Monya: Though I haven't found any connection in any of the wonderful articles you've recently posted to the list, I think they are very interesting and was wondering if it is possible to have them added to the Fayette Co., AL GenWeb page???? I think that they would be a wonderful addition for other folks interested in Fayette Co., AL history who perhaps aren't members of the list. Thanks so much for taking the time to type and share them with the rest of us! Allison M. Saxman ----- Original Message ----- From: "Monya Havekost" <MonyaH@conterra.com> To: <ALFAYETT-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Monday, November 06, 2000 6:40 PM Subject: [ALFAYETT] BYRD Community article > The Journal-Record - Bicentennial Edition > Thursday, July 1, 1976 > Section A, Page 4 > > BYRD COMMUNITY WAS NAMED AFTER MAN WHO DONATED LANDS FOR FIRST SCHOOL > > BYRD Community was named after Mr. W. A. BYRD who gave the land for the > first BYRD School grounds. > > Early settlers in the community were the CANTRELLS, REALS, RIGGSES, > WATSONS, NORTHINGTONS, RUDICELLS, WHITEHEADS and SCOGGINS. Some of these > early settlers came from Georgia and South Carolina. Many descendants of > these early settlers live in the present-day BYRD Community. > > The roads throughout the Community have been grealty(sic) improved in the > last few years. Highway 17, a modern paved road, runs through the center of > the community. Other farm to market roads are also paved. Transportation is > by privately owned cars and trucks. > > An early wool carding factory, operated by water power, was in operation > for ten or fifteen years. Two hands handled the factory work. For the > carding, the operators received wool or money toll. The wool was put in > bales and later sold. > > Today as formerly, agriculture is the principal occupation of the citizens > of BYRD Community. Cotton and corn are the two main crops. Many farmers are > supplementing their farm incomes by raising beef cattle and hogs. Some are > engaged in dairying. > > Two mil routes run through the Community each day picking up the milk and > carrying it to market. Some farmers are raising broilers for the market. > Some men and many women are employed in the garment factories located in > Detroit and Hamilton. > > There are four Churches in the Community, Rudicell, Ballard, Cooper, and > Mount Joy. Other churches are located just outside of the community > boundary lines. All of these serve to meet the religious needs of the > people. > > The BYRD Community today is one of the most progresssive(sic) rural > Communities in the state. In 1948, a Community Improvement Club was > organized, and it has done much to improve living conditions and > appearanc.e(sic) The club sponsored such projects as: > 1. Keeping Cemeteries Clean > 2. Painting Church houses and putting out shrubbery > 3. Erecting signs for churches and boundary lines > 4. Improving and lettering mailboxes > 5. Build a Club House > 6. Established roadside parks and picnic areas. > 7. Contributed to the Red Cross. > 8. Distributed baskets to underprivileged children. > > >