Wes Modes
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Saltillo’s Ghost Marina
Not sure this marina in Saltillo is going to have wi-fi. Saltillo’s ghost marina.
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Oh god. We’ve entered the land of relentless biting Horseflies. No one is safe
Oh god. We’ve entered the land of relentless biting Horseflies. No one is safe
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The generosity of strangers: Jesse interrupted his search for Pokémon to give us a ride to get gas and ice
The generosity of strangers: Jesse interrupted his search for Pokémon to give us a ride to get gas and ice
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Roger Lard, fisherman near Savannah TN
Roger Lard, fisherman near Savannah TN, trotline trays in the foreground and live catfish tank in the background
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Living the shantyboaters celebrity lifestyle upriver at a local party beach
After our thorough ten-minute tour of Savannah Tennessee, we went upriver to a kind of local party spot sandbar where we were regaled with stories, loaded up with beer, given hats with local logos, and generally lived the shantyboaters celebrity lifestyle. People asked lots of curious questions and enjoyed a snort or two of Dr…
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Shantyboat bloody marys for three days provided by generous folks
Shantyboat bloody marys for three days provided by our generous hosts upriver, Mark & Rachel. Thanks sister Heather
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Jabbok Refuge Center Church service just a few doors down from the Tennessee River Museum
Jabbok Refuge Center Church service. Just a few doors down from the museum where Black stories have been erased
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At Tennessee River Museum in Savannah TN the history of Black people is completely erased
Tennessee River Museum in Savannah TN, like many river museums I’ve visited that extensively explore area history including the geology, native people, steamboat era, musseling & fishing, and a great deal about the civil war without ever once mentioning slavery, emancipation or African Americans in any way. Black people are completely missing from the story…
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The landscape where one of the great battles of the American Civil War was fought
Pittsburg Landing, the landscape where one of the great battles of the American Civil War was fought, the Battle of Shiloh. Confederate forces surprise attacked a Union division lead by Ulysses Grant working their way up the Tennessee River. The Union Army prevailed only because they were reinforced by several divisions on day two
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The Delta Mariner that carries rocket parts back and forth between Cape Canaveral and Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsvile
The Delta Mariner a vessel unlike any we’ve seen passes by us. We think it is the huge ship that carries rocket parts back and forth between Cape Canaveral and Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsvile
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Rooster’s Dogs & Burgers surrounded by hundreds of boats attending a strange boat-in only concert in Northern Mississippi
Rooster’s Dogs & Burgers surrounded by hundreds of boats attending a strange boat-in only concert in Northern Mississippi-in
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Shantyboat out of place at the Grand Harbor on Pickwick Lake
Shantyboat out of place at the grand Harbor on Pickwick Lake, surrounded by plastic people, huge expensive boats that never leave the harbor and party barges stirring the Tombigbee River into a confusion of high swells
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The Alabama countryside is green and lush and textured
The Alabama countryside is green and lush and textured
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Dr. Adrian Nankivell excellent ships mate on a morning johnboat run
Dr. Adrian Nankivell excellent ships mate on a morning johnboat run
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Hazel got scalded when an enormous yacht knocked a pot of boiling water off the stove
Hazel got scalded when an enormous yacht came by close and fast while we were anchored and knocked a pot of boiling water off the stove. She yelped and cried and we iced her foot for a half hour. Probably not seriously hurt but it makes me hate irresponsible boaters even more. Big yachts are…
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A Butch Anthony joins Jesus in the Jeremiah Daniels Executive Washroom Gallery
A Butch Anthony joins Jesus in the Jeremiah Daniels Executive Washroom Gallery aboard the Shantyboat Dotty. Along with works by Maxine and Sasha Stonebloom
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Captured by pirates!
Captured by pirates! Mark and Rachel board the shantyboat and force us to eat good food and drink wine and suck up air conditioning and wifi and have a bath
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Tori Bailey of WZZA Soul Radio
We very nearly interviewed Tori Bailey, possibly the busiest person in the Shoals area. Tori runs WZZA, the only Black radio station in North Alabama, started by her mom and dad in 1972. Tori is also president of the Northwest Alabama NAACP and VP of this and board member of that. Tori organizes the world famous WC…
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Alabama WHNT: California man lives on a ‘Shanty Boat’ documenting Florence residents
It’s one of the oddest sights you might see on the river this summer. Making its way through the Florence Harbor on Friday, Wes Modes captains his hand-made vessel.
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Anita Cobb knows her family history going back before emancipation
Interview with Anita Cobb, who knows her detailed family history going back five generations to before emancipation
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Robert Francil, 4th generation fisherman
Interview with Robert Francil, 4th generation Florence commercial fisherman
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Adrian fishes totally legally on the Tennessee River near Florence
Adrian fishes totally legally on the Tennessee River near Florence
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Looking for a used mandolin
Hey Florence friends: Adrian is looking for a used mandolin so he can play music while we drift down river. Where can we find such a beast? Also we need a decent fillet knife and a sharpener. Point us in the right direction?
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Emma Lee Dean-Dykes Troup, openly trans woman in small town Alabama
Interview with Emma Lee Dean-Dyke Troup, openly trans woman in Florence AL
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Bob Perry, Chickasaw elder and Annie Perry, knowledgable about the history of the area
Interview with Bob & Annie Perry at Tuscumbia Landing. Bob is a Chickasaw elder and Annie is knowledgable about the history of the area
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An interview with artist Butch Anthony literally sitting in Cypress Creek
An interview with artist Butch Anthony literally sitting in Cypress Creek
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Butch takes us to the Secret Tuesday Florence Flea Market
Butch takes us to the Secret Tuesday Florence Flea Market
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The Annie out of Lake Wheeler comes to visit us
The Annie out of Lake Wheeler comes to visit us while we are in Florence Harbor Marina. Beautiful homemade boat similar in construction if not in design to the shantyboat
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Robert Francil known locally as the fish guy
Robert Francil known locally as the fish guy. The sign in his yard says Fish For Sale with another little sign: “Fish stories told here
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Most brilliant idea ever. A used bookstore at the Florence public library
Most brilliant idea ever. A used bookstore at the Florence public library
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Shantyboat Dotty near the Old Railroad Bridge in Florence AL
Shantyboat Dotty near the Old Railroad Bridge in Florence AL. Photo by Jim Day
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Wes Modes at Secret History gallery talk
Wes Modes at Secret History gallery talk. Photo by @christi.britten
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Full house at the Kennedy Douglass Center for the Secret History gallery talk
Full house at the Kennedy Douglass Center for the Secret History gallery talk. Thanks to KDarts for making this happen
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Kathryn Boyd Rice, 94, regaled us with stories of life in Sheffield AL
Kathryn Boyd Rice, 94, regaled us with stories of life in Sheffield AL and as an illustrator and artist. She designed the cotton logo for the industry still used today
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One of the last mom and pop stores
After World War II around 1955, my dad got a job with TVA. He would have made a lot more money but he wanted to do something else. So he opened up a small country store in Courtland Alabama.
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The modesty of southerners: Women hide behind their tablets and phones whenever the shantyboat goes by
The modesty of southerners: Women hide behind their tablets and phones whenever the shantyboat goes by
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New ships mate Age and I celebrate his arrival with a shot of Dr Thunders peachy fire whiskey
New ships mate Age and I celebrate his arrival with a shot of Dr Thunders peachy fire whiskey
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Susan Stewart’s grandpa was chief clerk on a packet boat around 1910
Susan Stewart’s grandpa was chief clerk on a packet boat around 1910
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Secret History shantyboat open house at Florence Harbor Marina
Secret History shantyboat open house at Florence Harbor Marina
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Secret History at the Florence Kennedy Douglass Center for the Arts this weekend
Secret History at the Florence Kennedy Douglass Center for the Arts this weekend
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In a land of mostly dry fountains, Florence got it going on
In a land where the previous generations’ civic hardscaping have devolved into dry fountains most everywhere, Florence Alabama’s got it going on
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Join us for a Secret History exhibition at Kennedy Douglass Center for the Arts in Florence AL. Opening reception Friday at 5:30pm and artist talk Sunday 1-3pm. Shantyboat Open House at Florence Harbor Marina Friday 2-4pm, Saturday 10am-4pm, Sunday and Monday 4pm-7pm.#shantyboat #art #alabama #exhibitions #socialpractice (http://ift.tt/2aRiGzw)
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Family Shantyboat Photos
One of the many folks we met in Florence Alabama shared these photos of their family shantyboat with us.
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Times Daily: Telling secrets: California artist gathers river stories from a shanty
Times Daily By Monica Collier For four days, Friday through Monday, the Kennedy-Douglass Center for the Arts and Florence Harbor and Marina will host Wes Modes and “A Secret History of American River People.” Modes, an artist and oral historian from Santa Cruz, California, has been traveling American rivers in a 1940s era recreated shanty…
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The Boxcar Cafe in Sheffield. Lots of old history here
The Boxcar Cafe in Sheffield. Lots of old history here
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Welcomed by a whole brood of curious kids in Florence
Welcomed by a whole brood of curious kids in Florence
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Tennessee River trash pouring out of the mouth of Sweetwater Creek
Tennessee River covered in trash ironically pouring out of the mouth of Sweetwater Creek. Perhaps @ijamsnaturecenter should introduce @florencealabama to their trash booms
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The most curious lock crew we’ve ever encountered at Wilson Lock
The most curious lock crew we’ve ever encountered at Wilson Lock
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Tiny tiny shantyboat 93 feet down at the bottom of Wilson Lock and Dam
Tiny tiny shantyboat 93 feet down at the bottom of Wilson Lock and Dam. Thanks to Gino, one of the lock staff, for the photo
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Florence Courier-Journal: The River’s Life and People
A rustic recreated 1940s shanty boat, a daring river voyage, and a meticulous archive of river stories are all part of a multi-year art and history project, A Secret History of American River People. Santa Cruz, California artist Wes Modes is currently floating his homemade houseboat down the historic Tennessee River.
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Lockmaster at Wheeler Dam checking out project postcard
Lockmaster at Wheeler Dam checking out project postcard
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Cara introduced me to the concept of Meat and Two
Cara introduced me to the concept of Meat and 2. Meat and 2 sides
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When we boated up a creek to this little town, you’ll never believe what happened.
We boated up a creek as close to a nearby little town as we could get, still a 20 minute walk away to get much-needed propane and fuel. I bet Jeremiah that we could get there in less than 20 minutes hitchhiking, even with the wait. The moment we stepped into the road, before we’d…
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Crossing the expanse of Tennessee River lakes often feels endless
Crossing the expanse of Tennessee River lakes often feels endless
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Waiting for the crowds to subside, cocktail hour and dominos with Jeremiah
Waiting for the crowds to subside, cocktail hour and dominos with @dudicusmaximus
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A Morning with Zachary Nelson
We ran into Zach Nelson while we were docked at Brickyard Marina. He brought over his 72 year-old grandfather Joe who told us stories while Zach played our shantyboat guitar.
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In the far away land of Alabama there are electrical outlets in public places
In the far away land of Alabama there are electrical outlets in public places such as parks, buildings and patios. Apparently they are not terrified that homeless people will charge their cell phones. People here don’t believe us when we say that this doesn’t happen where we come from
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We thought we might fit under the train bridge at Decatur AL
Train bridge Decatur AL. We thought at first we might fit under. Not so much
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Passing the time with the song game on the way to Decatur
Passing the time with the song game on the way to Mussel Shoals
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Do you know people in Decatur AL we should talk to?
Do you know people in Decatur AL we should talk to?
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Cocktail hour! Next on the Shantyboat Guys!
Cocktail hour! Next on the Shantyboat Guys with @dudicusmaximus
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Thanks to Ditto Landing for hosting us in Huntsville
Thanks to Ditto Landing for hosting us in Huntsville, especially director Brandi Quick
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@dudicusmaximus finally noticed the shantyboat head dedication. Three years with the project
@dudicusmaximus finally noticed the shantyboat head dedication. Three years with the project
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Apparently we were in USA Today (Thanks Joan Raspo)
Apparently we were in USA Today (Thanks Joan Raspo)
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WAFF Huntsville: Shanty floating down the TN seeking hidden histories of river people
Get close enough to the Tennessee river, you can hear it’s story. But you can only learn so much, standing on the shore. If you’ve been on the banks the past week in North Alabama, you may have noticed a tiny shack floating down the river. No matter what you may think about the odd…
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Here’s @gooddoghazel perched on the side of a cliff at Painted Bluff
Here’s @gooddoghazel perched on the side of a cliff at Painted Bluff
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Sonnie Hereford, Civil Rights Pioneer
We were fortunate to be able to talk to Sonnie Hereford IV, who at the age of 5 was the first child to integrate public schools not just in Huntsville, but in Alabama.
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Chef Forest Wilson and daughter Yasmin who run a vegan & veggie food truck at Lowe Mill in Huntsville
Chef Forest Wilson and daughter Yasmin who run a vegan & veggie food truck at Lowe Mill in Huntsville
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World War 2 ammunition bunkers and 50s Cold War fallout shelters on Redstone Arsenal
World War 2 ammunition bunkers and 50s Cold War fallout shelters on Redstone Arsenal
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@gooddoghazel is NASAs new spokesmodel. With Saturn V rocket
@gooddoghazel is NASAs new spokesmodel. With Saturn V rocket
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Beautiful Indian Creek in Triana Alabama heavily polluted with DDT from the Redstone Arsenal
Beautiful Indian Creek in Triana Alabama heavily polluted with DDT from the Redstone Arsenal
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Nathaniel Chisolm of E&N Good Home Cooking in Triana. His wife Emma is the E in E&N
Nathaniel Chisolm of E&N Good Home Cooking in Triana. His wife Emma is the E in E&N
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An Interview with the Arsenal Archaeologist
I had the opportunity to interview Ben Hoksbergen, archaeologist for the Redstone Arsenal. He took us upriver in his boat to several artifact sites and up to Paint Rock near the Guntersville Dam to see prehistoric paintings on the rock.
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WVLT Knoxville: Shanty boat tours America’s rivers via Knoxville
It’s a hot summer day on Knoxville’s Volunteer Landing and an old mountain shack rolls up to the dock. Right out of the Beverly Hillbillies.
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In Huntsville? Stop by the Secret History Open House on the shantyboat at Ditto Landing. See the boat, tell us your story, play the banjo. We’ll be here until 7pm
In Huntsville? Stop by the Secret History Open House on the shantyboat at Ditto Landing. See the boat, tell us your story, play the banjo. We’ll be here until 7pm
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Most epically scenic interview ever with archeologist Ben Hoksbergen perched on the side of Painted Bluff
Most epically scenic interview ever with archeologist Ben Hoksbergen perched on the side of Painted Bluff
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@gooddoghazel near Hobbs Island on Ben Hoksbergen’s boat on our archaeology tour
@gooddoghazel near Hobbs Island on Ben Hoksbergen’s boat on our archaeology tour
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Visitor Nate playing banjo during the shantyboat open house
Visitor Nate playing banjo during the shantyboat open house
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Join us for a Shantyboat Open House! Tue & Wed 3-7pm Ditto Landing Huntsville
Join us for a Shantyboat Open House! Tue & Wed 3-7pm Ditto Landing Huntsville
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5th Ave School, first integrated public school in Alabama in 1963. Now honored with a brand new medical tower
5th Ave School, first integrated public school in Alabama in 1963. Now honored with a brand new medical tower