A trip to Birmingham, Alabama - June 2000

My mother and sister and I drove from Greensboro, NC to Birmingham, Alabama in June to help celebrate the 50th wedding anniversary of our cousin Tom Caldwell and his wife Betty. My sister Betty and I had never met these relatives, but we had heard stories about them all our lives. I had been thinking of proposing a trip to Alabama for the past couple years, and the invitation from Tom and Betty's daughters was too good to pass up.

My mother's father's family was from Alabama, and Tom is her first cousin. Mom and her twin sister Henrietta were born in Washington DC and grew up in Washington, Knoxville, Winston-Salem, and on the Isle of Pines, Cuba, but made many visits to Alabama as young girls. Tom's sister Susan Catherine is closer to my Mom's age and they remember playing together during these visits (and being obliged to let Tom tag along, even though he was several years younger and a boy).

This house in Shelby County was built in 1841 by my great-great-great grandparents, Samuel and Ann Wallace.

My cousin Joe Wallace is renovating the interior of the house.

As you can see, it needs a lot of work.

The attic was cleaned out pretty good.

All that was there was this old sewing machine.

Here's Tom in front of the house.

Tom took this picture of my sister Betty and me.

Images last updated Tuesday 7/18.

This house in Shelby County was built in 1841 by my great-great-great grandparents, Samuel and Ann Wallace.
My cousin Joe Wallace is renovating the interior of the house.	As you can see, it needs a lot of work.
The attic was cleaned out pretty good.	All that was there was this old sewing machine.
Here's Tom in front of the house.	Tom took this picture of my sister Betty and me.