Issue 74, Fall 2004

The image you’ve uploaded is the cover of a magazine titled “Alabama Heritage.” Let’s dive into the details: The magazine cover features an illustration of two birds. These birds appear to be Northern Bobwhites, a type of quail native to North America. One bird is perched on a fallen tree trunk, while the other is on the ground among some foliage. The background of the illustration includes green leaves and hints of a forested area. The text on the cover reads: “ALABAMA HERITAGE” “NUMBER 74, FALL 2004” “PUBLISHED BY THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AND THE ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF ARCHIVES AND HISTORY” The price of the magazine is “SIX DOLLARS.”

Issue 74, Fall 2004

On the cover: The northern bobwhite quail is found throughout the eastern U.S., but few places owe such a debt to the bird as Bullock County, Alabama. [Painting by Louis Agassiz Fuertes, courtesy New York State Museum]

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Features

The image you uploaded depicts a scene with a group of individuals seated around a table in what appears to be a forest setting. On the table, there are various items—possibly food or artifacts. Additionally, a pig is present under the table.
The wedding of Juan Ortiz and Indian Princess Sa-Owana [Pontotoc County Historical Society]

Clabber, Corn Pone, And Cured Hog

By Julie Locher and Donna L. Cox

The cuisine of the antebellum South never failed to elicit comment—often disdainful comment—from those who passed through. “Rusty salt pork.and musty corn-meal dodgers,” complained one traveler, “was my fare often for weeks at a time.” Clabber, a delicacy made from soured milk, curds, and whey, provoked active disgust rather than simple culinary fatigue. For those who called the South their home, however, pork, corn, and milk were the essential substance of life. Alabama cuisine, as vast and as varied as it is today, has its roots in these core foods. The southern capacity to make the most of every available resources would prove essential as the frontier gave way to a cotton kingdom, and even more as the cotton kingdom gave way to the Civil War.

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The scene depicted in the image transports us to a pastoral setting, evoking a sense of historical charm. Here’s a breakdown of what I observe: Characters: On the left side, we see an individual dressed in a blue coat and brown pants. They hold a long firearm, which appears to be a musket. The upward angle of the firearm suggests they might be aiming at game birds. Standing on the right side is another person, attired in yellowish-brown clothing. Their knee-high boots and hat hint at a rural lifestyle. This person seems to be observing the scene rather than actively participating. Dogs: Two dogs take center stage in the foreground. One dog points in the direction where the gun is aimed, while the other dog appears to be in motion, perhaps following a scent or anticipating the shot. These dogs likely serve as hunting companions, emphasizing the hunting theme of the image. Landscape: The background features rolling hills, scattered trees, and open fields. This bucolic landscape suggests a rural countryside. The partly cloudy sky adds to the overall ambiance. There are no signs of modern infrastructure, reinforcing the historical context. Historical Context: Given the attire and equipment, this scene likely belongs to an earlier time period. It could represent historical hunting practices or rural life. The absence of contemporary elements—such as cars, buildings, or power lines—supports this notion. Potential Topics for Discussion: Historical hunting techniques and firearms evolution. The role of dogs in hunting and their breeding for specific purposes. Artistic depictions of rural life in the past.
A good bird dog can make even the humblest hunter feel like an accomplished sportsman. [Library of Congress]

Spotted Dogs & Speckled Birds

By Aaron Welborn with John E. Phillips

Quail hunting in the old South had long been a favorite pastime of wealthy planters and blue bloods, but early in the twentieth century, the “gentleman’s amusement” evolved into a full-fledged industry in Alabama—and the pedigree of the dog would become far more important than the pedigree of the hunter. Thanks in part to industrialist-sportsmen such as L.B. Maytag, one county in particular would become synonymous with quail hunting and the Field Trial, where quail hunters and their dogs would compete to prove their worth. Called “the Field Trial Capital of the World,” Bullock County, Alabama, was home to Maytag’s Sedgefield Plantation and some of the best dogs and trainers the sport has ever seen.

The image depicts a dynamic scene of a warrior riding a horse. The warrior is clad in armor, with a plume on the helmet, and carries what appears to be arrows on the back. The horse is galloping fiercely, indicated by the position of its legs and the mane flowing backward. The background suggests a natural landscape with trees and open sky. There’s an intensity to the scene that suggests urgency or battle-readiness.
Illustration from “Red Eagle and the Wars with the Creek Indians” by George C. Eggleston. [W.S. Hoole Special Collections Library, The University of Alabama]

William Weatherford and the Road to the Holy Ground

By Pam Jones

Chief Red Eagle—also known as William Weatherford—was an unlikely resistance leader in the Creek War. The eldest son of a successful Scots trader and a Creek princess, he moved comfortably between the two disparate and contradictory worlds of the frontier. Travelers noted the incongruity of seeing Creek warriors camped in his pastures while Americans dined, danced, and slept in his home. While he initially opposed the Red Sticks—Creeks who were ready to go to war with the encroaching settlers and those Indians who accommodated them—in 1813 he led the bloody Red Stick assault on Fort Mims. The next day, when General Claiborne attacked the Red Sticks at the encampment called Holy Ground, Weatherford was the last Creek warrior standing. His daring escape across the Alabama River became the stuff of legends.

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Places in Peril: Alabama’s Endangered Historic Landmarks for 2004

By Melanie Betz Gregory

Once again, the Alabama Historical Commission and the Alabama Preservation Alliance have teamed up to profile historic sites throughout the state that are in danger of being lost to Alabamians forever. This year’s list include the only antebellum railroad depot left in the United States, one of the state’s oldest YMCA buildings, and an important early cemetery containing the grave of a Revolutionary War soldier, as well as several important homes, including Montgomery’s historic Winter Place and the Otto Marx Mansion, an architecturally significant Mission Revival style home on Birmingham’s Highland Avenue. Many of these sites are threatened by inappropriate development and lack of preservation planning as well as by lack of funding and owner neglect.

The image depicts a large, two-story house with Victorian architectural features. The house boasts a wrap-around porch adorned with ornate railings and decorative trim. Multiple arches and columns support the porch roof. Its predominantly white exterior contrasts with the dark roofing. The house is surrounded by a spacious lawn, dotted with several trees and shrubs. The overcast sky adds a somewhat somber ambiance to the scene.
Locust Hill of Tuscumbia, one of Alabama’s oldest brick houses, was the Civil War headquarters of Colonel Florence Cornyn. [Robin McDonald]

Departments

The image appears to be a historical map, depicting a portion of the United States. It features notable geographic features such as rivers and mountain ranges. The map includes labels for states, territories, and various landforms. Given its style and coloration, it likely holds historical relevance.
[W.S. Hoole Special Collections Library, The University of Alabama]

Alabama Treasures

Resurrection of a Classic 

By Kathryn H. Braund 

The editor of History of the American Indians (University of Alabama Press, 2005) provides an introduction to the work of James Adair. As a deerskin trader, Adair traveled the length and breadth of the Southeast, mapping the location of Indian tribes he met along the way.

The image depicts an individual in military attire riding a horse. The rider maintains an upright posture, suggesting discipline and control. The horse is captured mid-stride, exuding grace and movement. In the background, spectators observe from behind a barrier, indicating a public event or competition.
Edwin Yancey Argo sits astride Honolulu Tomboy. [AAF Sports Library]

Alabama Heritage Revisited

Alabama’s First Olympic Medalist 

By Katherine Walcott and Bard Cole

At the 1932 Los Angeles Olympics, Edwin Yancey Argo, a thirty-six-year-old military horseman from Hollins, Alabama, turned in a crucial performance in the equestrian Three-Day Event that won the Americans a Team Gold. Since then, more than fifty Alabamians have competed in an Olympics, but Argo’s Gold was the first. It was also the first gold medal in an equestrian event for the United States. 

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