Wiregrass Seniors Magazine January 2019 JANUARY ISSUE | Page 10

Page 10
ALABAMA
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Unusual Bits and Pieces
1. The state was indirectly named after a Native
American tribe that lived in central Alabama in the
1500s. Historical accounts have referred to the group
as the Alibamo, Alibamu, and Alabamon, among oth-
ers, but it was the spelling of a river named in their
honor that stuck. I’m glad they didn’t go with other
rivers like, the Tallapoosa. Can you imagine pulling
for Poosa against Auburn.
2. It once had wooden roads. The Pratt Cotton Gin
in the 1840s needed a reliable route along the Ala-
bama River, so owner Daniel Pratt used pine logs
cut in half with the flat side up to act as a pathway
that stretched four miles long. Thus, the beginning
of Alabama DOT. Thanks Daniel!
3. The efficacy of submarines in war was the subject
of some debate before one built in Mobile put the
matter to rest. The Confederate-operated H.L. Hunley
torpedoed the Union’s USS Housatonic in February
1864, the first time in history a submersible had suc-
cessfully downed an enemy ship. It also sank. So
who really won the argument.
4. In June 2015, cannonballs were discovered bur-
ied under sidewalks at the University of Alabama.
Workers who were performing maintenance discov-
ered a cache of 10 notified authorities, who dis-
patched a bomb squad to dispose them. Probably
left by an Auburn fan shortly after the war ended.
5. It’s the only state that required you to be a legal
adult to enjoy its official drink. In 2004, the state
recognized Conecuh Ridge Whiskey as the bever-
age of Alabama. Most other states have opted for
juice, soda, or the most popular choice: milk. No
wonder the State of Alabama is the only legal liquor
wholesaler in the State.
6. Alabamians helped put us on the moon. The Sat-
urn V rocket was built in Huntsville, where former
Nazi scientist Wernher von Braun set up accommo-
dations to design spacecraft for NASA in the 1950s.
It was the Saturn V that propelled the Apollo 11 mis-
sion. I wish we would go back, but that’s so 1960’s.
Mars maybe!