Second page of a 2009 Birmingham News article about a Fairfield, Ala. woman working to memorialize slaves who worked at an ironworks near Bessemer, Ala. during the Civil War

1. 2A j The Birmingham News Monday, July 6, 2009
SCENE & HEARD SLAVES:
that down is incredibly dif-
“We’re trying to ficult,” he said.
Quest seeks tell as much of the Ferrill, who has partici-
pated in some of the digs,
stories of the
unheralded past slaves and their
treks through Tannehill as
often as three times a week,
From Page 1A continuing to search for any
lives as possible.”
1.6 million fans wait for slaves lived near the iron-
works between 1858 and
1865. A recent excavation
Jack Bergstresser
Tannehill’s Alabama Iron
and Steel Museum
clues that might piece to-
gether the lives of the peo-
ple who operated the blast
furnace. Ferrill said she is
Jackson memorial tickets uncovered their living quar-
ters, though not much is
known about their lives.
Ferrill is now on a mis-
director
of the quarters. Bergstresser
said he hopes to make that
determined to use the past
to learn about the future, a
concept described in West
African languages as “san-
sion to memorialize those kofa.” She has a “sankofa
Only 11,000 will slaves and would like to
information a part of the
Tannehill educational tour.
moment,” she said, each
erect a memorial at the time she visits the grounds.
get to see service park. She came up with the
Excavations began in 2006
and most recently UAB stu-
The word means “go back
set for Tuesday idea after attending a June-
teenth festival last month in
dents taking an anthropol-
and get what was lost” or
“learning from the past.”
ogy course have conducted
The Associated Press Birmingham. Juneteenth “So much of our history
digs.
LOS ANGELES — More marks the date in 1865 goes undocumented and,
“We’re trying to tell as it’s just not talked about,”
than 1.6 million fans waited when slaves in Galveston,
much of the stories of the Ferrill said. “I think there’s
to learn Sunday whether Texas, learned of their free-
slaves and their lives as a lot of resentment and em-
they were among the lucky dom.
possible,” Bergstresser said. barrassment in Alabama.
few to win access to Mi- “There aren’t any books to
chael Jackson’s memorial Lost history tell us, so the archaeologi-
Most people tend not to
service at Staples Center on want to talk about it. But
“We’re so busy research- cal digs are helping us.” you have to have some
Tuesday. ing and celebrating what Several slaves were
Fans registered online for AP knowledge to gain some
happened in other states, brought to work in the blast knowledge.”
free in the random drawing Luis Benguria sits on Pedro Vicente’s shoulders as and we have our own his- furnaces at Tannehill,
of only 8,750 names. Each he signs a poster Sunday at the Staples Center. Every time Ferrill visits,
tory right here,” said Ferrill, where pig iron was pro- she sings a song, says a
person selected will receive
a former social worker. “I duced. That pig iron was prayer and leaves some-
two tickets. tion next door. painkillers, sedatives and think it is so sad that we used to make pots, pans, thing to remember the
On Sunday evening, fans Jackson died at age 50 on antidepressants.
around the world started June 25 after going into car- really don’t know about our horseshoes and Confeder- slaves’ lives. This time it’s a
Jackson’s family was history and don’t take ad- ate artillery. Bergstresser piece of patterned fabric
posting Twitter messages
diac arrest in the bedroom planning a private cere- vantage of opportunities to said descendants of those tied around a tree branch.
about receiving tickets.
of his rented mansion. The mony at the Forest Lawn learn about it.” slaves may be living in the “If one person remem-
“OMG OMG OMG OMG i
got tickets to the Michael cause of Jackson’s death cemetery in the Hollywood Jack Bergstresser, direc- surrounding area. bers,” she said, “they’ll
Jackson memorial serv- has not been determined. Hills, Assistant Police Chief tor of the Alabama Iron and “We suspect there might never die.”
ice!!!” tweeted Deka Daye Also Sunday, a judge Jim McDonnell said. He did Steel Museum at Tannehill, be some in West Blocton
from San Francisco. Other signed search warrants not provide details. has led several excavations and Bessemer, but tracking E-MAIL: rnance@bhamnews.com
messages came from users connected to the investiga- The memorial service will
in Scotland and Iran. tion of Jackson’s death, Los be broadcast on five televi-
The odds of getting a Angeles County Superior sion networks, after NBC
ticket were about 1 in 183. Court spokesman Allan executives changed their BYPASS: OVER THE YEARS DOT division.
Phase I includes a bridge
The tickets will admit Parachini said. minds Sunday and decided 1968: Preliminary designs were over railroad tracks which
11,000 people to the Staples Authorities are investi- to air the service live. NBC Maxine Parker drawn up for a Finley bypass to
26th Street North.
will give Collegeville resi-
Center plus 6,500 in the No- gating allegations that Jack- joins ABC, CNN, MSNBC dents another way out and
kia Theater overflow sec- son had been consuming and E! Entertainment. pushed bypass 1971: The project was included in.
in a major thoroughfare plan of
From Page 1A the Birmingham Urban Area and
Phases two and three will
in the Metropolitan Planning punch the bypass from
from DOT and the MPO
MILESTONES PEOPLE Organization’s transportation Shuttlesworth to Alabama
that the project wasn’t plan. 79, said MPO Principal
shovel-ready. But I just 1976: The Federal Highway Planner Darrell Howard.
knew — within my heart — When completed, the ex-
TIGHT BATTLE FCC ASKED that the time was right for
Administration authorized
extension studies. tension will be about four
AT BOX OFFICE TO BAN ‘MIDGET’ the bypass,” she said.
So Parker began her
1978: Feasibility studies began
for a freeway extending to East
miles long.
Taylor agreed there are
Prehistoric creatures and Little people are calling quest six months ago. Lake Boulevard at 43rd Street no funding issues: “The
robots were in a photo fin- on the Federal Commu- “I just kept talking about to Carson Road. money is in. We are contin-
ish for the Fourth of July the need for the bypass, 1981: A draft environmental uing to progress it, and it’s
nications Commission to
box-office crown Sunday, and I engaged the council. I impact statement was in good shape. We will go to
ban the use of the word
told them of the need for a published and a public hearing the public and see what the
Former first lady with “Transformers: Re- “midget” on broadcast TV.
held. community thinks at this
venge of the Fallen” and resolution because I am
Nancy Reagan is 88 The group Little People of
point. Everybody knows the
“Ice Age: Dawn of the Di- America said Sunday the going to be asking for 1983: Work began on the final
nosaurs” tied with $42.5 money from the stimulus environmental document. importance of this project,”
BIRTHDAYS million each. Final num-
word is just as offensive as
package. That pushed the 1984: A decision was made to Taylor said.
racial slurs. The request “Mrs. Parker has been a
William Schallert, actor, 87 bers today will sort out was prompted by an April city engineering depart- combine the Finley extension
which movie actually came ment. I think they thought, with the East Lake Boulevard big influence. She made a
Ned Beatty, actor, 72 episode of NBC’s “Celebrity extension into one project. The big push, and she has done
in first. The crime saga Apprentice” that the group ‘Wait a minute — she might
Jeannie Seely, country singer, be serious.’ ” west end of the Finley a good job,” Taylor said.
“Public Enemies” debuted said was demeaning. In the extension was moved from I-65
69 at No. 3 with $26.2 million. The council passed a res-
episode, contestants cre- to 26th Street (U.S. 31) in North E-MAIL: gmacdonald@ bhamnews.com
Burt Ward, actor, 64 ated a detergent ad called olution in December asking Birmingham.
George W. Bush, former presi-
dent, 63 NEW HOME FOR “Jesse James and the Midg-
ets.” The contestants, in-
that the bypass be funded
by stimulus money.
1989: Preliminary engineering
completed of the combined
Sylvester Stallone, actor-di-
rector, 63
‘SLUMDOG’ STAR cluding Joan Rivers, sug- At her first meeting with
city staff, she said she told
project. Two events altered it:
The Birmingham Airport Monday, July 6, 2009
gested bathing little people
One of the impoverished them that not getting the Authority’s noise abatement
Fred Dryer, actor, 63 in the detergent and hang- buyout plan was made public, Volume 122, Edition 115
child stars from “Slumdog ing them to dry. bypass was not an option.
Grant Goodeve, actor, 57 Millionaire” which included North East Lake
“I said, ‘You have put all properties.
Nanci Griffith, country singer, will move these other projects in front
56 from his JON AND KATE of the bypass. What’s wrong 1997: A kickoff meeting was
held for the preliminary design.
50 Cent, rapper, 33
CELEBRATE
shanty with this?’ ”
home in Since January, Parker has 1998: All agreements between
one of made three trips to Wash- ALDOT and the city of
Although divorce papers Birmingham were signed, but
Mumbai’s ington, D.C., touting the
have been filed, Jon and the city requested a new
more bypass. alignment along 27th Avenue
Kate Gosselin have made
Azharuddin wretched good on their pledge to fo- A pitch to U.S. Rep. Artur North because of its industrial
Mohammed slums into a cus on their children, reu- Davis in April resulted in redevelopment plan.
new apart- his $10 million commit- 1999: Design completed of a
Ismail ment next niting for a July 4 picnic
with their eight kids, ac- ment to the bypass. less costly route featuring
week, his mother said Sun- “It has taken 150 percent bridges over an abandoned
Singer-actress day from India. “On Friday cording to People.com. At
of my energy. But think of quarry east of 27th Street, over
Della Reese is 78 we got the keys,” said their home in Wernersville, four sets of railroad tracks and
Pa., the family played vol- those people in Collegeville. over 29th Street; and bridges
Shameem Ismail, the Nothing has been done for
mother of child star Azha- leyball and picked blueber- over the CSX Railroad Crossing
ries for a cake that Kate was 40 years, and they have at the end of Vanderbilt Road.
TODAY IN ruddin Mohammed Is- been losing lives, and peo- 2001: Birmingham officials said
mail, who played the young baking, while Jon was seen
HISTORY Salim in the Oscar-winning lighting up a sparkler. The ple in their family have they were ready to proceed
event had been planned, as been losing lives. Now with the project.
July 6, 1777 hit. The $50,000 apartment
the stars of TLC’s “Jon & there’s excitement when I 2002: Preliminary engineering
During the American Revolu- was provided by the Jai Ho
trust set up by “Slumdog Kate Plus 8” agreed weeks talk with them about the agreement signed.
tion, British forces captured bypass,” Parker said.
Fort Ticonderoga in New York. Millionaire” director ago to set aside their differ- 2003: ALDOT approved
Danny Boyle and producer ences for the holiday. In 2000, an elderly couple mapping and Volkert
1885 died inside their burning Engineering submitted
Christian Colson. From wire reports
French scientist Louis Pasteur Collegeville house as a fire preliminary alignments. It was
successfully tested an anti-ra- truck sat two blocks away, discovered that federal high-
bies vaccine on a boy who had blocked by a train. priority project funding was not
been bitten by an infected dog. authorized requiring a new right
Schoolchildren can be seen of way agreement between the
1928 scampering between train city and the state.
The first all-talking feature, cars headed to and from
“Lights of New York,” had its 2005: Federal high-priority
school. There have been at funding authorized.
gala premiere in New York.
least two incidents where a
1944 2009: Design hearing scheduled
child lost a limb when a for July 23.
An estimated 168 people died in train began to move.
a fire that broke out during a “I am truly a fighter. You 2010: Complete preliminary
performance in the main tent design.
of the Ringling Bros. and Bar-
have got to believe in your-
self and know that if it’s for 2010-2011: Complete final
num & Bailey Circus in Hartford, project plans, buy right of way
Conn. (Among the survivors you, you are going to get it,”
and relocate utilities.
was future actor Charles Nel- she said.
son Reilly, then age 13.) Source: Metropolitan Planning
AP Organization
1945 Frustration
President Harry S. Truman
signed an order establishing the Who needs Van Halen? Vivian Starks was born in
Collegeville, moved away
she said. “They just think
F
Medal of Freedom. that we should be used to it.
ormer Van Halen members, singer Sammy Hagar, and returned 12 years ago. You never get used to it.”
1957 right, and bassist Michael Anthony, left, of the “It is hard to express how
Althea Gibson became the first
Starks said Parker told
hard rock band Chickenfoot perform at the 43nd frustrating it is knowing Collegeville residents when
black tennis player to win a that if something happened
Wimbledon singles title, de- Montreux Jazz Festival in Montreux, Switzerland, she ran for council that she
to my family, my friends would push for the bypass.
feating Darlene Hard 6-3, 6-2. late Saturday.
and my neighbors, we “That was one of her main
might not could get help,” concerns,” Starks said.
she said. “Once a train
LOTTERIES comes in, you have got to
Finley funding
find a way out. Then you
Winning numbers selected TENNESSEE jackpot is $30 million. are going out of your way Metropolitan Planning
Sunday in the Florida, Georgia Cash 3: 3-0-0 FLORIDA using up gas, and the price Organization Director Bill
and Tennessee lotteries: Lucky Sum: 3 Fantasy 5: 3-25-14-31-30 of gas is very expensive.” Foisy said there are no
Cash 4: 6-0-7-7 Lotto: 2-6-18-5-37-42
FLORIDA Starks said politicians funding issues to prevent
Lucky Sum: 20 No winner; new estimated
Cash 3 midday: 6-0-8 have promised almost every the first phase of the Finley
jackpot is $11 million.
Cash 3 evening: 7-5-9 year to build the Finley by- extension being built.
Play 4 midday: 1-4-1-5 GEORGIA
These Saturday results were not Cash 4 evening: 8-1-1-2 pass. That phase will cost $32
Play 4 evening: 2-5-1-5
Fantasy 5: not available in all editions Sunday because of Fantasy 5: 1-18-5-36-21 “Then we read in the pa- million and extend to Fred
deadlines: Win For Life: 1-5-6-7-11-38 per that the Finley bypass Shuttlesworth Drive. De-
GEORGIA
POWERBALL Free Ball: 26 money was used for a sign and the purchase of
Cash 3 midday: 3-6-8
Cash 3 evening: 2-4-9 (Florida and Tennessee) On the Net: www.flalottery.com; flyover somewhere else or right of way could take a
Cash 4 midday: 0-6-6-4 4-9-22-41-44 www.georgialottery.com; whatever. They kept putting couple of years, said Lance
Cash 4 evening: not available Powerball: 14 www.tnlottery.com. us off like we were nobody, Taylor, head of planning
Fantasy 5: not available No winner. New estimated Source: The Associated Press and it’s really irritating,” for the Birmingham AL-