Childersburg, Alabama

Coker, Alabama

Weather: low 71 degrees, high 80 degrees, mostly cloudy skies, intermittent showers

The rain started about 0500 hours this morning and continued off and on all day. It did stop long enough for me to take my morning walk and not get wet from rain. The humidity, however, was another story. I was just about soaked by the time my walk was finished.

We had several chores to take care of today. It was time to wash the laundry, which is something I don't mind doing. After doing the laundry, I went to the library to swap some books and videos. On my way home, I stopped and had the truck serviced. By then, it was time for some meditation. Then, Carolyn prepared a beef roast for supper with the usual trimmings. Other than those things, it was a quiet day.

When we took our little road trip yesterday, one of the little towns we passed through was Childersburg, located in Talladega County and Shelby County. The population is about 5000 people. The main attractions are De Soto Caverns, Kymulga Covered Bridge, and Kymulga Grist Mill. The caverns were named after Hernando De Soto, who passed Through the area in his search for gold. The covered bridge was built in 1860 to allow easier travel on the Georgia Trail, an old Indian travel route. The most interesting thing about the bridge, other than it's age, is the way the wooden planks on the floor have been worn away by the iron wagon wheels.

The Kymulga Grist Mill was built in the 1860s and was powered by water. Wheat was ground into flour, and corn was ground into grits and corn meal. Most of the original parts are still in the building, but electricity is used for power now because it is more dependable than the varying water levels of the creek. Keeping the mill open has become a community project. One way they raise money is by selling corn meal and grits made in the mill. We did our little bit to help them by buying some of the corn meal and grits.

Here's a picture of the dam that was used to divert the water and turn the grinding wheels. Childersburg claims to be the oldest continuously occupied town in America, dating back to about 1540. At that time and later on, Indians of the Coosa tribe lived in the area. During World War II, the Alabama Army Ammunition Plant was located in the area.

More later, be safe.

Today's Town - Childersburg, Alabama: The Oldest City In America…1540

Not all who wander are lost.