It has been a good luck to come across pieces about Andalusia the history of Andalusia written by Ms. B. B. Padgett who penned numerous histories during his time which included First Baptist Church history. Let me introduce you to Bertie B. Padgett who was born 11 miles away from Andalusia. Gus Bryan in his 1976 Covington County History said that Padgett relocated from Andalusia at the age of 16 in. Padgett had a great memory and could recall traveling back and forth between Andalusia along with his dad in a wagon during the latter part of the 1800s and into the early 1900s.
in 1952 Padgett got a deserved recognition during dinner held at the Scherf Memorial Hall celebrating his retirement from the post office, after 40 years as mail carrier for rural areas. Padgett was a Covington born native of the county, Padgett came from the vicinity of Conecuh Church on RFD 1, which was the route was his route for many years as mail carrier.
With an buggy and a horse, Padgettentered the postal service on November 16th 1912. The early mail services were made on Route 1 on the Route 1 called Falco. He was transferred in 1916 into the Andalusia office and started carrying mail via Route 1 and remained there for the next 36 years. In those years, he amounted to the use of one vehicle per year. In the final 20 years the driver traveled on average 250,000 miles in a single year.
It is believed that the postal carriers from Andalusia came into 1915 thought to have been among the first motorized entity for the entire state in Alabama. The five vehicles that were used on five routes of five Andalusia routeswere Model T Fords. Jim F. Brawner was the Postmaster..
Padgett as well as his partner, Former Miss Melissa Lundy of the Salem Community and celebrated their 50th anniversary of marriage in the year 1960. An “golden” celebration was hosted at their house, the 211 Second Avenue hosted by their grown children Cecil and Frances.
Padgett remembers an incident that took place in the Conecuh River when he was aged around eight years old. It was the time of a push in the year 2000 to obtain federal funding to construct a nine-foot channel along the river that would facilitate the river’s transports between Pensacola towards Andalusia. Over the years, logs were carried down the river from Pensacola from Pensacola by log-logging crews.
Steamboats, which was tiny river boat approximately 44 feet long with twin smokestacks, and was driven by a massive paddle wheel. It got stuck. The pilot’s cabin was situated high up in on the front and the captaincould be visible controlling the craft. Over that the cargo deck was areas to the passengersand the crew. The river’s flow was slow as crew members were required to cut trees with overhangs to allow access to the high smoking stacks of black.
Padgett claimed that the incident was discussed for many years. He didn’t know if the vessel was transporting cargo or was conducting an experiment. There were docks in the area that could handle any the incoming cargo, as old timers told. It was a remarkable experience for a boy of the age to gaze upon the steamboat which was tied up at the location that was referred to as Padgett’s Cut Off in the area where the shoals kept the boat from reaching River Falls. Later on, as Padgett was able to relate his story, he would describe it the experience as “incredulous,” he stated that it was the sole steam boat he’d has ever heard of going all the way to River Falls on the Conecuh.
The following Remember When column will include one of B. B. Padgett’s accounts of the establishment of the Montezuma Community on the Conecuh River, “the seedling from which Andalusia and Covington County have grown to their current position.” He wrote that “many people are unaware or have know nothing about the significance of this community to the residents in the Andalusia region.” He also wrote that he hoped that he had put down some information that might be useful for the general public. This was a very clear statement because that was the writer’s goal as well.
Sue Bass Wilson, AHS Class 1965, former choir music instructor and a local real estate agent She has been a long-time part of the Covington Historical Society. She can be reached at [email protected].
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