Franklin County, News, Top News Stories FRONT PAGE, Z - News Main, Z - TOP HOME
 By  Alison James Published 
3:32 pm Thursday, July 11, 2019

Demos highlight ‘The Way We Were’

Bicentennial commemorations in Russellville have been an ongoing theme of 2019, and the celebrations are still going strong. July 13 will be another installment of The Way Were Were.

The Russellville Bicentennial Committee conceived this monthly series of historical demonstrations, exhibits and portrayals designed to inspire people’s interest in the history of Russellville and Franklin County. It began in May and will continue Aug. 10 and Sept. 14.

Saturday will welcome a number of presenters who will each bring their own taste of history to the Russellville Canteen, on Washington Street, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

As in previous months, Frank Stone will offer wagon rides. Inside the Canteen, visitors can learn about all kinds of subjects, from Joel Mize’s presentation on Bylar Road to Doris Alewine’s display on knitting and crochet.

“I’ve got an afghan about a third made, a baby cap about half made – I’m bringing different things, crocheting and knitting,” said Alewine, 82. The German native said she has been kitting and crocheting since she was 5 years old. “I knitted myself some stockings before I started school,” said Alewine. She grew up during the war, and her family had little. “We had to spin our own thread and make our own clothes.”

Alewine said she knits dish rags practically every night while watching TV. She has also knitted things for her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Although she wasn’t born in the United States, Alewine said she now cherishes her citizenship. “Americans bombed my little town in Germany in 1945, and in 1967 I became one of them,” joked Alewine, who now cries when she hears the National Anthem and treasures the Stars and Stripes. “I guess I became a real American.”

Orland Britnell and William Bishop will be displaying old farm artifacts as well as cooking and household items, and Glenn Rikard will demonstrate chair caning. Frank Richey will be making knives, while Barbara Bishop will be churning butter.

All in all, many facets of life over the past 200 years will be on display Saturday for folks to learn and reminisce.

“We’re wanting to show how people lived during this time, and not only how they lived – how they worked, entertained, every aspect of history that we can get out there,” explained Franklin County Archives director Chris Ozbirn, who chairs the Bicentennial Committee. “To me, history is something everybody has to know. You’ve got to know where you came from to get where you’re going.”

Also on Franklin County Times
Thorpe to play at Blue Mountain Christian
High School Sports, News, Russellville, ...
Brannon King For the FCT 
July 16, 2025
RUSSELLVILLE – Brennon Thorpe made his plans official to attend Blue Mountain Christian University and play baseball for the Toppers during a recent s...
Russellville High Class of 1967 gathers, reminisces
Columnists, News, Opinion, ...
HERE AND NOW
July 16, 2025
You can’t really go back to the good old days of high school, but you can pay them a visit now and then. That’s exactly what the RHS Class of 1967 has...
Former Cypress Lakes official to lead Guntersville State Park
Lifestyles, News
Bernie Delinski For the FCT 
July 16, 2025
GUNTERSVILLE — Heath Puckett had an Auburn University degree and golf course superintendent certification in his pocket when he arrived at Cypress Lak...
European travel builds bonds across cultures
Lifestyles, News, Russellville, ...
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
July 16, 2025
RUSSELLVILLE -- A group of Franklin County travelers spent nine days this summer walking through catacombs, exploring castles and standing in places w...
Little Free Library welcomes readers in East Franklin
Lifestyles, News, Phil Campbell
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
July 16, 2025
PHIL CAMPBELL — Eleven-year-old Aiden Hall is an avid reader, but he doesn’t just want to read books. He also wants to share them, and the way he deci...
King becomes elementary curriculum director
Lifestyles, Russellville
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
July 16, 2025
RUSSELVILLE — Molly King says every child can learn, though not necessarily in the same way or on the same day — a belief she plans to carry into her ...
New Junior Leaders begin their training
Franklin County, News
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
July 16, 2025
FRANKLIN COUNTY — Forty-two high school students from across Franklin County are beginning 10 months of hands-on leadership training and community ser...
Fire destroys 2-story garage, guest suite
Main, News, Russellville, ...
Kevin Taylor For the FCT 
July 16, 2025
R U S S E L LV I L L E – Jason Gist leaned against the wall of his home with a look of disgust while dozens of firefighters worked to extinguish a fir...

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Latest Stories
July 4, 2025Augusto Simon Diaz, 42, of Russellville, passed away July 4. Visitation and funeral were held at Spry Memorial Chapel on July 12 from 2pm ...
July 16, 2025
July 8, 2025Jamie Kerby Cummings, 41, of Russellville, passed away on July 8. Visitation took place July 13, at Spry Memorial Chapel from 1 pm to 3pm....
July 16, 2025
July 11,2025Julie “JuJu” Welch Black, 63, of Russellville, passed away on July 11.Graveside service was held at 1pm on July 13, at Belgreen Cemetery w...
July 16, 2025
July 9, 2025Scott Noel Benford, age 58, of Muscle Shoals, passed away on July 9. Visitation was held at Pinkard Funeral Home in Russellville on July 1...
July 16, 2025