by Mike Mahan
I have also been an active alumnus of the University of Montevallo. In 1980, I was named Alumnus of the Year. For many years I taught Elderhostel classes on the history of the South at UM, sharing these classes with outstanding historians, including the late Kathryn Tucker Windham, with musician Jim Connor, and with writer Bill Cobb. I also helped organize and conduct University of Montevallo’s Alabama Heritage tours for a number of years.
The only significant thing I wanted to do in my life that did not work out was in the realm of politics. When Representative Curtis Smith decided not to run for his seat in the Alabama Legislature, some people came to me asking if I would run. I was thrilled by the idea, and even more thrilled when money was pledged to my campaign. Excitedly I rushed home to tell Linda, who responded unequivocally: “You can be a legislator or my husband. Just pick the one you want.” That ended my short flirtation with Alabama politics. I was made quite happy and proud when in 2000 our daughter Stann was elected to the Montevallo City Council, as her grandfather had been so many years ago.
So, here I am at seventy-nine, still practicing dentistry, still playing music, still trying to serve my community. Recently my staff and I promoted a national program known as “Dentistry from the Heart.” For one day a year, I call on my fellow dentists, professional hygienists, and assistants as well as many community volunteers to participate in an effort to provide extractions at no cost to those less fortunate. In one day, we extracted 444 teeth and relieved the suffering and pain of 243 patients. When I think of that accomplishment, I feel proud.
For some reason my Dad’s old saying keeps coming back to me, “There ain’t no hill too high for a stepper.” My life in Montevallo and Brierfield has been filled with opportunities and challenges, and I have tried to face them with optimism and self-confidence.
Index
A
Acker, Charles 137, 162–163, 167–168
Acme Oil Company 168
Adams, Mr. (security guard) 223
Alabama Coach Company 108
Alabama College 17, 19, 37, 43, 45, 48, 50, 53, 62, 96, 106, 107, 119, 120, 122, 123, 126, 129, 133, 134, 139, 140–153, 159, 179, 184, 202, 210, 211, 214, 217, 219, 223, 226, 236, 237, 263, 275, 276, 277, 295, 302
Alabama Historical Commission 7, 8, 307
Alabama Historic Ironworks Commission 8
Alabama Legislature
Alabama Power Company 26, 120, 137, 138, 168, 206, 284
Alabama Theater 54
Alabaster, Alabama 56, 221, 281
Aldrich, Alabama 24, 25, 179, 242, 249
Alice Boyd Building 212
Allen, Bill 155, 157, 158
Allen, Buddy 197
Allen, Martha 147
Allen’s Shell Station 197
Allen, Ted 158
American Legion 272
AME Zion Church 122
Anderson, Evelyn 132
Angel Farm, the 140, 223
antigoglin 22
Appleton, Lamar 7
archaeology 80, 127
Armes, Ethel 68
Auburn Honor Band 254, 254–255
Auburn Knights of Rhythm 231, 253
Auburn University 68, 110, 146, 231, 250–255, 273
B
Bailey, Paul 302
Baird, Abraham Dubois 72–73, 73, 74, 79
Baird, Christabel Mahan (great-aunt) 66, 72, 73
Baird, Cornelia 39
Baird House 66
Baker, Bobby 160
Baker, Dot 49
Baker, Frank and Sadie 159
Baker, Mary Hilda “Sister” Peters (half-sister) 13, 18, 37, 43, 44–57, 192, 252, 256
Baker, Pat 157
Baker, Robert A. “Bobby”, Sr. (brother-in-law) 44, 45, 47, 48, 53, 53–54, 54, 256
Baker, Robert A., Jr. 56
Baker, Sarah Pat 211
Baker, Tommy 159, 160
Baldwin, Gene 7, 18, 40, 104–107, 106, 121, 123, 273, 274
Baldwin, Ladean DeSear 106
Bama Skippers Band 201, 202, 284
Barnes, Virginia 145
baseball 102, 138, 155, 160, 228, 269
Baton Rouge, Louisiana 270
Battle, Cody 15, 16, 181
Battle Royals 123
Belisle, Barbara 7
Berney Points, Alabama 48, 49, 192
Bibb County, Alabama 15, 16, 64, 84
Bickham, Ethel 133, 211–212, 212
Big Springs 119, 120, 121–122, 122, 128, 224, 235, 236, 237, 260, 261
Bink the horse 129
Birmingham, Alabama 13, 18, 35, 45–46, 48, 191, 222–223, 250, 270, 271, 293, 305
Birmingham Art Association 65
Birmingham Barons 268
Birmingham News 178, 300
Birmingham Symphony 307
Blach’s Department Store 56
Blackiston, Helen 144
Bloch Hall 201
Boothton, Alabama 25, 154, 167, 179, 239, 242, 277
Boundary Street 13, 124, 128, 181, 185, 213, 288
Boyd Building 268
Boy Scout Hut 120
Brent, Alabama 85
Brevard Music Center 305
Brevard, North Carolina 305
Briarcliff Nursing Home 56
Bridges, Catherine 112, 167, 235
Bridges, Ed 40, 106, 167, 235
Bridges, Eula (Sis) 167
Bridges, Lydia 167
Bridges, Mrs. 303
Bridges, Owen 167
Bridges, Pick 167
Bridges, Ted 167
Brierfield, Alabama 15, 63–66, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 80, 81, 109, 137, 169, 201, 202, 205, 207, 306
Brierfield Catholic Church 65
Brierfield Dental 8
Brierfield Furnace 68, 265
Brierfield Park 171
Brown bagging plant 182
Brown, Chicken 127
Brown, Forrest 132
Brown, J. A., Sr. 101, 168
Brown, Sam 229, 231, 232
Brown’s Grocery 123, 168
Brown’s icehouse 14, 167, 267, 283
Brown’s saw mill 168
Brown, Wyman 108, 266
Buck Creek Cotton Mill 231
Bulldog Bend 247, 248
Buster (Craig’s butler) 92, 94
Butler, Joann “Demps” 258
Buzzard’s Hollow 81, 82
C
Cahaba River 8, 63, 73, 239, 250
Cahaba Trace Commission 8
Cahawba, Alabama 63
Caldwell, Dr. 151
Calera, Alabama 39, 142, 145, 152, 224, 241, 242, 259, 260, 272, 277, 304
Cape Cod School of Art 65
Carbon Hill, Alabama 35, 41, 270
Carmichael, Oliver 179
Carpenter, Bill 114, 116, 117
Carpenter, Brewer 114, 116, 117
Carpenter, Brewer, Jr. 116, 119
Carpenter Brothers Garage 113, 114
Carpenter, Madge 113–115
Carpenter, Old Man 113–118
Cathedral Caverns 81
Catholic church 74
cemeteries 79, 125, 249, 272
Central Lodge 70 276
Central State Bank 304
Centreville, Alabama 121, 229
Chamberlain, Bess 93, 148
Charlie (college mailman) 262
Chicago, Illinois 150, 272
chickens 28, 37, 105
Childersburg, Alabama 109, 266
Chism, Elizabeth 134
Chuck King and Friends 307
Cincinnati Conservatory of Music 274, 300
Civil War 64, 67, 136, 199, 236, 265
Clapper, “Happy Ja
ck” 304
Clark, Joe, Jr. 128–129
Clark, Joe, Sr. 129
Clark, Mack 128, 129
Clark’s beauty shop 129
Cleveland, Grove 84
Cobb, Bill
Coca-Cola bottling company 22, 165, 167, 169, 177, 250
cock fights 123
Cofer Brothers Band 231, 232
Cofer, Duck 231
Columbiana, Alabama 135, 261, 273
Columbus, Georgia 302
Columbus Symphony 302
Comer Hall 152
Connor, Jim
Cooper, Chip 7
Cooper, O. B. 119, 150, 184
Cooper Union 64, 66, 68
Cottingham, Rose 59
Cox, Charles 119, 123, 234, 258
Cox, Martha Ann 28, 40, 155, 157, 176, 236, 257, 258
Cox, Mary Katherine “Kacky” 28, 257, 258
Cox, Scott 84
Craig Air Force Base 140
Craig, Alice 23, 27, 91, 92–95, 95, 96, 102, 103, 147, 151, 163, 257
Craig House 91, 257
Crestline Village 56
Crowe, Bobby 123, 155, 157
Cucumber Club 229
cuddly-muddly 38
Cunningham (band leader) 231
Cunningham, Earl 175
Cunningham house 121
Cunningham, J. K. 36
Cunningham, John 277
Cunningham, Kevin 70
Cunningham, Mr. 33
Curtis, Joseph R. 64
cyclones 14, 35, 97, 138
D
Dailey, Mignon 132
Dallas, Texas 74
Davis, Herndon 107
Davis, James Earl 123
Davis, Paul 139
Davis, Peggy 139
Davis, Roy 138, 139
Davis, Taylor 251
Davis, Una Mahan 137–139
Davis, Wayne 137, 139
Davis, Willard 139
Davis, Willard “Milton” 26, 137–139
Dawson, Mrs. 185
Dawson’s Variety Store 185
Day, Mr. 25
dead pecker bench 170, 171
Delta Sigma Delta 307
Delta Tau Delta 251, 252
DeMent, Susie 214–215, 215
Demopolis, Alabama 254
Dennis, Donald 158, 217
Dentistry from the Heart
DeSear, Alma 104, 105, 106
DeSear, Robert 22, 33, 104–106
Deviner, Carrie Boo 109, 110, 115, 262
Dixie Cats, the 229, 230
Dock, John 121
Dog River 45, 50, 52, 53
Dog River Bridge 52
Dogwood, Alabama 25, 27, 109, 126, 154, 159, 242
Dolly Jo 258
Douglass, Don 147
Douglass, Mr. and Mrs. 147
Doyle, Beverly 101, 257
Doyle, Joe 101, 123, 204
Doyle, Mildred 27, 101
drinking 247, 248–255, 260, 297
Dry Valley, Alabama 128, 154, 169
Dunn, Minnie 210
Dyer, Ed 111–113, 115, 117, 167, 168, 235, 237
Dyer’s Gristmill 111, 115
Dynaflow Club 232
E
Early Settlers of Shelby County mural 184
Eastman, Ann 287
Eddy, Dr. Josephine 20
Edwards Chevrolet 271
Elderhostel
Elliot, Mrs. 185
Elliot’s grocery store 185
Elliott, Roberta DeSear 240
Elliott, Tony 240
E. M. Skinner organs 149, 150, 295, 300
Everse, Helon 8
Everse, Marty 8
Ewing, Ed 152
F
Fairfield, Alabama 266
Fancher, Bennie 56
Fancher, Burr 191
Fancher, Cassie 180
Fancher, Marie 184
Fancher, Mrs. (teacher) 126, 128
Fancher, Prude 128
Fanchers (pioneers) 63
Fancher’s Radio Shop 183
Fancher, Tom 183, 243
Farrah, Mrs. 40, 182, 183, 210
Farrington, Taft 59
Federal Bearings Company 45, 192
Fiorella, Sammy 250
fires 26, 213, 306
First Stop 250
fishing 117, 121, 205, 207, 237–240, 289
Florida State University 297
Flower Hill 20, 62
football 125, 129, 132, 155, 160, 169, 217, 220, 259, 272
Fort Jackson 265
Foshee, Ruby 121
Foshee, Wheeler 121
fossils 70
Fox and Pheasant Bed and Breakfast Inn 91
Frederick girls 201
Frederick, Ruth 245
Frog Holler 14, 119–130, 151, 152, 197, 243, 267
Frost Lumber Company 219, 262
Frost, Smiley 210
Frost, Smiley and Giggles 262, 289
funeral homes 124, 169, 176, 177, 221
Future Farmers of America (FFA) 217, 219, 220–223
G
Galloway, Alonzo Clay 241
Gamble, Robert 7
Gardner, Mr. (Police Chief) 178
Gargantua 194
Garris, Stann Mahan (daughter) 26, 208
George (Craig yardman) 94
George (tenant farmer) 190
Givhan, Ed 7, 131, 132, 147, 196–200, 197, 215, 217, 218, 221, 224, 229, 243, 243–245, 249, 251, 264
Givhan, Gene 132
Givhan, Pete 14, 22, 26, 59, 104, 131, 165, 167, 169, 171, 177, 246, 248, 250
Givhan, Peter 132
Givhan, Sassy 22, 131, 248
Givhan’s Insurance Agency 171
Glyde, Edward 274
GM&O Railroad 16, 17
Goochie (blues guitarist) 247
Gordon Military Academy 106, 273
Grant, Alabama 80
Great Depression 14
Gregg, Deacon 272
Gregory, Ben 254
Griffin, Charles 240
Gulf Oil Distributing Center 168
Gulf Service Station 168, 273, 282–288
guns 70, 82, 85, 87, 105, 204, 205, 235, 240, 260, 272, 289
H
Hale, Maggie 37, 58–62, 103, 210, 266
Hamm, Mr. (blacksmith) 181
Hanson Hall 236
Hargrove, Captain 45, 51–53
Hargrove, Gracie 50, 51–53
Hargrove, Sidney 45, 47, 50, 56, 192, 193–194, 196
Hargrove, Sue Lorraine “Tootsie” Peters (half-sister) 13, 18–21, 36, 43, 43–44, 44–57, 47, 50, 192–196, 248, 277
Harris, Stinky 55, 248, 249
Hartley, Bill 40, 101, 103, 119
Hartley House 23, 31, 101–103
Hartley, Mr. and Mrs. Bill, Sr. 27, 101–103, 172
Hartley, Trab 102
Hawkins, Bobby 250–251, 251
Hawthorne, Charles 65
Hay, Willa 142
Heaton, Miki Mahan (daughter) 110, 208, 302
hellgrammites 238
Herbert, Dave 300
Herron, Lacey 155
H. H. Tchakarian and Sons Organ Builders 290
Hick’s Five and Dime Store 123, 257
Hicks, Grady 252
Hicks, Laura 123, 257
Hicks, Laura Ann 28, 103, 126, 211, 236, 252, 256, 257
Hicks, Roy 257
Highland Avenue 7, 91, 131–139, 197, 287
Highway 31 222, 250
Highway 280 250
Hillman Medical School 268
Hill, Taft 210, 282–288
Historic House Association of America
Hoffman, Ellis 101
Hoffman, Lois 132, 133
Holcombe, Joy 7, 132, 133, 157, 211, 212, 243
Holcombe, Robert 14, 110, 133
Honduras 66, 68, 71–73
Hoskin house 85
Houlditch, Grady “Beaut” 110, 242
Hovsepian, Eva Jane 294
Hovsepian, Johnny 293, 294, 300
Hovsepian, Lucille 294, 296, 297
Hovsepian, Sam 291–301, 293, 294, 296
Howison, Allen P. 84, 85
Hubbard, Dr. Leslie (cousin) 109, 162, 165–167, 268
Hubbard, Lance (cousin) 162
Hubbard, Lois Mahan (aunt) 16, 17, 39, 72, 165
Hubbard, Ted 39
Hubbard, Vernon 16
Huffstutler, Steve 9
Huntingdon College 263
Hurt, Seymour 224, 244
Hyperion School of Music 40
I
Independent Grocers Association 14
Ingram, Ann 259
Ione, Miss 99
Island Street 104, 127
J
Jackson, Andrew 265
Jackson, Burley 33
Jaffe, Harry 55
Jefferson County, Alabama 305
Jemison, Alabama 259
Jeter, Ashley “Hen House” 126, 127, 151
Jeter, Ashley (Old Man) 111, 124, 176
Jeter, Ashley (Snooks) 124, 126, 248
Jeter, Beth 126
Jeter, Doris 126, 128
Jeter, Elizabeth 126
Jeter, Milton (Sonny) 122, 124, 128
Jeter, Milton “Weed” 122, 125–126, 128, 133, 197, 210, 219, 244, 250, 267
Jeter, Pep, Jr. 121, 176
Jeter, Pressley (Pep) 124, 127, 176
Jeter, Sarah 126
Jeter’s Bottom 123, 129, 241, 242
Jeter’s Mercantile 124, 176, 204, 268
Jeter, Todd 50, 126
Jewish Country Club (Birmingham) 135
Jews, Judaism 135
Joe’s Place 129
Joe’s Steak House 250
John Dock (swimming hole) 121
Johnson, Brian 251–253, 252
Johnston, Katie 9
Jones, Misty 8
Jones-Williams, Spot 206
K
Katie’s Spring 82
Kelly, Agee 123, 157, 176, 234, 235
