(The following story is Part 1 of “The Life and Times of William Bradford Huie, Hartselle’s Famous Native Son. It is told by Randy Sparkman, Hartselle historian. The second part of the story was published in the Winter edition of Hartselle Area Magazine.)

The first time Randy Sparkman met William Bradford Huie was in 1983. Sparkman was installing a computer system for the Hartselle Enquirer when Huie strolled in, curious      about the computer. His inquisitive nature was part and parcel of his success as a reporter and novelist.

“I really think he was always more a reporter at heart,” said Sparkman, whose introduction to Huie turned into years of research into Huie’s life and work.

That first meeting stands out in Sparkman’s mind. “He was up front complaining about Nixon,” laughed Sparkman.” He sure didn’t sound like anybody from around here.

”Sparkman recognized Huie on sight; “I knew who he was. Up until that point I had previously had astereotypical view of W.B. Huie, but I quickly realized that there was  something special about him.

”Huie was a man of small stature, but of big ideas. “He could foresee the utility of the computer,” explained Sparkman. “Keep in mind that this was before the PC, this was an  old Commodore network, but Huie caught on right away as to what it would mean for the future.

”Although Huie never owned a computer (he used the red IBM Selectric on display in the Huie Room of the library) he would have realized what an impact it was about to make on the literary world, allowing writers, reporters and newspapers advantages he never had.

Between his travels, Huie became a frequent visitor to the Enquirer. His contact with Sparkman became the gist of several articles that Sparkman later wrote for leading publications such as Slate.com and Wall Street Journal Interactive. His insight into Huie’s personality and his extensive collection of Huie’s literary works is testament to his admiration of the man.

Sparkman was part of the effort to have Hartselle’s library named for its most famous son. The William Bradford Huie Library, on Sparkman Street, is the only building in the city to be named for the famed novelist who lived an unassuming life on a quiet side street not far from the library which houses a collection of his works. There are hundreds of movie posters,newspaper clippings, books and documents about Huie’s life, much of which was donated by Sparkman.

The walls of the room chronicle the body of work that brought Huie fame and fortune in the literary world, the Hollywood scene, and in New York’s publishing arena. Not only was he an acclaimed novelist, Huie was a noted

journalist, editor, publisher, television interviewer, screenwriter and lecturer. He was a fascinating speaker, captivating his audience with the ‘story behind the story.’

Huie was a champion of the underdog. He spent his career going from one jail cell, one murder scene, and one courtroom after another, delving deeply into the lives of both the victims and the defendants of varioussensational crimes. On more than one occasion he saved someone from execution by his bulldog tenacity and his willingness to buck the system.

This dogged determination to see justice done frequently landed him in jail along with the subject of his interest. “He could never tolerate a bully,” reminisced Sparkman. “He was always interested in seeing justice done, but especially when the accused was someone without the power or influence to fight back.”

“This is not a well-known fact, but Huie saw to thefinancial needs of Pvt. Eddie Slovik’s widow after hisexecution,” Sparkman said. “He also used his connections in Washington, D.C. to help WWI hero Sgt. Alvin York get his benefits from the government.”

(The following story is Part 2 of “The Life and Times of William Bradford Huie, Hartselle’s Famous Native Son. It is told by Randy Sparkman, Hartselle historian. The first part of the story was published in the Summer edition of Hartselle Area Magazine.)

In 1927, William Bradford Huie, graduated from Morgan County High School as class valedictorian. He went on to college at the University of Alabama, graduating Phi Beta  Kappa in 1930.

While attending college, he supplemented his college stipend by writing for the somewhat sordid tabloid magazine, True Story. It kept him going until he was noticed by  bigger and better publications, like The American Mercury.

Huie later bought the magazine, renaming it The New American Mercury. As publisher he hired a young reporter by the name of William F. Buckley, Jr., who went on to  become one of the most famous journalists of his time. Buckley once remarked of Huie, “He was one of the fastest writers I’ve ever seen; he always said that there was nothing  more important than a simple declarative sentence.”

Huie married his grammar school sweetheart, Ruth Puckett, in 1934. Their wedding took place in her parents’ home in Hartselle. Huie later immortalized the scene in his largely autobiographical first novel, Mud on the Stars (1942).

He was a shrewd and intuitive man when it came to choosing the subjects for his novels. “Often the publishers of various newspapers and books would sent him into the fray where there was sensational and ground – breaking news being made,” explained Randy Sparkman, local historian.

“He was intrigued by the civil rights movement, and often made the key players of that era his central focus.”

Huie traveled wherever the winds of civil unrest and  other news of the day blew him. He was there after the Birmingham bombings and again after the slaying of civil rights leader, Martin Luther King. “The movie, ‘Mississippi Burning’ was taken straight from his book, ‘3 Lives for Mississippi’ “said Sparkman. Huie never received credit for it.

He set the tone for what was to become his trademark style as a novelist when he wrote the novel The Americanization of Emily. He was in England for the filming of the subsequent movie while his house in Hartselle was being built.

Sparkman now lives across the street from that very house, in a smaller version of the Frank Lloyd Wright inspired home that Huie built for his parents. The houses were not the typical Southern antebellum-type houses seen along Hartselle’s tree-lined streets, nor were they the cottage-style homes that were built by his neighbors. They were built in a style that Huie had come to love during his Hollywood days. The home was open and sunny, with wide windows where Huie sat and perused the world as he wrote about things far away and of a distant nature that what was going on in sleepy little Hartselle in the 50s and 60s.

He met and became friends with some of the major players in the movie industry, both on and behind the silver screen. Pictures in Sparkman’s collection include one of Huie with director Eli Kazan on the set of The Americanization of Emily.

He once invited Gregory Peck to his home in Hartselle so that Peck could wonder around the streets, soaking up the culture and honing his Southern accent for his award-winning role as Atticus Finch in Harper Lee’s novel, To Kill A Mockingbird.

Unlike Lee, whose claim to fame was a one-hit wonder, Huie was very prolific. He wrote over 20 books, of which seven were made into major motion pictures. Those films starred the biggest Hollywood actors of the era, like James Garner, Martin Sheen and Julie Andrews.

Montgomery Clift starred in ‘Wild River’ which was the first movie to be adapted from Huie’s work. “It was from his first novel,” said Sparkman. “Later he would write more sensational novels that were concerned with the civil rights movement. Some of his work was considered to ‘racy’ for that era. The local community didn’t exactly embrace Huie at the time, but he sure knew what it took to sell a book! “

Ruth Huie was the first teacher hired at the new Crestline School. She taught first grade. After her death of cancer in 1973, Huie continued to write, but he grieved for her. She was the love of his life. It is said that he frequently brought her lunch to school in a brown paper bag. Inside each day’s offering was a carefully folded linen napkin.

After years of controversy, the city fathers and the community seem to have embraced Huie. He was a man of integrity, who was ahead of his time. A champion of freedom and honesty, Huie stands the test of time as one of the South’s clearest voices.

“The story of one is heard louder than the story of ten thousand,” he once said. And he was right – here we are still talking about him to this day. He would chuckle about that, I’m sure….

First United Methodist Church of Hartselle will host it’s first annual “Live Nativity” on December 9-10 from 4-7 p.m. Costumed actors posted in fixed positions will represent the characters in the Nativity stories from the Gospels allowing passersby to “Experience the Story of Jesus.”

A camel with at least one Wise Man will be on hand as a guide to local residents as they enjoy the different planned activities set up all over the church. There will be a petting zoo, refreshments, and even a collection of photographs of angels and nativitys on display enhanced by old, yet familiar carols as they play.

The Rev. Robert Sparkman, pastor at First United Methodist of Hartselle, said he collected every photo of angels he could find over the past few months. My prayer is: “If the Lord is willing, these pictures will give a sense of the way angels have been pictured over the years.

“I am reminded of a story told of a little girl who was drawing a picture of an angel,” Sparkman said. “Her mother said, “You know, they don’t really know what angels look like”. The little girl said, “Well they will when I am finished with this picture.”

Sparkman said, “We hope people will come and let us make them feel welcome.”

There are many other activities set for the two-day event. The list includes the singing of carols by the adult choir; performances by the adult and children’s bell choirs; and bands and other groups will also be on hand to entertain visitors with music of the season. There will be reverent and prayerful music in the sanctuary, and beautiful music in the ministry center to accompany the refreshments.

“We will have all of this and more,” Sparkman added.

The idea for the Live Nativity came from church members who were wanting to enrich the real experience of Christmas in the whole area, said Sparkman. “They especially wanted to touch the lives of children giving them something to remember besides Santa Claus and presents, as nice as those memories are!”

Sparkman said early on, the plan was to have a petting zoo with animals which might have been at the birth of Jesus such as sheep, camels, donkeys and others. Then the decision came to do a live nativity with people and animals. Next came the idea to give the people who came hot chocolate and a cookie while Christmas music was being played. The ideas just kept flowing from there, he continued.

“Some church members are beginning to wonder if the whole thing has gotten out of hand,” he chuckled. “But plans are being made, refined, and the church is still planning for a tremendous experience.”

Guests are invited to park in either of the parking lots or downtown, and walk around the church to “Experience the Story of Jesus”. Each night starts at 4 p.m. and ends at 7 p.m. There is no charge for the event and everyone is invited to participate.

The church is located on 210 Hickory Street SE in downtown Hartselle. For more information iabout the Live Nativity, call the church office at 256.773.6952.

“We truly are trying to deepen the experience of Christmas, especially for children and families,” Sparkman concluded. “Maybe we can experience and learn more about the events of the birth of Jesus in our own way, here in Hartselle.”

Did you eat your black-eyed peas on New Year’s Day? If you did, you have followed a long-held tradition that says you will have good luck as well as good fortune. Why risk it? They taste great, and cooked up with some hog jowl and collard greens, they form the basis for a wonderful, traditional Southern meal.

Black-eyed peas are a mainstay in the Southern diet at any time of the year, but they are a must have on New Year’s Day. These legumes are also considered good luck in many other cultures. Some say the hog, and therefore its meat, is considered lucky because it is a symbol of prosperity. The peas themselves swell when cooked, symbolizing growth of good fortune.

Cabbage, a wonderful, and economic side dish often served up with black-eyed peas and hog jowl, is another vegetable that is on the ‘good luck’ list of New Year’s Day specialties. The green color of the cabbage leaves is thought to indicate that it was a sign of wealth. In some regions of the country, rice is also on that list.

The first domestication of this good luck food was probably in West Africa, but is widely grown in many countries in Asia. It was first introduced in the Southern United States as early as the 17th century, most likely in Virginia.

Most cultivation of the black-eyed pea migrated to Florida and the Carolinas during the next century. The humble legume would eventually prove popular in Texas, as well. Throughout the entire Southern United States, it is still a widely used ingredient in many dishes.

One legend has it the practice of eating black-eyed peas for luck is generally thought to date back to the Civil War. First planted as food for livestock, black-eyed peas have been a staple in the Southern diet for over 300 years. They were also a staple food for slaves in the South.

Legend has it Sherman’s troops failed to notice the humble black-eyed pea, considering it, along with field corn, as food only fit for animals. They burned everything they couldn’t carry with them that was thought to be of any value. But, they failed to note the value of the black-eyed pea, leaving it for surviving Confederates, thus the luck…

George Washington Carver encouraged planters to use it as a cover crop because it adds nitrogen to the soil. It also has a high nutritional value, serving as an excellent source of calcium (211 mg per one-cup serving) and Vitamin A (1,305 IU), among other nutrients.

The good luck traditions of eating the black-eyed pea is also celebrated at Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, and are recorded in the Babylonian Talmud, which was compiled in 500 CE. The first Sephardic Jews first arrived in Georgia in the 1730s, and have lived there continuously ever since. Non-Jews adopted this Jewish practice around the time of the Civil War.

Today, the tradition of eating these nutritious legumes on New Year’s Day has evolved into several variations, with many famous dishes known throughout various regions of the South.

Here in Alabama, the peas are typically cooked with a ham product, such as bacon, ham hocks, hog jowl, or a ham bone. Other ingredients may include onion, salt, pepper, and bay leaves.

Soaked overnight, then cooked on the stove slowly for several hours, the peas are traditionally served with boiled cabbage, turnip green, mustard greens or collard greens, and cornbread. Accompanied by a tall glass of ice-cold, sweet tea – another regional treat – this meal probably has not changed much since it’s Civil War beginnings.

You’ll find some ideas here for quick and simple ways to add a festive look to your home without spending a lot of time or money. And you’ll have time left over to really enjoy Christmas! Most are our ideas are very easy, many are free, and none takes more than a minimum of time and effort.

Decorate everything with bows.

•  Tie generous ribbons to chair backs, candlesticks, picks in plants, wreaths, garlands, basket handles, drapery tie-backs, stair railings, and doorknobs.

•  Bows look festive and the ribbons you choose should tie together with the rest of your decorating. Choose ribbons in colors and patterns that coordinate with your decorating scheme. You don’t have to stick with red and green. Choose plaids or florals that tie in. If you can’t find anything that looks quite right, then choose metallic silver, gold, green, or red.

•  When the holidays are over, untie the ribbons and press them lightly. The bows won’t get crushed and the ribbons will be ready when you want to take them out the next year.

Use holiday tableware for every meal in December.

•  Look through your cupboards and get out any dishes that look festive.

•  Discount stores often carry seconds of name brand china, as well as fun designs that are not so common.

•  Start a set of holiday dishes with dinner plates that coordinate with your everyday dishes. Add new pieces each year, like salad plates and mugs. If you’re adventuresome, choose a different pattern and one place setting each year. Arrange the different dishes around the table and get lots of comments and rekindle memories. When they’re not in use, the dishes can be displayed around the room.

Turn off the lights.

•  Arrange lots of candles on the dining table and dine by candlelight, even if you’re just having leftovers. Every meal will feel special.

•  Burn a fire in the fireplace each evening and encourage family members to gather around and read, do homework, write Christmas cards, or snooze.

•  Arrange pillar candles in your bathroom, on the sink or around the tub. Take time to soak and enjoy! If you have little children in your home, you should be very careful with candles around the house. Always have an adult in the room.

Hang holiday wreaths.

•  Put a wreath or swag on every door you have. Of course, start with the front door to welcome guests.

•  Go on to the back door, inside and out. Remember over the mantle, and in all your front windows. Don’t forget bedroom doors, inside and out.

•  Use real pine, holly, or grapevine, decorated with bows, berries, fruit, pinecones, raffia, ornaments, birds, photos, or candy.

•  To keep wreaths year after year, buy artificial wreaths that will last.

(Reprinted from writer Coral Nafie, former About.com guide.)

An upside-down Christmas tree. Who has ever heard of anything so ridiculous?

Well, you may be surprised to find this unusual, yet designer tree tastefully decorated and on display in Zoey’s Downtown in Hartselle. This unique tree is one of the hottest fads of the  season.The concept of an upside-down tree is new to many of us but it actually dates back to the Middle Ages.

It was a custom in Central Europe to hang Christmas trees upside down in the 12th Century. Europeans believed the triangular shape of the Fir Tree described the Holy Trinity of the  Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and it was a symbol of Christianity.

The real reason behind the hanging of the tree upside down still remains vague.

Today’s Christmas trees are shaped with the tip pointing upward towards heaven, and some people think an upside-down Christmas tree is disrespectful or even sacrilegious.

These trees were recently introduced to retailers at market for their holiday in-store displays. Jana S. Downs, owner of Zoey’s Downtown, said she really likes her upside down tree. “I  can not only display ornaments at eye level and it gives me more open floor space to hold extra stock of decorations and gifts.”

Downs said she doesn’t sell the trees but they are available online starting at about $240 for a 7.5 foot tree.

Upside-down Christmas trees are either hung from a bracket on the ceiling like a chandelier, stood upside down on a stand, or mounted tip-down on the wall. Downs said someone could  actually take their regular Christmas tree and turn it upside-down with a little creativity.

While you may not go for this idea in a big way, you might see a few of the benefits.If you have little children, you can keep most of the ornaments away from little hands.

Cats and dogs won’t be racing around and knocking decorations off the base of the tree. “And just think how many more packages you will be able to put under the tree,” Downs added.

On a personal note, I simply love this wonderful season and celebration of Christmas. And I especially love decorating my home for the holidays.

I know that not all traditions have to do with the birth of Christ although He is the reason for the season. I simply love the celebrations of love of family and giving, and I don’t intend to turn those elements of thanksgiving “upside-down” in my home but sometimes it is nice to think outside the box.Happy Holidays from our family to yours!

By Loretta Gillespie

The holiday table is one of the main focal points of a home this time of year. Make yours shine!

By using coordinating dishes, table linens and accessories, you can create a masterpiece like the ones shown here. Shop for unusual pieces, like this great tureen or a mirrored tray. Use keepsake ornaments, vintage consignment shop finds or something from the garden to form
an eye-catching tableau in the center of the table.

Give your tablescape some height by lifting some of the more important pieces, but not too high, you want people to be able to see one another.

Candles give your table a warm glow, a festive feeling and a welcoming atmosphere.
Sparkling crystal reflects the light, as does gleaming silverware.

Use bright colors, like red and gold, and layer your place settings, as Phyllis Stanko has done here, so that your table will really pop!

You’re guests will be amazed!

Happy Holidays From Hartselle Area Magazine and Aroundrhouse!

Tablescapes and photos by Phyllis Stanko, Fullerton, California.
See more of her creations at www.aroundrhouse.blogspot.com.
Make sure you let her know you saw her in Hartselle Area Magazine.