river
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WTRF: “Shanty Boat” sails away today in Moundsville
According to Wes Modes, the project hopes to uncover the social and economic impacts that river people have had on their local communities and beyond.
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Scenes from a sunrise walk around Wellsburg, West Virginia
Scenes from a sunrise walk around Wellsburg, West Virginia. #OhioRiver #Rivertown #WestVirginia #Shantyboat
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Beaching the shantyboat for a quick pitstop for Hazel.
Beaching the shantyboat for a quick pitstop for Hazel. #Pitstop #Shantyboat #OhioRiver #River
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Michael Swett – Just One Thing at a Time
This is an excerpt of my interview with Michael Swett. Michael talked to us about the homeless encampment along the banks of the river.
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Roland Law’s Wildest Dream for the San Lorenzo River
Roland Law talks about his conservation work along the banks of the San Lorenzo River
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George Ow Jr Tells Us About Chinatowns along the San Lorenzo River
An interview with George Ow Jr. along the banks of the San Lorenzo River where we talked about his growing up in one of the last Chinatowns along the river.
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Interview with Leo Cruz along the San Lorenzo River
Interview with Leo Cruz about growing up near a river in Mexico and coming to live along the San Lorenzo River.
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Interview with shipmate Benzy
SL Benz has been a shipmate on the Secret History expeditions on the Tennessee, Sacramento, and Hudson Rivers since 2016, and soon, the Ohio River. She is a California-based new media artist. I interviewed Benzy about her duties as shipmate and production assistant while we were on the Sacramento River.
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Searching for Living Native History in the Ohio River Valley
I’ve been going crazy all evening looking for native people in the Ohio River Valley.
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A push to remove the homeless from the American River
To follow up on our visit to the American River on our 2017 summer fieldwork, you may remember that we interviewed Bar who lived along the river. While we were in Sacramento, we explored the American River north of town. One evening, we camped near a fellow in a neat temp compound a short walk…
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River Voices (Unofficial Cut) – 2018 Trailer
Our 2018 trailer video featuring river people from 1250 miles of the Mississippi and Tennessee Rivers.
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Interview with David Sharps director of the Waterfront Museum on the Lehigh Valley No. 79, one of the last wooden railroad barges
Interview with David Sharps director of the Waterfront Museum on the Lehigh Valley No. 79, one of the last wooden railroad barges. We talked about his career as a juggler, clown, and performer and later as a barge owner #Shantyboatweekend! #Interview #SecretHistory #WoodenBarge #LehighValley #Brooklyn #RedHook #WaterfrontMuseum #NewYorkHarbor #NYC [codepeople-post-map]
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WAMC Albany: Searching For Hudson River Stories On A Shanty Boat
WAMC Public RadioBy Lucas Willard Listen Now to the WAMC Public Radio story: A recreated mid-century shanty boat is traveling down the Hudson River in search of stories. “A Secret History of American River People” is a project by a California-based artist Wes Modes. Modes took WAMC’s Southern Adirondack Bureau Chief Lucas Willard…
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Best Friend I’ve Never Met
For many years I’ve had a total friend crush on John Young who started the original Guerilla Drive-In in West Chester, Pennsylvania (note below that he claims I had the idea first). This year, finally, the Hudson River brings us together. Here’s his sweet version of this story: Kate, Lydia, and I are headed to…
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Post-Star: Shantyboat docks in Fort Edward to collect Hudson River stories
Post-Star by Gwendolyn Craig FORT EDWARD — It’s not every day that one might see a shantyboat floating down the Hudson River, but many people did Sunday around the Fort Edward Yacht Basin. Wes Modes, shantyboat maker, artist, story collector and captain, opened his floating home to the public, helping kick off part of the World Awareness…
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If we mention that old river towns are dying, we really mean they are being killed
In the towns we’ve visited across America, the historic heart of small river towns are dying. Or more accurately, they are being killed by the Walmartization of everything. We are currently in upstate New York in Fort Edward on the Hudson River and this town is no exception. This despite the best efforts of people…
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We are on the water!
Just a quick note to let you know that yes, after four harrowing hair-silvering days on the road, over 3,038 miles through 12 states, we arrived safely in New York with no major mishaps. No wheels fell off. No engines or transmissions exploded. We made it to the quaint little town of Whitehall, New York.…
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Where we’ll be when on the Hudson River
As you know we are busy preparing our journey on the Hudson River. That preparation involves researching the river and towns we will visit, making contacts with potential interviewees, and lining up exhibitions and funding. One of the very first tasks of new river planning is mapping out river towns, their relative locations on the river, and…
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The Mysteries of America’s Only Town Built By and For Chinese
We explore various delta towns, including a rare Chinese rural community.
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Busy Busy Busy in the State Capitol
Exhibits, new friends, interviews, party boats, and beachcombing in Sacramento
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Beautiful Places Between This and That
After Colusa, the character of the river changed. The levees moved right up near the river and most of the banks were rocked creating a channel walled from the adjacent fields by a thin scrim of trees. In many places, roads ran atop the levees so drivers were startled to see what appeared to be…
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A Wild River
A treacherous adventure down a hazard-choked river – Rides from strangers – Water emergency – An Interview – Mr. Johnson fixed – Birthday pie
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Fits and Starts
I’m struggling with how to describe our strange fits-and-starts launch on the Sacramento River at Red Bluff. I’ll tell you right up front like a postmodern mystery novel that the culprit was Bad Gas.
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Okay, we’re off
After months of prep, a month-long fundraiser, weeks of long hard work days on the shantyboat, months of research, tons of help from from friends, and help from our sponsors, we are finally off on the road toward the river.
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Are We Going To Die on the Sacramento River?
There are a few things that worry me. Because of the very wet California winter, water levels are high and I’ve heard flow rates are intense. Additionally, the Sacramento River is full of hazards including snags, sweepers, strainers, rocks, stump fields, and eddies.
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River Voices – 2017 Trailer
After 3 years of fieldwork, 1000 river miles, 15,000 road miles, 85 interviews, and now 1 month of combing the archive, and innumerable editing hours, we are extremely excited to present the new trailer.
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Gerty Tonjum, boathouse owner, talks about river time
Gerty Tonjum, boathouse owner in Winona, MN along the banks of the Mississippi River summer 2014. This is part of a longer interview in the Secret History archive.
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This Summer’s Expedition on the Sacramento River
In previous years, Modes has exhibited the project in the Midwest on the Mississippi River and in the Southeast on the Tennessee River. This year, he brings his project “home.”
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Tribune-Courier: Floating Artist
In general, when people are posed with the question, ‘What is art?’ the answers align with ideas of paintings created by the greats like Vincent Van Gogh or fantastic photographs that capture space and time in unique ways like the work of Ansel Adams. The answer might vary a bit and turn into a deep…
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Shantyboat home in Felton California
Shantyboat home in Felton California. Benzy has to lift the telephone wires on the little road up to where the shantyboat nestles in the redwoods
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Shantyboat in the Paducah Labor Day Parade
Shantyboat in the Paducah Labor Day Parade. Nathan Lynn playing banjo while Wes tries to make banjo sounds that are not too disharmonious. Photo by Mitch Kimball
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Looking through the Mary Wheeler collection at the Paducah Library
Looking through the Mary Wheeler collection at the McCracken County Library
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Rev Kempton Baldridge one of a few chaplains for more than 4000 towboats
Rev Kempton Baldridge one of a few chaplains for more than 4000 towboats and riverboats on American Rivers
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Shantyboat On display
Shantyboat On display today and tomorrow. Open House 10-2pm Saturday at the River Discovery Museum on Water St in Paducah
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Bruce Walker king of the bar-b-Que in north Paducah
Bruce Walker king of the bar-b-Que in north Paducah at A&J’s BBQ. We had a great conversation about the neighborhood and then he made the most delectable ribs I’ve had all year
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Paduca Sun: Artist-in-residence Modes slated to discuss journey of shantyboat
Paducah Arts Alliance artist-in-residence Wes Modes and his 1940s-era shantyboat landed recently in Paducah for two weeks to discuss his ongoing project, “A Secret History of American River People.”
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David Nickell talks about his family history in the Land Between the Rivers
David Nickell talks about his family history in the Land Between the Rivers, an intense story of government betrayal and intrigue
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Merryman Kemp founder of Merryman House
Maryman Kemp founder of Maryman House, a shelter for survivors of domestic violence. Interview in Anita’s garden
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Louie Kirchhoff baker in Paducah for 75 years
Louie Kirchhoff who has lived in Paducah for 75 years, much of the time running his families bakery on 2nd Street since 1873
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Nathan Blake Lynn, musician, historian, and amateur folk musicologist
Nathan Blake Lynn, musician, historian, and amateur folk musicologist. Interview at Paducah riverfront at dawn
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African glass beads at the Paducah Farmers Market
African glass beads at Melanie and Erileigh’s stall at the Paducah Farmers Market. So much good stuff, fresh veggies and fruit. Shantyboat parked at edge of market
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AL.com: On a shantyboat in Alabama, nights are hot, food is good and stories flow
Smack dab in the middle of the Tennessee River, between the O’Neal Bridge stretching from Muscle Shoals into Florence and TVA’s Wilson Dam, a recreated relic of river history is stuck like a catfish on a line, its anchor snagged on God only knows what at the bottom of the river.
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Shantyboat from Founder’s Room at the River Discovery Center
Shantyboat seen through the windows of the Founder’s Room at the River Discovery Center in Paducah where the Secret History installation will be for the next two weeks
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West Kentucky Star: Artist Concludes Daring River Voyage in Paducah
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 on the historic Tennessee River.
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My favorite Secret History paparazzi photo
My favorite Secret History paparazzi photo. Back from the Benzy as ships mate days
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Adrian playing dress up
Adrian playing dress up. He already had the radio on so we could listen to radio chatter as they blew up a major highway span we were crossing under. Thanks to friends in Guntersville for the sweet patches
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Oh no! Freddie’s transmission died in the middle of Lake Kentucky
Oh no! We lost the rest of Freddie’s transmission in the middle of Lake Kentucky
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Old Danville Grain Elevator submerged by the inundated Tennessee River
Old Danville Grain Elevator submerged by the inundated Tennessee River in the flooded town of Danville
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Our first volunteer fish dinner
Our first volunteer fish dinner! When we to hop in the johnboat to pick up new ships mate Penske, we found he had jumped in during our rough traversal of Kentucky Lake
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Two Weeks in Paducah, Kentucky
Join us in Paducah Kentucky for a two week long series of Secret History events. Modes has exhibited the project in Knoxville, Chattanooga, Huntsville, and Florence, and will end his historic journey at the Port of Paducah. The project will be exhibiting for two weeks starting August 23rd in partnership with the Paducah Arts Alliance.
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Not everyone knows it’s good luck to pass under a train bridge
Not everyone knows it’s good luck to pass under a train bridge and extra if it has a train and even more if it’s moving. So it was a lucky day
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David “Scoop” Anderson who worked on riverboats and towboats for years
Davis “Scoop” Anderson who worked on riverboats and rowboats for years, finally settling out as a newspaper editor (earning his nickname
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Shantyboat in the secret abandoned MARINA OF THE DAMNED
Shantyboat in the secret abandoned marina of the planet of the apes
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![Dramatic skies over the shantyboat on the Tennessee River [VIDEO & PANORAMA]](https://peoplesriverhistory.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/shantyboat-stormy-skies-edit.jpg)
Dramatic skies over the shantyboat on the Tennessee River [VIDEO & PANORAMA]
Dramatic skies over the shantyboat on the Tennessee River near the confluence of the Duck River with Adrian fishing from the bow
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We learn to read the river: this beautiful herringbone pattern precedes larger wind waves
We learn to read the river: this beautiful herringbone pattern precedes larger wind waves. A steady breeze over a reach creates tiny ripples that reinforce each other, becoming swells that can become challenging for the shantyboat
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Pete Selmeci who’s job is to fix big boats and move them around
Pete Selmeci who’s job is to fix big boats and move them around. He was limping this disabled Love Boat with his business partner Mark downriver. He helped us look at our own limping Freddie Mercury who lost reverse gear and supplied is with rum and coke
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Lost at the rainy end of the world! Next episode of the SHANTYBOAT GUYS
Lost at the rainy end of the world! Next episode of the SHANTYBOAT GUYS
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Life without the internets! Next on the SHANTYBOAT GUYS
Life without the internets! Next on the SHANTYBOAT GUYS
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Barges in the mist
Barges in the mist. People ask us constantly if the tows give us any trouble. After over 1000 miles on inland waters we can definitively say, No, towboat crews are professional, more courteous, more responsible, and create less wake than big yachts
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Secret History is largely a donation supported project and your contribution directly supports our fieldwork. Consider supporting the project.
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Gene Davidson owner of the Clifton Marina
We talked to Gene Davidson who owns the Clifton Marina. He’s lived either in Clifton or nearby Waynesboro all of his 80 years. A pharmacist for most of his career, Gene created the marina in the early 2000s after he retired.
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The folks at Clifton Marina treated us super decently
The folks at Clifton Marina treated us super decently. Say hi to Sonja and Gene when you come by on the Tennessee River
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Glen Lineberry worked on towboats for 50 years
He worked for 40 years on line towboats that would travel from the big river ports hauling stuff upriver. He started as deckhand, and worked as mate, assistant engineer, and finally chief engineer for decades.
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An afternoon roadtrip on Tennessee back roads
An afternoon roadtrip on Tennessee back roads. Age and I escape in the Marina loaner beater car
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Jackie Irvin runs an opiate addiction program at Jabbok Refuge Center Church
Jackie Irvin who runs an opiate addiction program at Jabbok Refuge Center Church talks to us about growing up Black in small town Tennessee, her faith, her (mostly white) clients, and racism in the South
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Serious beverage situation on the next episode of the SHANTYBOAT GUYS
Serious beverage situation on the next episode of the SHANTYBOAT GUYS
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Main St of Saltillo leads right down a boat ramp to the river
Captivating on several levels. Main St of Saltillo leads right down a boat ramp to the river with a half dozen stop signs near the end. Perhaps they had a problem’tDriveInTheRiver
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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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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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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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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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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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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