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Name:	Capt D -	Reply
Subject:	Do you remember?
Date:	4/6/2007 11:53:07 AM

DO YOU REMEMBER WHEN...?

All the girls had ugly gym uniforms?

It took five minutes for the TV warm up?

Nearly everyone's Mom was at home when the kids got
home from school?

Nobody owned a purebred dog!

When a quarter was a decent allowance?

You'd reach into a muddy gutter for a penny?

Your Mom wore nylons that came in two pieces?

All your male teachers wore neckties and female
teachers had their hair done every day and wore high
heels?

You got your windshield cleaned, oil checked, and gas
pumped, without asking, all for free, every time?
And you didn't pay for air? And, you got trading
stamps to boot?

Laundry detergent had free glasses, dishes or towels
hidden inside the box?

It was considered a great privilege to be taken out to
dinner
at a real restaurant with your parents?

They threatened to keep kids back a grade if they
failed. . and they did?

When a 57 Chevy was everyone's dream car...to cruise,
peel out, lay rubber or watch submarine races, and
people went steady?

No one ever asked where the car keys were
because they were always in the car,
in the ignition, and the doors were never locked?

Lying on your back in the grass with your friends
and saying things like, "That cloud looks like a...."
and playing baseball with no adults to help kids with
the rules of the game?

Stuff from the store came without safety caps and
hermetic seals because no one had yet tried to poison
a perfect stranger?

And with all our progress, don't you just wish, just
once, you could slip back in time and savor the slower
pace, and share it with the children of today?

When being sent to the principal's office was nothing
compared to the fate that awaited the student at home?
Basically we were in fear for our lives,
but it wasn't because of drive-by shootings, drugs,
gangs, etc.

Our parents and grandparents were a much bigger
threat! But we survived because their love was greater
than the threat.

Send this on to someone who can still remember
Nancy Drew, the Hardy Boys, Laurel and Hardy,
Howdy Dowdy and the Peanut Gallery,
the Lone Ranger, The Shadow Knows,
Nellie Bell, Roy and Dale, Trigger and Buttermilk.

As well as summers filled with bike rides, baseball
games, Hula Hoops, bowling and visits to the pool,
and eating Kool-Aid powder with sugar.
Didn't that feel good, just to go back and say, "Yeah,
I remember that"?

I am sharing this with you today because it ended with
a double dog dare to pass it on.
To remember what a double dog dare is, read on.
And remember that the perfect age is somewhere between
old enough to know better and too young to care.

How many of these do you remember?

Candy cigarettes
Wax Coke-shaped bottles with colored sugar water
inside
Soda pop machines that dispensed glass bottles
Coffee shops with tableside jukeboxes
Blackjack, Clove and Teaberry chewing gum
Home milk delivery in glass bottles with cardboard
stoppers
Newsreels before the movie
P.F. Fliers

Telephone numbers with a word prefix...(Raymond
4-601).
Party lines

Peashooters
Howdy Dowdy
45 RPM records
Green Stamps
Hi-Fi's

Metal ice cubes trays with levers
Mimeograph paper
Beanie and Cecil
Roller-skate keys
Cork pop guns
Drive ins
Studebakers

Washtub wringers
The Fuller Brush Man
Reel-To-Reel tape recorders
Tinkertoys
Erector Sets
The Fort Apache Play Set
Lincoln Logs
15 cent McDonald hamburgers

5 cent packs of baseball cards -
with that awful pink slab of bubble gum

Penny candy

35 cent a gallon gasoline
Jiffy Pop popcorn

Do you remember a time when...

Decisions were made by going "eeny-meeny-miney-moe"?
Mistakes were corrected by simply exclaiming, "Do
Over!"?
"Race issue" meant arguing about who ran the fastest?
Catching the fireflies could happily occupy an entire
evening?
It wasn't odd to have two or three "Best Friends"?

The worst thing you could catch from the opposite sex
was "cooties"?
Having a weapon in school meant being caught with a
slingshot?
A foot of snow was a dream come true?

Saturday morning cartoons weren't 30-minute
commercials for action figures?
"Oly-oly-oxen-free" made perfect sense?
Spinning around, getting dizzy, and falling down was
cause for giggles?

The worst embarrassment was being picked last for a
team?
War was a card game?
Baseball cards in the spokes transformed any bike into
a motorcycle?
Taking drugs meant orange-flavored chewable aspirin?
Water balloons were the ultimate weapon?

If you can remember most or all of these, then you
have lived!!!!!!!

Pass this on to anyone who may need a break from
their "grown-up" life . . .I double-dog-dare-ya!

Name:	MotorMan -	Reply
Subject:	Do you remember?
Date:	4/6/2007 12:04:53 PM

"Telephone numbers with a word prefix...(Raymond
4-601).
Party lines"
In Dadeville as well as other cities where the exchange number ended in 5, you could skip the first two numbers. My neighbor was 5-5005.

Name:	LifeTime Laker -	Reply
Subject:	Wrong motorman....
Date:	4/6/2007 12:24:39 PM

... those weren't 'cities', those were towns......lol. My best freind was 8-7248.

Name:	MotorMan -	Reply
Subject:	Wrong motorman....
Date:	4/6/2007 12:50:06 PM

Yeah, you're right.

I used to live in the City of Omro, WI. When I was selling it a potential buyer asked me "if it was in 'the Village' "

I proudly told her "no, it's in a legal City. The other side of the Street was the Township". She was from Winneconne. I told her Winneconne was legally a "Village". She was insulted that I would call Winneconne a Village. Hey, I didn't incorporate one a City and one a Village.

Never mind,I lost a potential buyer. The Buyer is always right. Even when they're wrong.

URL: Winneconne

Name:	Aardvark -	Reply
Subject:	Do you remember?
Date:	4/7/2007 12:49:10 AM

Party lines are one thing I remember at the lake. How many people remember these things?
Having a pump house that supplied the house and not the sprinkler system with lake water.
Having a big Coleman cooler in the kitchen as the only potable water source, and having to find a tap for a refill of city water if we stayed too long.
Being able to pick up television stations in Montgomery, Columbus, Birmingham, and Mt. Cheaha depending on which way the outside antenna was turned.
Places like Smith's and Holmes Landing.
Getting stopped by Ned.
Going under the old Kowaliga bridge.
Driving over it. (over and under could both be a tight squeeze)
Blasting for the rocks to build the current bridge.
Grocery shopping at the Red and White in Eclectic.
BBQ from the old Cotton's and hamburgers at the Big H in Wetumpka.
Never having a problem walking the beach or playing in the woods in the winter.
NO PWC's!
Everybody had either a mobile home or a prefab Jim Walter house on their lot. (even the really rich people)
Learning to drive on the lake roads.
The alligator down by the ski club.
Water a whole lot lower than 480.
It is late, so all of you old timers will have to add to this list.

Name:	LifeTime Laker -	Reply
Subject:	Do you remember?
Date:	4/7/2007 9:56:22 AM

The foot bridges across the sloughs at Wind Creek.
The in the ground trampolines at Wind Creeek.
The Silo being 'a mile high'. (OK, so this was a perception thing..lol)
Pop-up campers being the latest and greatest.
Only a handfull of boats at Chimney Rock on Saturday afternoon.
Several trees and picnic tables on Sand Island.
The old "governors mansion" in Willow Point with the chain link fence around the pier!
Nothing but 2 lane roads leading into Alex City.
Being able to be at 'ground zero' for the fireworks without fearing for your life when it ended. (This only lasted a couple of years)
The old Kowliga.
Sunscreeen was a shade tree.
Being made to swim in a t-shirt after you got 'fried'.
Coppertone was the ONLY suntan lotion.
The Coppertone billboards and commercials. (Wonder what happend to that baby?)
Air conditioning was a luxury that very few had at the lake.
Fish Camps.
NO %&#(%@# Geese!!!

And the list goes on........

Name:	LifeTime Laker -	Reply
Subject:	How could I have forgotten..
Date:	4/7/2007 10:48:17 AM

... these gems!!

Inner tubes really were, inner tubes!!
Promising your buddy that the valve was pointed down before he dove thru it.
Having Mom attend to your wounds when it really wasn't pointed down... hehe.
The rope swing at Wind Creek. (Still got scars from that one)
The only PWC's were inner tubes.
Rubber Flip Flops.
Bikini's were 'scandalous'.
Ski BELTS!

Name:	Hadenuff -	Reply
Subject:	How could I have forgotten..
Date:	4/7/2007 12:59:49 PM

You guys are wrong to make me feel this old. :-) I remember way too much of this. Enjoyed the memories, thanks for the posts

Name:	Feb -	Reply
Subject:	My Memory is Not Real Good
Date:	4/7/2007 1:14:33 PM

I was about six years old the first time I was ever at Lake Martin. My Father was stationed an Maxwell Air Force Base, and we lived in Montgomery.

We went to a beach area, and I manged to cut my foot on a piece of broken glass while wading. I could be wrong about this, but I seemed to recall Kowaliga (the Wooden Indian) being ouside at the park area there. I do recall seeing the Wooden Indian, and he looked so big and tall.

Now, he looks kind of short and small when I visit Sinclairs.

Someone please correct me if my memory is faulty. (Actually there is no doubt about it, LOL)

Name:	Feb -	Reply
Subject:	I Do Remember
Date:	4/7/2007 1:21:37 PM

The Hank Williams (Sr.) songs as they were first released and playing on the air (radio). Even without stereo they were more than just great.

Name:	LifeTime Laker -	Reply
Subject:	I Do Remember
Date:	4/7/2007 1:50:02 PM

The point where Sinclairs is now used to have rental cabins on it feb. I am pretty sure there was some type of playground too, but definitely a beach and swimming area. One of my sisters got married at the Church In the Pines and spent the first couple of days of her honeymoon in one of the cabins. Some of the out of town guests rented a couple of the others. Point is it is highly likely that is where you stayed as kid. The wooden indian stood post outside the old country store that was there at the time. I have a pic of the bride and groom with the indian somewhere. It is also the last time my mother and father were photograhped together.

Name:	Feb -	Reply
Subject:	I Do Remember
Date:	4/7/2007 3:01:38 PM

Thank You Life Time Laker, It was probably the same place. We were only down for a one day outing.

I have also enjoyed reading some of the past Forum stories about the old Lake fish camps. I believe Lakeman may of posted about there existence and maybe his experiences as a kid.

Name:	Osms -	Reply
Subject:	I Do Remember
Date:	4/7/2007 3:18:51 PM

We stayed at the cabins at Kowliga a couple of times in '74 and '75. Great memories. Always heard the wooden Indian was the Hank Williams inspiration for the song

Name:	MythBuster -	Reply
Subject:	I Do Remember
Date:	4/7/2007 3:33:24 PM

I think the truth is the other way around; the song was the inspiration for getting the Indian (which I think came from an old car dealership.)

But I like your version of the story better! :-)

Name:	JIM -	Reply
Subject:	I Do Remember
Date:	4/7/2007 4:36:07 PM

Capitola tokens, these were back in the late forties. What were the used for? I know.

Name:	LifeTime Laker -	Reply
Subject:	I Do Remember
Date:	4/7/2007 4:59:51 PM

I dont know where the Idian came from, but I have read the story of him seeing it at Kowliga. He was staying in cabin in the area, but dang I can't remember who was with him. Easy enough to find out though if you search it.

Name:	Feb -	Reply
Subject:	Article in Lake Martin Living
Date:	4/7/2007 5:18:04 PM

I seemed to recall as opposed to the "Lake Magazine" just this past year. The article told the story of the cabin Hank Williams stayed in and what all occurred during his stay. I believe he wrote the song "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry" in the wee hours one evening or early in the morning while there.

The article stated the cabin has subsequently been restored (not positive).

I too seemed to think the song "Kowaliga" was written after seeing the Indian at the Lake. Somewhere, I heard the Indian originally came from a car dealership maybe in Bham.

Name:	LifeTime Laker -	Reply
Subject:	Article in Lake Martin Living
Date:	4/7/2007 6:03:12 PM

Yea, it seems like maybe they were on a week long 'bender'. I know the article named the names of who owned the cabin and who all he was 'hangin with'.

Name:	MythBuster -	Reply
Subject:	Here's the story:
Date:	4/8/2007 12:28:16 AM

"Williams' song was inspired by a local legend about Kowaliga. But the wooden statue that is now at Lake Martin was inspired by the song, not the other way around.

"The original Indian was actually bought about three months after Hank's death (in January 1953)," said David Mitchell, an Alexander City native and one of Williams' biggest fans.

"It was Chief Pontiac from a dealership in Sylacauga, and (the dealership) brought it in as a prop for a benefit they were having." "

http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/specialreports/hank50/storyHankMARTIN31z.htm

Name:	LifeTime Laker -	Reply
Subject:	Hmmmm........
Date:	4/8/2007 9:43:20 AM

These are the lyrics to Kawliga. If the song came first why does he refer to the 'wooden Indian' and a heart of 'knotty pine'. Bottom line is you can find it 'documented' both ways and the only one that can clear it definitively died in '53. I prefer to believe the Chief inspired the song, not the song inspired the chief. And BTW, the 'legend' refers to Kowliga standing on the banks of the 'lake'. The lake was impounded in 1926, not many Indian Chiefs hangin around in '26. The link below tells it to include elements from both versions. Only Hank knows for sure!!

Kawliga

KAWLIGA WAS A WOODEN INDIAN STANDING BY THE DOOR
HE FELL IN LOVE WITH AN INDIAN MAIDEN OVER IN THE ANTIQUE STORE
KAW - LI - GA

JUST STOOD THERE AND NEVER LET IT SHOW
SO SHE COULD NEVER ANSWER YES OR NO

HE ALWAYS WORE HIS SUNDAY FEATHERS AND HELD A TOMAHAWK
THE MAIDEN WORE HER BEADS AND BRAIDS AND HOPED SOME DAY HE'D TALK
KAW - LI - GA
TOO STUBBORN TO EVER SHOW A SIGN
BECAUSE HIS HEART WAS MADE OF KNOTTY PINE

POOR OL' KAW - LI - GA, HE NEVER GOT A KISS
POOR OL' KAW - LI - GA, HE DON'T KNOW WHAT HE MISSED
IS IT ANY WONDER THAT HIS FACE IS RED
KAW - LI - GA, THAT POOR OL' WOODEN HEAD

KAWLIGA WAS A WOODEN INDIAN, NEVER WENT NOWHERE
HIS HEART WAS SET ON THE INDIAN MAIDEN WITH THE COAL BLACK HAIR
KAW - LI - GA
JUST STOOD THERE AND NEVER LET IT SHOW
SO SHE COULD NEVER ANSWER YES OR NO
AND THEN ONE DAY A WEALTHY CUSTOMER BOUGHT THE INDIAN MAID
AND TOOK HER OH SO FAR AWAY BUT OL KAW - LI - GA STAYED
KAW - LI - GA

JUST STANDS THERE AS LONELY AS CAN BE
AND WISHES HE WAS STILL AN OLD PINE TREE

URL: This link tells the story a little differently

Name:	lakelady -	Reply
Subject:	Do you remember?
Date:	4/8/2007 1:32:12 PM

Anyone remember dancing on the pavillion to the jukebox at Wind Creek? Tents could be put up along the side of the road that led up to the silo which is where the beach was at out on the point. I also remember a little known hang out called "Heaven".

Name:	MythBuster -	Reply
Subject:	Uhhh....
Date:	4/8/2007 3:04:06 PM

Somehow, the original question has been forgotten. The sentence in the post that started it all was: "Always heard the wooden Indian was the Hank Williams inspiration for the song." Nothing in that sentence that mentions whether or not Kowaliga THE PLACE was the inspiration for Hank's song.

And, there's nothing in the link you provided that mentions the wooden Indian statue, just the place.

Name:	LifeTime Laker -	Reply
Subject:	i'm going to.....
Date:	4/8/2007 4:05:30 PM

.... fall back position #1.

"Never argue with an idiot, bystanders might not can tell the difference."

Name:	Hadenuff -	Reply
Subject:	i'm going to.....
Date:	4/8/2007 5:08:29 PM

LMAO

Name:	LifeTime Laker -	Reply
Subject:	I didn't do the pavillion,,,,,
Date:	4/8/2007 8:15:46 PM

,,,,cuz I still thought girls had cooties!!!

But I was only 11 the last we camped there in 1969. But boy do I remember the flack between Mom and my older sisters regarding the Pavilion. Mom used to make them take me along when they went out on the bridges at night hang out with the 'boys'. She used me as a chaperon.

Name:	lakelady -	Reply
Subject:	I didn't do the pavillion,,,,,
Date:	4/8/2007 11:04:27 PM

If my mom had known I was there and my happy feet were out there dancing, she would have given me cooties with stripes on top. (back in the day when you could get away with whipping kids)

Name:	Laker -	Reply
Subject:	I didn't do the pavillion,,,,,
Date:	4/9/2007 12:20:16 PM

I have only been coming to the lake for about 8 years now. Originally being from Dothan, we always went to Eufala or down in Florida when I was coming up. I do like to look at old pictures and hear stories about past things at the lake that aren't there anymore. I think I was born in the wrong time period. Does anyone know of a website (or anywhere else for that matter) that has old pictures or stories regarding the lake's past points of interest?

Name:	LifeTime Laker -	Reply
Subject:	I didn't do the pavillion,,,,,
Date:	4/9/2007 1:56:25 PM

Well the really good thing is that not many of the things mentioned are gone. Wind Creek State Park is still there and doing a booming business. The landscape has changed some, but the major changes are in attitude. There aren't many 'fish camps' left (if any) either, but all you miss there is a big stink.

If you go to Sinclairs I am pretty sure there are some pics there of the way it used to look. As for the rest, just take a boat ride around the lake and almost everywhere you see mini mansions, just envision trees.

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