TUSCUMBIA– On Saturday, November 1, the pioneer log cabin that reputedly served as a stagecoach stop in the early days of Tuscumbia’s history, will come alive with music, food, crafts and living history demonstrations in celebration of the founding of the city, first known as Coldwater.
The Founders Day celebration, hosted by the City of Tuscumbia and Colbert County Historical Landmarks Foundation (CCHLF), will take place from 10 am until 3 pm at the Coldwater Stage Coach Stop, which is the log cabin located at 300 N. Dickson Street, across from the Police Station, in Tuscumbia.
The event is free and open to the public.
The annual Founders Day celebration will include live music from the Cane Creek Cliff Dwellers, spinning and textile
weaving by the Shoals Weavers Guild and chair caning and basket weaving by Glen Rikard. Tours of the log cabin, formerly an important stage coach stop, will be offered between 10 am and 3 pm. Books published by local historians will be sold, along with chicken stew and baked goods.
Mug Life food truck uses only a premium brand of coffee from Central America that is 100% organic, no GMOs, no pesticides, and low acidity. They will sell coffee, lattes, frappes, cold brew, fruit teas, and smoothies.
Historical tours of the city led by local historians will be offered at 10 am and 2 pm. A walking tour of downtown Tuscumbia will begin at 10 am at the log cabin. A trolley tour sponsored by Colbert Tourism will depart at 2 pm from the corner of 6th and Main streets.
“We are honored to partner with the City of Tuscumbia to host our annual Founders Day celebration of our beloved town,” CCHLF president Lorie Johnson said. “We invite everyone to join us for a fun day of music, history, food and fellowship.”
Tuscumbia was settled by American citizens from Tennessee around 1815, shortly before Alabama was recognized as one of the United States. These early settlers worked closely with the Chickasaw Indians, who were already living in the area.
By 1817 there were already houses erected and business being conducted, making Tuscumbia the oldest of the Quad Cities in the Shoals.
CCHLF, keeper of the log cabin, hopes that hosting the Founders’ Day event will provide an opportunity for citizens to visit the small museum, which is furnished to reflect the lives of these pioneers, said Ninon Parker, CCHLF president emerita.
Michael Dickson is considered the first settler of Tuscumbia. He was greeted and made welcome upon his arrival by Chickasaw Chief Tuscumbia. It was fitting that when the final name for the town was chosen by popular vote, the chief’s name was selected. Dickson is said to have operated a hostelry in a series of log cabins on Spring Hill, of which this cabin may be the only remaining one. Reports that it served as a stagecoach stop seem to support this theory.
It was donated in 1983 by Charlie Carmichael to the CCHLF.
The Cane Creek Cliff Dwellers are a 5-piece group that play an assortment of Blue Grass, Old Time music, folk, country, and popular rock tunes with a twist.
“We invite you to step inside the log cabin and experience the past,” Parker said. “Spinners and weavers will be demonstrating their craftsmanship. In addition, there will be homemade chicken stew and a bake sale, raising funds to provide for the preservation of the log cabin and other historic sites in the county.”
Media Release/Maryanne Floyd
Director of Communications
Colbert County Tourism Photos by Sheri Wiggins
