The Old Local Saloon

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.Cullman Tribune:

Last weekend, Cullman celebrated its German heritage, and without a doubt, beer was part of the Oktoberfest celebration. For years, alcohol sales were prohibited in Cullman, but beer finally debuted at Oktoberfest in 2011. While beer is a more recent addition to the party, beer and wine are very much a part of Cullman's history.

In the 1880s, Cullman was home to 11 saloons, according to Cullman County Museum Director Drew Green, who said, "John Cullmann came here, and he picked this area because it reminded him of Frankweiler, Germany. Frankweiler actually translates to the 'French people' because it was probably in France at some time. They are known for wine. The first time I went over there, I am thinking 'German beer,' well, you couldn't get a beer. You could get red wine, white wine or sparkling water."

Cullman once had many vineyards, and a 6,000-barrel wine cellar was located near the depot, from which wine was shipped.

Said Green, "Cullman was famous for that."

The saloons served wine and eventually beer, Green added. "They were German, so it was part of their culture. I haven't read anything where there were any kind of serious problems."

The Exchange Saloon was operated by J.A. McMinn and was located along First Avenue Southwest where the parking deck for Top of the Town is now. The Palace Saloon stood where Bob Wallace Appliance is today. William Richter and Al Richter ran an establishment on the Richter Corner of First Avenue and Third Street Southwest.

The Farm Saloon was run by Fuller and Sawyers advertised in The Cullman Gazette:

If you want a drink, my boy,

And never need a lawyer,

Spend your stuff at the Farm Saloon

'Tis run by Fuller and Sawyer.



At Cullman, Alabama,

The thriving, growing town,

Fuller and Sawyer will fix you up,

If you pay the money down.

Prohibition happened, but there were known places in Cullman where alcohol was still available.

Green explained, "The monks made beer and Mr. Stiefelmeyer had a place. So, you know, it wasn't like it was dry. You just couldn't buy it."

When Prohibition ended, Cullman returned to being wet, but by then, many non-Germans had moved into the area.

"That's the period when you hear people talking about, 'We couldn't walk down the street because people would be passed out drunk!'" Green laughed.

During that time, saloons and hotels were plentiful, with folks from out of town coming for a little bit of fun and excitement.

In a 1998 New York Times article, "Cullman Journal: Hold Back the Barrel, It's (Dry) Oktoberfest Time," writer Kevin Sack wrote, "There was plenty of drinking here in the old days, with saloons and a traveling schnapps wagon that sold beer for a dime."

There was even a spaniel dog who "worked" for Richter's Saloon who would retrieve beers for customers.

As World War II was beginning, according to Green, the women of Cullman, along with the Baptist preachers, decided to put an end to Cullman's partying and drinking and passed laws making Cullman dry. The city remained dry for more than 70 years until 2011. From 1982 until 2011, Cullman's Oktoberfest was a beerless event… well, sort of.

Sack wrote in his 1998 article, "Several years ago, the owners of Stiefelmeyer Deli had smuggled in a keg of beer for an Oktoberfest party, drawing a large crowd until police arrived to haul the owners to jail. And, even today, several residents said that it is not uncommon for Oktoberfest celebrants to disappear mysteriously for a few moments after explaining that they need to check on something in their cars."

Green shared, "Mr. Leigeber was a real character; he sold alcohol, and when it was illegal he would do elaborate things like, you would go in his place and there would be one of those big tool boxes sitting on the floor. Nobody would think anything of it, but if you tried to pick that toolbox up, it was nailed to the floor. If you opened it up, it was hollow in the bottom and that's where you'd get your beer."

The sneaking around is not necessary these days, as Cullman once again embraces its German roots and rolls out real kegs for its annual Oktoberfest celebration.

Last weekend, Cullman celebrated its German heritage, and without a doubt, beer was part of the Oktoberfest celebration. For years, alcohol sales were prohibited in Cullman, but beer finally debuted at Oktoberfest in 2011. While beer is a more recent addition to the party, beer and wine are very much a part of Cullman's history.

In the 1880s, Cullman was home to 11 saloons, according to Cullman County Museum Director Drew Green, who said, "John Cullmann came here, and he picked this area because it reminded him of Frankweiler, Germany. Frankweiler actually translates to the 'French people' because it was probably in France at some time. They are known for wine. The first time I went over there, I am thinking 'German beer,' well, you couldn't get a beer. You could get red wine, white wine or sparkling water."

Cullman once had many vineyards, and a 6,000-barrel wine cellar was located near the depot, from which wine was shipped.

Said Green, "Cullman was famous for that."

The saloons served wine and eventually beer, Green added. "They were German, so it was part of their culture. I haven't read anything where there were any kind of serious problems."

The Exchange Saloon was operated by J.A. McMinn and was located along First Avenue Southwest where the parking deck for Top of the Town is now. The Palace Saloon stood where Bob Wallace Appliance is today. William Richter and Al Richter ran an establishment on the Richter Corner of First Avenue and Third Street Southwest.

The Farm Saloon was run by Fuller and Sawyers advertised in The Cullman Gazette:

If you want a drink, my boy,

And never need a lawyer,

Spend your stuff at the Farm Saloon

'Tis run by Fuller and Sawyer.



At Cullman, Alabama,

The thriving, growing town,

Fuller and Sawyer will fix you up,

If you pay the money down.

Prohibition happened, but there were known places in Cullman where alcohol was still available.

Green explained, "The monks made beer and Mr. Stiefelmeyer had a place. So, you know, it wasn't like it was dry. You just couldn't buy it."

When Prohibition ended, Cullman returned to being wet, but by then, many non-Germans had moved into the area.

"That's the period when you hear people talking about, 'We couldn't walk down the street because people would be passed out drunk!'" Green laughed.

During that time, saloons and hotels were plentiful, with folks from out of town coming for a little bit of fun and excitement.

In a 1998 New York Times article, "Cullman Journal: Hold Back the Barrel, It's (Dry) Oktoberfest Time," writer Kevin Sack wrote, "There was plenty of drinking here in the old days, with saloons and a traveling schnapps wagon that sold beer for a dime."

There was even a spaniel dog who "worked" for Richter's Saloon who would retrieve beers for customers.

As World War II was beginning, according to Green, the women of Cullman, along with the Baptist preachers, decided to put an end to Cullman's partying and drinking and passed laws making Cullman dry. The city remained dry for more than 70 years until 2011. From 1982 until 2011, Cullman's Oktoberfest was a beerless event… well, sort of.

Sack wrote in his 1998 article, "Several years ago, the owners of Stiefelmeyer Deli had smuggled in a keg of beer for an Oktoberfest party, drawing a large crowd until police arrived to haul the owners to jail. And, even today, several residents said that it is not uncommon for Oktoberfest celebrants to disappear mysteriously for a few moments after explaining that they need to check on something in their cars."

Green shared, "Mr. Leigeber was a real character; he sold alcohol, and when it was illegal he would do elaborate things like, you would go in his place and there would be one of those big tool boxes sitting on the floor. Nobody would think anything of it, but if you tried to pick that toolbox up, it was nailed to the floor. If you opened it up, it was hollow in the bottom and that's where you'd get your beer."

The sneaking around is not necessary these days, as Cullman once again embraces its German roots and rolls out real kegs for its annual Oktoberfest celebration.
 

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That's a great story, real history. Thanks. How do you get the information on the history about a town? All I know about my area is my road is the old stagecoach trail headed north and south. One of the old large houses was the stagecoach stop or lay over. The old timers are gone.
 
Do they sing the Ballad of Big Jim Folsom ?
I always liked this verse-
Now, he sits in the legislature
Making laws for all mankind
While she walks the streets of Cullman, Alabama
Selling grapes from her grapevine.
 
And the 'Sweet Sweet wine song by big jims buddy roland racehorse johnson


Longtime Garden City mayor Roland Johnson dead at 85

Evan Belanger Feb 6, 2007

A local man who wrote a hit county song, played semi-professional baseball, helped an Alabama governor get elected and was the longest-standing town mayor in state history was lost this week.

Roland "Racehorse" Johnson died of pulmonary lung disease Monday at Cullman Regional Medical Center. He was 85.

Those who knew him reflected Monday on a life that touched many and accomplished much.

"It's not easy to come up with a paragraph in 30 minutes to describe my grandpa," said Johnson's grandson, Jaythan Johnson. "He was a man of many talents. There really needs to be a book written about him."

In his early life, Johnson played center field for a semi-professional baseball team, but was forced to retire early due to injury.

According to his grandson, Johnson would likely have gone professional if not for the injury.

In the 1940s, Johnson started his music career, becoming the lead member of The Strawberry Pickers.

According to Janette Folsom, wife of the late Gov. Jim Folsom, the bluegrass band's rendition of "Ya'll Come," a song performed by many country artists over the years, helped her husband get elected in 1946.

The song was chosen as the campaign song after "Big Jim" saw it performed by Bing Crosby, Folsom said. The next day, Johnson was sent to Nashville for the sheet music and told to learn it.

"It spread like wild fire," Folsom said. "Everyone was singing it."

Even late in his life, Johnson was reported to greet people with a standard "Ya'll Come" catch phrase.

In addition to campaigning, Johnson released a number of songs on Decca and Brunswick record labels throughout the 1950s, eventually leading him to be inducted into the Alabama Music Hall of Fame.

He is famed for writing "I Traded Her Heart (For Deep Purple Wine)" which reached No. 25 when it debuted on Billboard Magazine's County Chart in 1959.

Johnson was also a frequent guest on the "Country Boy Eddie" early morning music show, which broadcast on WBRC in Birmingham. It is the same show country singer Tammy Wynette got her start on.

In his political career, Johnson was very active in the Democratic party, campaigning for both senior and junior Folsoms and former Attorney General and Lieutenant Governor Bill Baxley — who was Johnson's batboy during his playing days.

"He had a great passion for the people, and he was a very strong yellow-dog Democrat," said Jana Shelton, co-chair of the Cullman County Democratic Party.

Locally, Johnson served nearly 10 terms as mayor of Garden City before poor health forced him to retire in 2002. At the time, he was the longest-standing town mayor in state history.

According to current Mayor Harden Davis, who worked with Johnson from 1993 until his retirement, the town owes much to the man today. Davis said Johnson was influential in bringing a sewer system to the town.

"All the odds were against him. Everyone told him it couldn't be done, but he did it," Davis said.

Other accomplishments credited to Johnson include the location of Morton Buildings in Garden City, the town's first industrial plant, and the location of a Champion Lumber Yard in the town.

Davis said Johnson was also influential in expanding water lines past the town limits and getting storm sirens and street lights for the town.

According to Rep. Neal Morrison, D-Cullman, Johnson was influential in his own political career as well.

"Roland helped teach me about life in general, but about politics most of all," Morrison said. "He taught me to go out and shake as many hands as possible, but also to always to be true to myself and never to lie to my constituents."



"He was Truly a man of the people. He truly cared about his community and his position in the community. He was always concerned about what he could do for others," Johnson's grandson said Monday.
 
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