Nearly four years to the day that Auburn University announced the lethal poisoning of the historic Auburn Oaks, two new live oaks will begin taking root in Samford Park at Toomer's Corner.
Landscapers are scheduled to begin planting the 35-foot-tall trees at 8 a.m. on Feb. 14. The university is inviting the public to attend the event, which should finish early in the afternoon. A viewing area will be set up, and streets will be closed for safety reasons.
"We are partnering with the City of Auburn to make this a special day," said Mike Clardy, director of university communications. "Downtown merchants will be open early and three of Auburn's athletic teams will be in action that day. We are hoping people will come to the Plains and make a weekend out of it."
Beginning around 7:30 a.m., crews will close College Street from Thach Avenue to Tichenor Avenue, and Magnolia Avenue from Wright Street to the Compass Bank parking lot entrance. Roads are expected to remain closed until 2 p.m.
The new trees will arrive at Toomer's Corner via flatbed trailer between 7:30 and 8 a.m.
The planting of the oaks is the final step in Phase I of the Samford Park renovation, which included enlarging the plaza and improving the landscaping near the corner. The second phase, slated to begin after A-Day in April, will feature the planting of 30 15-foot-tall trees — grown from acorns collected from the original oaks — between Toomer's Corner and Samford Hall.
The university is asking fans not to roll the two new oak trees until fall 2016 as they establish roots and acclimate to their new environment.
This is pretty cool. Coming from someone like me that wasn't born or raised here its interesting to see things like this and how Lee County has developed over the years.
Fascinating footage from the thirties includes unique glimpse of Auburn University & Toomer’s Corner
In 1937 the Department of Interior made a film about Alabama’s State Parks. This 1937 film showcases some of the works of the CCC, the Civilian Conservation Corps in Alabama. The CCC was a public work relief program that operated from 1933 to 1942 in the United States for unemployed, unmarried men from relief families, ages 18–25 as part of Roosevelt’s New Deal.
It’s probably one of the earliest videos of Auburn University. The famous Toomer’s Corner, at the intersection of College Street and Magnolia Avenue can even be seen in the film. Students are also seen filing out of Langdon Hall and strolling around campus. Toomer’s Drugs has been a landmark at the University since 1896. This corner until recently was the location of twin, century-old oak trees and has been the spot for thousands of students and alumni who have “rolled Toomer’s Corner” as a celebration occurring after a significant Auburn victory. The oak trees are no longer there, but the tradition at the corner continues.
Prior to becoming Auburn University, the college was first East Alabama Male College. The college next became a Land Grant College, established by the Morrill Act of Congress, approved July 2, 1862, that donated lands to the several States “for the endowment, support and maintenance of at least one college, where the leading object shall be, without excluding other scientific and classical studies, and including Military Tactics, to teach such branches of learning as are related to Agriculture and the Mechanic Arts…in order to promote the liberal and practical education of the industrial classes in the several pursuits and professions of life.”1
The state of Alabama accepted this donation on December 31, 1868, and appointed a commission to sell the land script received from the United States and invest the proceeds. The sale was completed and an investment in the amount of two hundred and fifty-two thousand dollars which constituted the original endowment fund of the college.
The East Alabama Male College in the little town of Auburn belonged to the Alabama Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church South and was offered to the legislature for the location of the new Agricultural and Mechanical College and the legislature approved the offer on February 26, 1872 and the new College was organized in March with the faculty of the old college and two new professors as well as a commandant. The senior class of 1872 was the first class to be recognized as graduates of the new Agricultural and Mechanical College.
William F. Feagin was a cadet at Alabama Polytechnic Institute in Auburn, Alabama. Feagin graduated in the class of 1892. He served as Alabama’s superintendent of education from 1915 to 1917, and as the Montgomery County superintendent from 1917 to 1920.
The period from 1882 to 1892 was an era of growth and development. The first state aid to the college of $30,000 was made February 28, 1883 to improve the main building and erect Langdon Hall, enlarge the library, purchase the experiment farm and other apparatus and equipment. The Professor of Chemistry was also designated the State Chemist.
The main building, with all its contents, burned June 24, 1887, but it was a blessing in disguise. The insurance company with a donation of $50,000 from the legislature enabled the college to rebuild and the main building and include a well equipped chemical laboratory. The college continued to expand and additional courses were added over the next years. In 1892, the college became the first four-year coeducational school in the state.
The legislature changed the name of the college on January 27, 1899 by an Act to Alabama Polytechnic Institute and the work of the Institute was devoted
Dr. Charles Coleman Thach was president of Alabama Polytechnic Institute from 1902 to 1920.
in “great measure, to the study of the natural sciences and their application to practical life.” The military emphasis was still evidently important as seen by the cadet drill in the 1937 film.
In 1960, the college’s name was again changed to Auburn University to acknowledge the varied academic programs and curriculum of the major university. “Auburn is among the few American universities designated as a land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant research center.”2Chewacla State Park is near Auburn University and today is often a popular place to stay for football weekends.
Wright’s Mill is also mentioned in the film. It was a popular recreation area for more than 100 years near Auburn. In the 1890’s, a club house was built on the hill between Wright’s Mill and the Gin-Saw Hole.
Valley creek state park mentioned in the film is now Paul M. Grist State Park near Selma, Alabama. The park was renamed after Paul Malone Grist, an active community leader and long-time YMCA director. A Civilian Construction Corps (CCC) camp was established within the current park boundaries. They built the park roads, trails, and the dam.
Does anyone know what happened to this unique and very smart dog? And what are the names of the beautiful young ladies at the end of the film?
Dixie Bibb Graves as a young woman
Another interesting thing that happened in Alabama in 1937, when this film was made, was that Dixie Bibb Graves was sworn in as the first woman from Alabama in the United States Senate.
She was appointed on August 20, 1937, as a Democrat by her husband, Governor Bibb Graves, to fill the vacancy by the resignation of Hugo L. Black who was appointed to the U. S. Supreme Court.
- See more at: http://alabamapioneers.com/film-of-early-auburn-university/#sthash.TRN6oGsi.Kp8rk4KX.dpuf
A lot of you may not know but the State of Alabama has a great down payment assistance program called "Step Up Program" that is offered through the Alabama Housing Finance Authority. I know your thinking what's the catch? But it really is a great program available for those that need it. Yes, there are some things you have to qualify for but the restrictions aren't bad and a lot of people actually do qualify.
Here are some of the qualifications.
You can't earn more than $97, 500
You have to take a homebuyers education course and there are only certain amount of fund available. So it is a first come first service basis. You also have to find a lender that participates in the program but you'll find that a lot of lenders participate in the program which makes for great lender options.
Some of the amazing things about the program is that there is no limit to the price of home you buy and its a fixed mortgage that is about the same as the current market interest rate and you make one payment since its combined with your primary mortgage. Some other things that are great about the program is that it doesn\'t matter where the home is! The house qualifies! And you don't have to a first time home buyer!
If your interested in getting more information on the program visit the website.
You can also call the following number to find a participating lender in your area.
1.800.325.2432 or visit www.AHFA.com.
For those of you who don't know... Opelika has a new project called Celebrate Alabama. The site takes up 535 acres making a 2 mile stretch of shopping, hotels, conference center, expo, restaurants, and much more. Although, they don't know how long the project will take they estimate that it will be around 10-12 years. This will bring new jobs, tax revenue, and will be a central hub in-between two larger cities, Montgomery and Atlanta. They hope that those that travel will make a detour and stop to shop, watch a movie, eat at the many restaurants or even stay the night. Celebrate Alabama will also be in-between the two large auto factories: Hyundai and Kia.
If you go to the following web page ( www.silivercompanies.com/content/view/222/121 you may also try www.silvercompanies.com ) you'll be able to see a video about the project. It also gives you information on local businesses, institutions and awards our area has received. For example, this is posted on their website:
" 10-1-08 Auburn University, the City of Auburn and Lee County officials have joined together for the possibility of building an aquarium on campus property on North College Street. The $75,000 cost for the feasibility study would be divided among the three parties. "its such a small investment, that could pay large dividends in the future," said Commissioner Mathan Holt.
You can also get information on the developer and the other project they currently have going on, Celebrate Virginia.
We have a lot going on which makes living in our area exciting.
