University among the top 10 Historically Black Collegesand Universities in the nation on their annual “Best Colleges” list. Tuskegee ranked No. 5 of the 35 schools re-ceiving rankings. The publication also named Tuskegee the No. 5 regional

university in the South awarding fewer than half its degreesin liberal arts. The institution’s occupational therapy program was named among the best in the nation. Truly, Tuskegee has earned its place among the nation’s

premiere institutions and is “the pride of the swift, growingsouth.”Tuskegee University stands on a rich legacy of academic

and historical excellence. From the work of renowned

professor and scientist George Washington Carver to ourresearch for NASA, the contributions this institution hasmade to improve the nation and the world are undeniable.However, we are not content to rest upon our previous accomplishments. We strive to always be a dynamic and innovative research university whose graduates transformthe world.

Our academic programs are organized into seven colleges and schools: 1.) Andrew F. Brimmer College of

Tuskegee University: A legacy of academic and historical excellence

(Con’t on next page)172012/2013 Tourism Resource Guide

Business and Information Science, 2.) College of Agriculture, Environment and Nutrition Sciences, 3.) College of Arts and Sciences, 4.) College of Engineering, 5.)College of Veterinary Medicine, Nursing and Allied Health,6.) Robert R. Taylor School of Architecture and Construction Science, and 7.) School of Education.

The university is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges andSchools and the following programs are accredited by national agencies: architecture, business, education, engineering, clinical laboratory sciences, nursing, occupational therapy, social work, and veterinary medicine.With more than 50 accredited undergraduate majors and

15 graduate programs, this institution offers today’s studentthe very best in career preparation with an emphasis on thesciences and technical education. The university is the onlyhistorically black college or university with a fully accreditedCollege of Veterinary Medicine that offers a doctoral degree. More than 75 percent of the African-American veterinarians in the world received their training at Tuskegee.The university is also a leading producer of black engineering graduates andthe top producer of black mater ia l s sc ience and engineering Ph.D. holders. Tuskegee has nearly 20

centers of excellence for research including: the Center for Integrated Studyof Food Animal and Plant Systems; Health Disparities Institute for Research and Education; National Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance; and National Center for Bioethics in Research and Health Care.

Tuskegee University also emphasizes the importance ofthe liberal arts as a foundation for successful careers in allareas. It is the only historically black college or university,and one of only 11 universities in the world funded and

authorized by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation to establish andoperate a Kellogg Conference Center.

The university also has a vast network of partnerships andoutreach initiatives aimed at sharing the knowledge and workof our students and faculty with the world while expandingthe educational experience that the university offers. Some of our partners include Chevron, Lockheed-Martin,National Science Foun-dation and the U.S. Environmental Protec-tion Agency.The university is truly

an environment thattrains and encourages itsstudents to unlock theirpotential to becomewor ld changers by giving them state-of-the-art resources and a top-notch education tosupport and enhancetheir abilities. Just asBooker T. Washingtonl i f t e d t h e v e i l o f ignorance for thousands inthe 19th Century, Tuskegee University helps our students unveil the greatness that lies within them for the new millennium.

The Booker T. WashingtonMonument, called "Lifting theVeil," was dedicated in 1922.The inscription at its basereads:

“"He lifted the veil of ignorancefrom his people and pointedthe way to progress througheducation and industry."

For Information visit www.tuskegee.edu or call

(800) 622-6531.


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The International Southern Christian Leadership Foundation, Inc. (SCL Foundation, Inc.) was founded in 1966. The Foundation is a nonprofit 501c3 tax-exemptorganization. We have been providing services to the community for over 45 years. We remain committed to building a diverse society where the differences of individuals are respected and embraced rather than merely tolerated.

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SCL Foundation philosophy is to value our families and teach them the tenants ofQUANTUM RESPONSIBILITY.

“Silence Is Sinful HIV/AIDS Initiative” is the current signature health program of theFoundation. We are currently in a partnership with the Center for Disease Controland Prevention (CDC) and the Act Against AIDS leadership Initiative (AAALI) since2009. This partnership enables us to extend our reach directly into the communitieswe serve daily with important and relevant life-saving information. We are also seeking to refocus national attention on the HIV crisis in the U.S. and remind ourcommunities that HIV is still deadly, difficult and costly.

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2012/2013 Tourism Resource Guide20

Farming in Macon County Alabama (which is part of theBlack Belt), has always been important to people livingin this area. And now, thanks to Tuskegee University

College of Agriculture, Environment & Nutrition Sciences,it’s becoming more lucrative.When a group of community people thought it was a good

idea to have a farmer’s market in downtown Tuskegee, thegoodwill associated with the project helped to attract the necessary resources. Back in 2003, one of the people involved in the development of the Macon County Farmer’sMarket was Miles Robinson, who is the Strike Force

TheFARMERSMARKET

Top photo: Shirley Bradford, Local farmer from Shirley’s Garden. Middlephoto: Al Hooks, Local farmer from Al Hooks Produce. Bottom photo: Dollie Huffman, Local farmer.

By Noah Hopkins


Director for Tuskegee University College of Agriculture, Environment & Nutrition Sciences and serves as Social Director of the Small Farm Outreach, Training and Technical Assistance Project. A proposal submitted by Tuskegee University to the State

Department of Agriculture was funded for the construction ofthe market with other significant resources donated locally towards this project. First Tuskegee Bank donated land,Tuskegee University, with the help of Dr. Walter Hill purchased a lot adjacent to the donated lot and the MaconCounty Commission donated a lot for the Macon CountyFarmer’s Market.Many others have been involved such as local farmers Al

Hooks, Shirley Bradford and Willie Warren. The projectalso has been supported by local architects, primarily MajorHolland, who contributed his time and talent to the development of drawings and plans used to transform theproperty. Additionally, attorneys and businesses as well aslocal volunteers Walter Baldwin, Henry Pace and citizenscontributed their time and efforts without cost. This was atotal community effort that proves when people come together and work towards a common goal, success can beaccomplished.

Some of those same farmers that were onboard in the beginning, Mr. Hooks and his son Demetrius and Mr. Warrenare still a part of the Macon County Farmer’s Market family.Through help from the Tuskegee University College of Agriculture, Environment & Nutrition Sciences, some farmers are now doing business with large corporations suchas Walmart, Whole Foods Market in Birmingham, KelloggHotel and Conference Center and several large restaurants inthe region.

The Hooks family has been farming for four generations(since the late 1800s) and is presently farming more than 200acres growing collard greens, shell peas, strawberries, watermelons and other seasonal crops. Al Hooks Produce islocated at 6190 County Road 30, Shorter, AL, 334-328-2781or 334-439-9471.

The Macon County Farmers Market is located in downtownTuskegee, Alabama. The hours of operation are Wednesdayand Saturday from 8:00 am to 2:00 pm.

THE FARMERS MARKETCon’t

Demetrius Hooks and his father Al Hooks are preparing produce to be shippedto customers throughout Alabama.

Al Hooks standing in a field of collard greens that are ready for harvest.


This beautiful structure is the Farmers Market in Tuskegee that came out of acollaborative effort of the many businesses and citizens of the Macon Countycommunity.

"How far you go in life depends on your being tender with theyoung, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving,and tolerant of the weak and the strong. Because someday in lifeyou will have been all of these." George Washington Carver

While living on a farm in Missouri, George WashingtonCarver dreamed of getting an education. At that time, hecouldn’t have known how he himself would positively im-pact the educational dreams of so many people. Carver hadseveral strikes against him as a child. He was born a slaveand contracted whooping cough early which made him phys-ically weak. His father was killed in a logging accident be-fore he was born and Carver and his mother were bothkidnapped by slave raiders when he was a baby. Carver waslocated and returned to Missouri, but his mother was neverfound. All of these obstacles didn’t deter him. Carver wasan inquisitive child and wanted to learn everything he couldabout the plants, rocks, and animals that he discovered in thewoods, prairies and creeks in his rural Missouri home.Carver became very skilled at reviving sick plants that henurtured and his reputation became so well known that hewas nicknamed the “Plant Doctor”.

Carver left his birthplace at the age of twelve in search ofan education that led him from Missouri to Kansas to Iowa.It was in Iowa that he said that he was treated like a humanbeing for the first time. He was the first African Americanto attend and graduate from Iowa State and then became afaculty member of his alma mater. It was while he was inIowa that he received a letter from an educator in Alabamanamed Booker T. Washington. He invited him to join him atTuskegee Institute to establish the school’s agricultural de-partment. While he loved Iowa, he felt a calling to go toTuskegee. Thus began the next stage of his life that would

begin and end in Tuskegee Institute. While in Tuskegee hetaught and conducted research – two of his favorite things. Itwas here that he became famous for his research withpeanuts and sweet potatoes.

While visiting the George Washington Carver Museumyou will learn not only about the life and research of Carverbut you will also see items from his laboratory, paint samplesthat he created from Alabama clay and several of his paint-ings. The story of Tuskegee Institute is also told through displays, exhibits and artifacts. The Booker T. WashingtonMoveable School on Wheels can be seen as well as P.H.Polk’s camera.

The historic site is the only national park on an active college campus with Tuskegee University being the only college campus designated a National Historic District. TheCarver Museum is open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.except Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years Day. Thereis no charge for visiting the museum or the home. For moreinformation, call 334-727-3200 or access www.nps.gov/tuin.

The National Park Service manages Tuskegee InstituteNational Historic Site which includes the George WashingtonCarver Museum and The Oaks, Booker T. Washington’s home.Check at the front desk for tour times or call 334-727-3200.

The George Washington Carver Museum


ShilohMissionary Baptist ChurchIn 1869, and just out of slavery, blacks wanted a building of their own in which to worship. A division between the white and

black membership occurred in 1869. This division led to the establishment of the Second Baptist Church of Notasulga. Thename was later changed to the Beulah Baptist Church. As Beulah grew, some of the members decided to leave Beulah andrelocate to another place. In a bush arbor, Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church (SMBC) was organized in 1870. Since its organization, there have been 20 pastors. The current pastor, Reverend Christopher Dunlap, became SMBC’s 21st pastor inJune 2006.In 1932, following worship services, Ms. Eunice Rivers, a Public Health Services nurse, came to Shiloh Missionary Baptist

Church and recruited men for a health-related research project. In exchange for their participation, they received free medicalcare. None were told they would be used as human subjects. They were told they were being treated for “bad blood.” Today,this research project is known as the Tuskegee Syphilis Study. Many of the Tuskegee Syphilis Study participants were members of the Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church. The Church was also used as a site to recruit other men in the area.

After the Civil War, African Americans established not only their own communities and churches but also their own burialplaces. The earliest marked grave located in the Shiloh Cemetery is dated 1902. It is believed that some unmarked graves maydate back to 1875. Burials continue to be held in the cemetery.

The Shiloh Rosenwald School grew out of a partnership between African American educator Booker T. Washington andJulius Rosenwald, President of Sears and Roebuck. Washington and Rosenwald were concerned about the state of education for Blacks in the South. In 1917, Rosenwald established the Julius Rosenwald Foundation for the “well being ofmankind.” He donated millions of dollars to public schools, colleges and universities. Among those colleges was Tuskegee Institute, of which he became a Trustee. Amazingly, 5,300 rural schools and teachers’ homes were cooperatively built with assistance from the local African American communities. Donations of land and labor by the local community were matchedby financial contributions from the Foundation. The Shiloh School was one of the first six schools built by the Rosenwald Foundation. The Rosenwald School at Shiloh will celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2012.

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National Historic Site

Top inset: Moton Field Airport Sign, Top full: Hanger#1 houses the Tuskegee Airmen National Historic SiteMuseum, Second from Top: Parachute FoldingTable, Third from Top: PT17 Steerman used fortraining airmen Bottom: Engine and photo of me-chanic installing an engine.

Nestled right off of Interstate 85, exit 38 (Tuskegee/Notasulga), inTuskegee, AL, is one of the most captivating and riveting historical

attractions recently established by legislation, Public Law 105-355, and identified as a unit under the National Park Service – The Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site. This legislation established the park in orderto commemorate and interpret, in association with Tuskegee Airmen, Inc.,and Tuskegee University, the heroic actions of the Tuskegee Airmen duringWorld War II. Congress authorized up to $29.1 million to develop visitor facilities and restore Moton Field, home of primary training for the TuskegeeAirmen, in accordance with the 1998 Moton Field/Tuskegee Airmen SpecialResource Study.As you make your way off the interstate to Moton Field, where it all began

for the Tuskegee Airmen, you will find a temporary Visitor Center, erected andopen to the public in 2002, complete with exhibits, a video presentation, andinformational maps and guides that will lead you to the historic core of MotonField to begin your tour. Hangar 1, the first structure built at Moton Field in1941, has been totally restored and would provide you with a “stepping backin time” experience you will always treasure! The museum is housed with avariety of interpretive materials ranging from unique exhibits to oral historystations to trainer planes to museum objects – the list goes on! A NationalPark Service Park Guide or Park Ranger will provide you with a guided tour,ranging anywhere from 45 minutes to an hour (depending on the number of visitors in your party), or feel free to roam the museum at your leisure withyour map.

In addition to Hangar 1, there will be three other museums onsite that youwill be able to visit once they are fully complete. They include: Hangar 2, theControl Tower, and the Skyway Club (or the All Ranks Club). Two of the threestructures have been restored with Hangar 2 being a reconstruction item.Planning for the interpretive media for these museums is currently underway.The National Park Service in conjunction with their legislative partners andother stakeholders are working diligently as they step into this all importantphase.Historic preservation within the National Park Service does not only apply

to structures, but also to the surrounding land areas of those historic structures. Therefore, a very robust historical landscaping plan has beenadopted and will be carried out in the final construction phase to begin Fall of2010. Within the 44 acres of the entire historic site, plantings, ground cover,and the like, that are indigenous to this particular area of Alabama, will adornthe land area. All in all, the Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site will benearing completion within the next couple of years.

As you can see, the National Park Service is truly dedicated to this project and its mandate to protect and preserve the legacy of the famedTuskegee Airmen and Moton Field. The educational impact the site has hadon children and adults of all ages is evident on a daily basis as people fromall over the nation and the world leave the site with deep appreciation of theseWWII heroes.

We are located at: Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site1616 Chappie James AvenueTuskegee, AL 36083

Main Telephone: (334) 724-0922Reservations: (334) 724-0906 (Recommended for groups of

10 or more)Fax: (334) 724-0952Website: www.nps.gov/tuaiHours of Operation: 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. CST, 7 days a week(Closed on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Years Day).


Kellogg Hotel and Conference Center at Tuskegee University nestled amidst a national historic site. With centuries of distinct heritage, 17,000 square feet of flexible meeting space, a lavishly decorated grand ballroom, 287 seat amphitheater and 108 finely appointed guest rooms and suites, the stage is set for an unforgettable event.

Come experience fine dining at our newly renovated Dorothy’s Restaurant and the excitement of live entertainment every first and third Friday in Skegee Lounge.

So whether it’s a convention, business meeting, family reunion or a weekend getaway our accommodationsare perfect.

For Reservations and Information Call 1-800-949-6161Visit or Website: www.tuskegeekelloggcenter.com

CCoommee hhoommee ttoo hhiissttoorriicc eelleeggaannccee

Gees Bend is small in population yet huge in artistic talent andhistorical significance. This Alabama treasure has fewer

than 300 residents, many of whom are gifted with extraordinaryquilting skills of museum exhibition quality.

Most of the quilters are women but a few men also are endowed with the quilting gene. Reverend Tyree McCloud is aversatile artist who specializes in textiles and stained glass. Bornin Gees Bend, quilting came as natural to him as breathing. Heprogressed to designing and making clothes and is meticulousabout fit, form and fashion.

His passion for stained glass was awakened while he wasstudying engineering at a college in Florida. He says, “Rightnext door there was a class being taught on stained glass.” Reverend McCloud hints that his former wife collected this artform and it was an expensive habit. “I realized that if I didn’tlearn it, she would break me so I enrolled in the class. About midway through, the instructor told me that I was as good as hewas. He refunded half my money and told me not to come back.”

Visitors who try to reach Reverend McCloud before gettingto Gees Bend will have a hard time. This somewhat eccentricartist who is also very easygoing does not have a phone. He regards them as a nuisance source of unwelcome interruptions,“I’m passionate about what I do and it annoys me for someone tocall and it not be earth shattering urgent.” He says “When youget to Gees Bend just ask anyone how to find me and they’ll tellyou.”

That is not a flippant remark. In this close-knit communityeverybody knows each other. Truth be told, in this communitymany of the residents are related and share the last name“Pettway” but they also welcome outsiders with open arms. Thismay be influenced by an incredible history of cooperative economics as well as shared ties to slavery and share-cropping.With no hotels, motels or bed & breakfasts, Gees Bend is still

a tourism destination. Overnight visitors have relied on accommodations in such nearby cities as Selma and Montgomerybut soon they will have options that will further enrich the GeesBend tourism experience. Local community homestays with visitors, eating and sleeping in the home of a Gees Bend residentis a social and economic phenomenon, embraced by the community.Gees Bend, an isolated hamlet surrounded on three sides by

the Alabama River is situated within the soil rich yet economically starved Black Belt of Alabama. The communityderives its name from Joseph Gee, who in 1816 relocated to Alabama from North Carolina and brought 18 slaves with himto work at his newly established cotton plantation.

THE HISTORYAND ITS HIDDEN TREASURES

Roosevelt houses still stand long after they were built in the 1930’s.There are plans to enhance historic Roosevelt homes for homestays as a result of the Community Based Tourism project.

Reverend Tyree McCloud is a Gees Bend native and gifted artist

The Gees Bend Ferry, which crosses the Alabama River, boardspassengers either in Gees Bend (officially named Boykin) or directlyacross the waterway in Camden

By: Noah Hopkins


Eventually the land was sold to Mark Pettway, who addedabout 100 slaves when he became the plantation owner. Afterslavery was abolished, many of the former slaves continuedworking for their former master as sharecroppers.

Quilting began in Gees Bend when female slaves pieced together strips of cloth to make bedding and window covers.Post-slavery, women continued quilting as a source of heat inshacks that lacked all household services including runningwater.

By the 1930’s, Gees Bend was seen as a primitive tenantcommunity with houses built by the residents themselves usingmud and other simple materials. This was a tough time forfarmers throughout the United States. Many were beingevicted and relocated by the Resettlement Administration butthe residents of Gees Bend represented important issues to federal officials.

Regarded by outsiders as isolated and crude, their culture,speech and habits resembled the African way of life. Additionally, the Resettlement Administration saw the residents of Gees Bend as the victims of slavery. Also, theGees Bend community personified the lingering effects of thefarm-tenant system that was the aftermath of the slave plantation era.Plus, federal officials thought the community could possi-

bly benefit from training and financial assistance and their success would show the effectiveness of the Resettlement

Administration program. So, many Gees Bend sharecroppersbought their land at subsidized prices and became propertyowners.

In the 1960’s, Gees Bend Freedom Quilting Bee wasformed as an initiative intended to boost family income andfoster community development by selling textile crafts to outsiders. Today, the Quilts of Gees Bend are a legendarybrand. The textile masterpieces have been displayed at presti-gious museums and are hailed as brilliant works of art. Purchase prices can go as high as $20,000 with the most affordable quilts costing about $1,000 and individual squaresaround $30. In this place, quilting really is the fabric of theirlives.

Gees Bend is accessible on land along County Road 29. Driving toGees Bend is a tranquil experience until the scenery slaps youawake with bold wooden signs simulating Gees Bend quilt designs.

Quilters gather at the Boykin Nutrition Center (which is nestled in theGees Bend Ferry Terminal and Welcome Center), usually Mondaythrough Thursday from 8:30am until 1:30pm.

Gees Bend is also accessible by ferry from Camden to Boykin, Alabama.

Gees Bend Ferry Terminal and Welcome Centerc/o Boykin Nutrition CenterDoris Mosely, Manager334-573-0020

Gees Bend Ferry Schedules and Fareshttp://www.geesbendferry.com251-861-3000

Cabin on Pettway Plantation, Gees Bend, circa 1937

Women of Gees Bend quilting, 2005.

Jennie Pettway and another girl with the quilter Jorena Pettway,Gees Bend, circa 1937


HIDDEN TREASURES OF GEES BEND

Keitsha’s Snack Shack, is the only restaurant in Gees Bend. Casualand home like, customers can come in, sit at a table and order from

a complete menu or purchase a variety of snack foods. Keitsha Pettway began her store/restaurant by selling Kool-Pops for

5 and 10 cents but later as children in the community began asking forother items such as juices, chips, cookies, burgers and fries; she expanded. She says, “People started coming by to see exactly what wewere selling. It seemed like everybody in the community stopped cooking and started stopping by.”

At first, she used her kitchen and part of the living room as her business space. In January of 2011 things changed, “I was blessed tohave saved up enough money to build a store on the back of my house.We called it “Keitsha’s Snack Shack.” I said “we” because the namecame from the children.” Keitsha actually had become a job-producing employer. She hired some of the teenagers from the community to helpout with stocking shelves and preparing sandwiches. She also hired hermom, Doris P. Mosely, to help out. Keitsha’s Snack Shack’s grand opening was on May 1, 2011.

The entrepreneurial spirit that Keitsha possesses coupled with business management expertise will improve economic conditions in theGees Bend community.

Aspiring business owners in Gees Bend stand to benefit directlyfrom long overdue investments in business planning and hospitalitytourism training provided by the Black Belt Community Based TourismNetwork (BBCBTN), a new regional network created through theWealth Creation In Rural Communities in the South Initiative funded bythe Ford Foundation.

For more information on the Network and how you can become involved,contact the BBCBTN at 334-526-0819 or Keitsha Pettway at 334-573-2007.

The items featured in the adjacent pictures were all hand-made by Reverend Tyree McCloud. Like manyof his relatives and neighbors in GeesBend, Reverend McCloud can take thesimplest materials and transform theminto artistic masterpieces.

Photo Left: Reverend McCloud pays homage to his grandmother withthis reversible quilt featuring a combination of bold geometric squaresand soft flowers. Center Top Photo: The quilt’s other side, also meticulously finished,is more neutral and is solid green.Center Bottom Photo: Game day cooking for Auburn University fansshould include these custom-made oven mitts in Auburn colors.Top Right Photo: Chic hand-made jacket combining mixed materials,is a blend of traditional and contemporary styles

31

Aquiet storm is rumbling through the tourism sector in Alabama. Motivated by respect for the people whose roots are tied to a tourism destination, this storm is a good thing. It is blowing away

the old grips on the tourism industry and opening doors of opportunity for working class residents wholive in the places that are blessed with tourism assets.

Read the Q & A below to find out more about how the winds of change have led to the birth of the Black Belt Community Based TourismNetwork (BBCBTN). You will learn how people in the Black Belt of Alabama will benefit from this transformative way of managing the business of tourism.

Q. What is the Black Belt?A: The Black Belt is a region of the Southern United States. Although the termoriginally described the prairies and dark soil of central Alabama and northeastMississippi, it has long been used to describe a broad agricultural region in theAmerican South characterized by a history of plantation agriculture in the 19th century and a high percentage of African Americans in the population.

During the first half of the nineteenth century, as many as one million enslavedAfrican Americans were taken there in a forced migration to work as laborers forthe region's cotton plantations. After having lived for several generations in thearea, many stayed as rural workers, tenant farmers and sharecroppers after theAmerican Civil War and Emancipation.

Q: What is Community Based Tourism?A: Community Based Tourism (CBT) begins with local communities and is basedin the community's space where the community as a whole or its members have sub-stantial control of and involvement in any tourism project. The majority of the benefits remain in the community, where it can lead to investment in environmental health, enhanced skills, stronger relationships and organizations, and new physical infrastructure. It is approvedby the elected representatives of the community and relevant facilitator organizations, ensuring the community as a whole benefits, rather thanonly one community member or family. These host communities are developed and managed by residents, offer intergenerational, friendlyatmospheres that are safe for children and conducive to visiting--in short, an innovative solution to today’s environmental, social, and economical changes.

Q: What is the Black Belt Community Based Tourism Network (BBCBTN)?A: The Black Belt Community Based Tourism Network (BBCBTN) is a network of stakeholders invested in Community Based Tourism(CBT) as an approach to sustainable tourism and development in Alabama and the Black Belt South. Any individual, group, or organizationinterested in CBT and is providing tourism products or services to the following counties: Bullock, Choctaw, Dallas, Greene, Hale, Lowndes,Macon, Marengo, Perry, Pickens, Sumter, and Wilcox may join. Any person who is supportive of creating wealth that can remain in rural communities may also join.

Q: What should I do next if I am interested in exploring membership in the Black Belt Community Based Tourism Network?A:Make sure we have contact information for you. Come to meetings and get to know our group. Check our calendar for the next meetingor event where you can visit our pilot project in Gees Bend. We can also suggest several resources on Community Based Tourism (CBT) thatwould be very informative and we have a CBT newsletter you can subscribe to which highlights the activities of CBT on the ground and inaction. If you are ready for the next step after that, contact our project core team at 334-526-0819.

Q. How will local ownership be legally structured in Gees Bend?A:Our goal is to build cooperatively owned and managed tourism businesses that support sustainable development by using locally producedproducts and services. The destination management business in Gees Bend is being structured through member equity, member loans andlocal investment. The plans are developed in partnership with the local leadership. The business will have the typical operations and proce-dures of any other management corporation but will be managed cooperatively with transparent financial and governance models. Profits fromthe business will go into a reinvestment fund for community beautification.

Status and Next StepsIf you are interested and would like to work and help build the Black Belt Community Based Tourism Network, we are now collecting namesand qualifications. Send your contact information to us and we will add it to our files to use when we are ready to request proposals. SustainableRural Regenerative Enterprises for Families (SURREF), headed by its Chief Regenerative Officer, Euneika Rogers-Sipp has been engaged incommunity outreach, education, and dialogue since 2010 to build consensus about how to best support our transition to a sustainable tourismfuture based on community based tourism and wealth creation principles. Submit your information to:

SURREF,Community Based Tourism (CBT) Wealth Creation Initiative609 Lauderdale Street, Selma, Alabama 36702334-526-0819| Fax: 334- 874-1131| Email: [email protected]

Black Belt Community Based Tourism Partnership II meeting heldin March 2012 in Selma, Alabama

CCBBBB BBTTNNBLACK BELT COMMUNITY BASED TOURISM NETWORK

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Macon CountyEconomic Development Authority

Macon County, Alabama

GREENWOOD PLAZA RETAIL CENTER1609 W. Montgomery RoadTuskegee, Alabama 36083

334-279-8646 • 334-202-8880

WASHINGTON PLAZA SHOPPING CENTER

ETZIONI ESTATES RETAIL WITH WAREHOUSE908 Martin Luther King, Hwy. 80Tuskegee, Alabama 36083

BECK’S TURF FARM #5This 300 acre site is located in

Macon County, Alabama on the northside of Uphapee Creek north of I-85at exit 38 with rail, gas, water, sewer,

1 mile to airport

MOTON FIELDMoton Field, home of the

Tuskegee Airmen Museum, boastsa 5,000 pllus foot runway, FBO,fuel and direct access to I-85

I-85 CORRIDOR COMMERCE

PARK AT TUSKEGEEPark ready for commerce atMoton Field on I-85 with fullutilities 5 to 30 acre sites

BECK’S TURF FARM #2OFF I-85 AT EXIT 22 WIRE ROAD750 acrea, ready for large development

and industry. Near Auburn and Tuskegee AL

SHORTER TECHNOLOGY PARKLarge industrial and retail tracts

abailable near Halla Climate Systemsand VictoryLand.

Minutes from Montgomery, AL

DISCOVER MACON COUNTY, ALABAMA TODAY!WE ARE OPEN FOR BUSINESS

MMaaccoonn CCoouunnttyy:: TThhee NNeeww DDiiaammoonndd ooff tthhee IInntteerrssttaattee 8855 CCoorrrriiddoorrLocation...Locaion...Location

Macon County, Alabama is the New Diamond of the Interstate Corridor. Boasting five exits directly on the interstate, Macon County issituated in the hottest industrial belt of the South, halfway between the new automotive plants of Kia and Hyundai. In a mere 15 minutes, travelers can enter Macon County from the Auburn/Opelika area or Montgomery. Air travel is made easy by way of our ownMoton Field or with proximity to the Atlanta and Montgomery Jetports. Universities, national forest, historic sites, industrial land ofMacon County, all located in the center of a 40 mile radius of over 700,000 people!

OTHER ASSETS: Airport Access • Railroad Access • Interstate Access • Tuskegee University • Tuskegee Airmen’s MuseumTuskegee National Forest • George Washington Carver Museum • Historic Landmarks...and much more

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Visit Our Web Site: www.madeinmacon.comor Call Joe Turnham at 334.725.8496 or 334.444.2672

608 Dibble Street • Tuskegee, Alabama 36083

Central Alabama Comprehensive Health, Inc.

203 West Lee St. • Tuskegee, AL 36083 • 334-727-6880

CARE Ambulance ServicesAvailable

NOW OFFERING THE FOLLOWING SERVICES:• 340B Pharmacy On-site • Nutri'on Counseling• CARE Ambulance Services • Cervical Cancer Screenings• Preventa've Screenings • Dental Services• Family Planning • Specialty Care Referrals• Diabetes Collabora've • Chronic Illness Treatment• Health Outreach • Immuniza'ons• X-rays

Tuskegee Health Center203 West Lee Street

Tuskegee, Alabama 36083334-727-6880

Hours of Opera'onsM-F: 8:00am to 7:00pmSat: 9:00am to 3:00pm

Dental Clinic203 West Lee Street


Hours of Opera'onsT-F: 8:00am to 5:00pm

Central Care Pharmacy203 West Lee Street


Hours of Opera'onsM-F: 9:00am to 6:00pm

Hurtsboro Medical Center242 Long Street

Hurtsboro, Alabama 36860334-667-7734

Hours of Opera'onsM &W: 8:00am to 5:00pm

Lafaye(e Health Center404-B Ninth Avenue SWLafaye�e, Alabama 36862

334-864-0084Hours of Opera'ons

Friday: 8:00am to 5:00pm

Central Care PharmacyNNOOWW OOPPEENN

Tourism Resource Guide

Documents

accreditation of tuskegee

tuskegee bartram trail

national forests

al sucaro

oaks booker

macon county day celebration

historic homes

washington burial sit