Author: Tom Roberts

A family Christmas tree farm in Alabama

By Jim Zeigler

Many folks think that Christmas trees cannot be grown in Alabama, that it takes the mountains of Tennessee and North Carolina. Well, here is my story of growing one of Alabama’s early Christmas tree farms — the Zeigler Christmas Tree Farm outside of Sylacauga.

My father, Bloise Zeigler, was raised on an 80-acre farm in the Russell Chapel area near Fayetteville in Talladega County. About 1951, he bought a 20+ acre farm in the Oak Grove community adjacent to Sylacauga for our growing family. You can’t make a living and support a family of six on 20 acres, so Bloise Zeigler worked full-time at Kimberly-Clarke Newsprint, now Resolute Forest Products, near Childersburg.

As Dad worked full-time, he also worked part-time on his small farm for additional income. Sometimes, a few cattle, chickens or hogs. Always wife Bernice Zeigler’s garden, including a cornfield and strawberry patch — my Mom with a green thumb.

After retiring from the newsprint plant, Bloise Zeigler wanted to utilize the family farm more. He turned to his unofficial adviser on all things agricultural. Dr. John Woodruff is married to my older sister, Ina (to those around Sylacauga, “Ina Gayle.”)  John Woodruff is an agricultural genius. Award-winning. The two minds got together and came up with it. Alabama’s soil and climate were perfect for growing Pinus Virginiana. Virginia Pines. Christmas trees.

Bloise and Bernice Zeigler started the area’s first “choose-and-cut” Christmas tree farm. It took just three years for Virginia Pine seedlings to become mature Christmas trees. A nickel seedling could become what then was a $15.00 to $30.00 Christmas tree (They can cost more now). Eastern Red Cedars and Leland Cypress trees were added to the gourmet selection of Christmas trees.

Plan the work and work the plan. By 1979, we were attracting families across East and Central Alabama. The families would make an outing of it. Bring the children and grandchildren. Get your saw from Bloise Zeigler. Rummage through the fields until you find the tree you like. Cut it. Take it up to the Zeigler barn, where you could shake the dead needles out using a “shaker” invented by cousin Mickey Zeigler. And wrap it in a netting using a gizmo invented by Mickey Zeigler, mechanical genius.

In 1996, a tree from the Zeigler Christmas Tree Farm was selected as the official Christmas Tree of the Governor’s Mansion, adorning the inside of the mansion. That was the first time that something Zeigler-grown stayed in the Governor’s Mansion.

For 30 years, families from Birmingham to Auburn, from Gadsden to Clanton, came to the Zeigler Christmas Tree Farm. It became a tradition. It was also a tradition for Bloise Zeigler to witness to the families about salvation through Jesus Christ, the true meaning of Christmas.

Nowadays, all that remains of The Zeigler Christmas Farm is that witness and the pleasant remembrances of thousands of families.

Do you know anybody over age 40 near the Sylacauga area? Ask them about the old Zeigler Christmas Tree Farm. And ask them about Bloise and Bernice Zeigler. You will be amazed at the Christmas stories they tell you. Old-fashioned Alabama Christmas stories. 

Jim Zeigler is former Alabama Public Service Commissioner and State Auditor. You can reach him for comments at [email protected].

A weekend CHS Alumni Picnic became a major community event

When old friends,Kesha Martin (‘97) and Maida Davis (‘00) started to put an idea into action, they had no idea what a Childersburg High School Alumni Picnic would become.

“We had heard of such events turning out fun,” said Maida Davis, “And we just wanted to get as many old friends from high school together as we could, an informal multi-class reunion. We had no idea what the response would be. We want to send out a big Shout Out to Brad Logan and the Parks & Recreation Department for trusting us with the stadium! Everybody appreciates it so much!”

They challenged CHS graduating classes to get together, erect some sort of tent for classmates to gather. Some organized pot luck dinners, while others collected and fired up grills and cookers, and others even brought in professional caterers. The result was enough picnic fare to feed a literal army.

Now, you have to have some sort of entertainment, and DJ Flexx was summoned to John Cox Stadium, bringing “Cuz” with him. They had the place hopping well into the evening, dancing as individuals, class groups, and even large line dances.

A cold morning turned into a sunny, mild afternoon as the crowd grew. And grew. And grew some more! Dozens turned into hundreds until the stadium grass was full of old friends reliving old times and renewing fun class rivalries. Cell phones came out, calling even more to join the fun. Cars were literally parked everywhere within walking distance.

The bottom line consensus was, “We’ve got to do this more often and watch it grow!”

Newlywed doctor, nurse at Pearl Harbor: The Cockerhams, leading family in Goodwater

By Sylacauga native Jim Zeigler

They were headed separately to Pearl Harbor, a peaceful assignment in Hawaii — or so they thought. He, a new medical doctor. She, a nurse.

They first met in San Francisco, waiting for a ship to take them to Honolulu. They fell in love and married.

Dr. Howard L. Cockerham and wife, nurse Itaskah Maxwell Cockerham, then lived in a house overlooking Pearl Harbor. Her unusual name is Native American, which runs strongly in her blood.

On Sunday morning, Dec. 7, 1941, Dr. Cockerham was the doctor-in-charge at the hospital at Pearl Harbor. He was finishing up three days on duty, or so he thought. Just as he was getting ready to turn the charge over and leave, wounded soldiers began being brought in by the dozens. They were from the airfield, which was the first target of Japanese attacks, so American planes could not defend the rest of the attack. They had bullet wounds.

“They look like they have been in a war,” Dr. Cockerham proclaimed. How right he turned out to be, the very beginning of America’s Pacific Theatre of World War II.

It didn’t take long before an attack on the airfield spread to a major attack on the harbor and its “Battleship Row.”

As the dead began to be brought in, Dr. Cockerham and the hospital quickly ran out of room and had to stack bodies in the hallway. That’s a sight that will stay with you for the rest of your life.

Meanwhile, Nurse Cockerham was at their home overlooking Pearl Harbor. She was aware that war games had been conducted just a few days before. When she began to hear the booms and see the smoke over the harbor, she at first thought it was more war games. A lot of locals thought that but for only a short time.

She tried to get in touch with her husband, who was supposedly finishing up his duty to come home. Communications had either been cut off or knocked out. For three days, Nurse Cockerham did not know what had happened to her husband.

Dr. Cockerham continued to work on the hundreds of wounded. Finally, he was relieved and got to go home. It was the first time that Mrs. Cockerham knew that he was alive and heard the stories of the wounded and dead.

The Cockerham residence was situated where it did not get hit. Dr. Cockerham and Nurse Cockerham were not injured.

Dr. Cockerham was then ordered to islands in the Pacific where he headed MASH units for three years.

Fast forward a decade. Goodwater and Coosa County did not have a medical doctor. The Cockerham couple and their growing family moved there and made a life-changing impact.

It’s a long way from Pearl Harbor to Goodwater. The same doctor treating the wounded at Pearl Harbor later treated the sick and injured in Alabama.

Jim ‘Zig’ Zeigler writes about Alabama’s people, places, events, groups and prominent deaths. He is a former Alabama Public Service Commissioner and State Auditor. You can reach him for comments at [email protected].

UPDATE: Body of man reported missing from Sylacauga has been found

SYLACAUGA, Ala. – Two days after a BOLO alert was issued, authorities say the body of a man who was reported missing from Sylacauga has been found in Lake Martin.

On December 2, 2024, the Sylacauga Police Department issued a Be On the Lookout (BOLO) alert for 31-year old Clifford Wesley Beach, a Harpersville man who had been reported as missing from the Sylacauga area.

On December 4th, authorities were called to the Stowe Ferry boat ramp to meet with two people who thought they found a body in the lake. The body was sent to the Department of Forensic Sciences in Montgomery, and it was identified as Clifford Wesley Beach. A cause of death has not yet been released.

Anyone with information about this case is asked to call Talladega County Central Dispatch at (256) 761-1556 or SPD Investigator Miller (256) 391-4391.

It’s Christmas Parade Season!

When December rolls around, most every city, big and small celebrates the season with a festive parade. And there’s a way to watch most every one of them. Actually, it’s a place, our place on streaming tv – GCV-TV on Roku has a pair of crews out & about across the region, brining Christmas Parades to where you watch streaming tv. Here’s a sample of our crews at work:

Alexander City Christmas Parade from the “TGOIS” channel, hosted by Randy Clark

Piedmont Christmas Parade from The “Out & About” channel, hosted by Eddy Reese

All in all we’re expecting to air well over a dozen different Christmas Parades from all across the Greater Coosa Valley & beyond, north & south. Okay, here’s where you find them on GCVTV:

On the south end of the region, go to GCV-TV on Roku. Scroll over to the right for the “TGOIS” channel & click on it with your remote control. You’ll find all the south end Christmas parades, along with lots of other great local events.

On the north end of the region, go to GCV-TV on Roku. Scroll over to the right for the “Out & About” channel with Alabama Ambassador, Eddy Reese! Eddy has a couple of other channels on the network – Outdoors Alabama & Blessed to be a Light.

If you love Christmas music, we have several good “live” channels for that. Under the Wave Music Channels, you’ll find 24/7 Christmas music, from hymns to carols to classics to pop & country Christmas classics!

We also feature the “Christmas Concerts & Contatas” from choirs & musicians from across the region. And as we go through December, we’ll be on the lookout for and adding even more musical Christmas events! If you know of any, hit us up with a message or a link on our GCVTV Facebook page!

And while you’re there, you might want to check out all the channels under the “Good Old Days – GOD-TV” banner. Wow! Just Wow! Classic movies, including Christmas movies – We’re busy adding more… Find about a hundred or so On-Demand classic tv & cartoon channels under “GCV-TV Classic TV,” plus “GCV-Delicious” channels & “GCV-TV Lifestyle” channels.

And the best part of everything we offer on GCV-TV on Roku, it’s ALL family-friendly programming. You don’t have to worry about shows that are “rude” or “offensive” for you or your family.

Childersburg Council consolidates municipal polling sites

Watch the meeting video &/or read the accounts of the meeting below:

With approval of Ordinance 1147, the Childersburg designated the R.S. Limbaugh Community Center as the municipal polling site for all qualified electors within the corporate limits of Childersburg.

The vote removes the Ward C Pleasant Valley polling place and sends those voters to the Limbaugh Center. Mayor Ken Wesson noted, “The only elections we use that polling place are municipal elections. All voters in our community and beyond vote at the Limbaugh Center for every other election.”

No cost transportation will be available for any voter needing the service, via the Childersburg transportation system.

In other New Business, Resolution 2024-26 approved an agreement with Misti Martin for gymnastics/cheer instruction at the Rec Annex adjacent to John Cox Stadium.

Passage of Resolution 2024-27 approved a local match of $51,367 for FY2026 for the East Alabama Commission 5311 rural transit program.

Outdoor lighting is coming to the newly-built Pickleball Court. Resolution 2024-28 awarded the installation contract to Pearson Electric in the amount of $4,656.05 from Fund 65 – Direct Support. Mayor Wesson noted that existing supports for much of the lighting re already in place.

The Council approved Resolution 2024-29, which means a new state-of-the-art Theromplastic Polyoletin roof system as part of the new Police & Judicial Building renovations on Highway 280. The bid was awarded to Mitchell Roofing LLC in the amount of $69,250 under public works bid law. Mayor Wesson was authorized to execute documents for the agreement.

Approval was given for the purchase of a Kyocera Ecosys Copier/Scanner for the Municipal Court Office in the amount of $1,050 from Fund 11, along with a maintenance agreement of $15.30 monthly.

Firefighter Brett Lunsford was approved to move from full-time permanent to part-time temporary as needed with no change in pay rate.

The Council approved payment of invoices in the amount of $70,959.96.

The next regular Council meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, December 17th, 2024 at 6:00 p.m.

“Christmasburg” makes its official debut during annual Tree Lighting

The City of Childersburg gathered a great crowd for their annual Tree Lighting and related holiday activities in “Downtown Christmasburg.”

Starting at the historic Butler-Harris-Rainwater House, the city’s official tree was lit, along with lots of hot Chocolate, the Grace Baptist Choir, and even a Live Nativity scene.

The festivities then moved down 1st Street for Smores with the VHS Baseball team, downtown shopping, Whoville in Kiwanis Park, a train ride, and of course, Sant Claus himself!

The Childersburg Christmas Parade is scheduled for Thursday, December 12th, starting 6:00 p.m.

You’re invited to enjoy a visit or two to Christmasburg this holiday season

Every year about this time, the City of Childersburg is transformed into Christmasburg. It’s a product of volunteerism in action among citizens and organizations, led by First Lady Trish Wesson.

According to Wesson, a grand example of community cooperation is the new downtown Train Station, “The Termite Group and Jimmy Landers made the ticket booth. Donald Haynes made the Railroad crossing signs here and at Santa’s workshop. Krissy Morris made the train. Thank you so much Steve Yarnel for stabilizing our train and the fence down at the reindeer farm. Thank you to the Street Department (Eddie Strickland, Floyd and Stubblefield) for your help getting all the pole lights up.

Others pitching in have been Candy Mahaffey, Jennifer Riddle, Kathy Matthews, Diana Rutherford, Ma Jeannie, Donna Mayfield, Grace Baptist Church, Karen White Lori Reed, Misti Payne, along woth the Childersburg Fire and Police Departments, and so many other anonymous elves!

It all comes together on Our is Tuesday, December 3, 2024 at 6:00 p.m. for Childersburg’s annual Christmas tree Lighting at the Butler-Harris-Rainwater House, and spreading throughout the entire downtown.

Shuttle buses will be available to board at City Hall starting at 5:15 p.m. to take visitors to the Rainwater House and back downtown after the tree lighting. Families can visit Santa at Santa’s Workshop, catch the Grinch and Cindy Lou Who at Kiwanis Park after the tree lighting.

The kids can board the train to Santa’s workshop and Whoville after the tree lighting . Have fun in the snow at Kiwanis Park. Carriage rides are available for those who quickly filled out the reservation list. Hot chocolate and Apple Cider stations will be available at just about every block.

Visit Pam’s Hair Heaven Gift Shop and stop in for Hot Cocoa there. Our newest downtown business, Fair to Middlin’ Gifts & Boutique will be open for Christmas shopping.

Roads will be closing at 5:15 p.m., so get to town early for a convenient place to park. See you in downtown Christmasburg and Merry Christmas!

Seven Christmas concerts at Oxford Performing Arts Center in December

By Jim “Zig” Zeigler

Oxford is becoming a top destination for live Christmas music.

Seven Christmas concerts are set in December in the Oxford Performing Arts Center (OPAC).

OPAC is in historic downtown Oxford at 100 Choccolocco Street.

The music begins December 3 with “Jingle All the Way” by Delores Hydcok and Bobby Horton.

“A Classical Christmas” with Julio Barreto and Timothy Miller follows on December 8.

“Comfort & Joy” with Jim Brickman is on December 13.

“Christmas with the Pops” is on December 15.

“A Rockin’ Christmas” with the Dallas String Quarter is on December 17.

“Nashville Noel” is on December 19.

The final Christmas concert is “An Olde English Christmas” with Peter Noone and Herman’s Hermits on December 20.

The OPAC venue was created when Oxford repurposed an unused historic building. The classic building had been a city hall, fire station and jail. Millions of dollars later, it is now a 1,200-seat performing arts theater.  

If you are interested in dining on your musical trips to Oxford, an upscale restaurant is in another restored and historic building almost next door to OPAC. “Hubbard’s Off Main” is operated by Oxford civic leader and city council member Charlotte Hubbard. It offers almost white glove service. Attire is mixed, mostly dressy casual. Reservations are always accepted, and on concert nights, reservations are needed.

The restaurant is described on its website:

“…[A]n intimate yet casual atmosphere with gracious hosts eager to make you feel right at home. Choose from a menu filled with classy Southern dishes and a few Oxford originals, too – we love representing our charming town. Try one of our award-winning steaks, or if you’re looking for a more casual night out, our selection of burgers is sure to hit the spot. The brick walls and the exposed wood beams gracing the ceiling create a quaint atmosphere nestled in a historic building, and our location right across from the Oxford Performing Arts Center makes us a perfect spot to dine for a night on the town.”

Hubbard’s Off Main occupies the classic building of the former Hubbard’s Piano Company. Its walls are decked with black-and-white photos of old Oxford and old Alabama. The restaurant has a small stage and upright pianos. Dining at Hubbard’s is like dining inside a museum of Alabama of yesteryear.

U.S. travelers often have Oxford, Mississippi, on their bucket lists because of its history of Southern writers. Now, they are adding Oxford, Alabama, because of its musical performances. And it calls out for more than one trip.

Jim ‘Zig’ Zeigler writes about Alabama’s people, places, events, groups and prominent deaths.  He is a former Alabama Public Service Commissioner and State Auditor. You can reach him for comments at [email protected].