A BEAUTIFUL LETTER from Rev William Blackerby
November 12, 2019
ADEM Russell Kelly, Chief Permits Division Tyson, Blountsville, AL Permit # AL0001449
Dear Mr. Kelly: My family has owned land that borders Graves Creek, including Mardis Mills Falls, since 1959. My grandparents, George and Kate Blackerby, were in the real estate business and purchased land on both sides of Mardis Mill Road, much of which they subdivided and sold. However, they held onto about 23 acres along the creek including the Falls. I now own that property as well as about 7 acres next to it on the creek.
The Blackerby’s have loved that land and Graves Creek, especially the Falls, for 60 years. Granddaddy and his daughter, Ouida Blackerby Kinzey, probably loved it the most of any of us. There’s no telling how many pictures Aunt Ouida took of that waterfall over the years, many of which ended up in photo exhibits she entered as an amateur photographer. She and my Uncle Bill spent hours walking up and down a newly cut portion of Posey Road many years ago looking for arrowheads, a tray of which I have in my study at home. Granddaddy loved to fish there or just walk around communing with the beauty of the creek, the land, and the Falls.
While I don’t get up there as often I’d like, I have fond memories of my family’s time there for picnics, fishing, hiking, and watching Aunt Ouida take pictures. I know, too, that there are generations of families in Blount County that have wonderful memories of that creek and the Falls probably even more than I do. No telling how many family photos have been taken with the Falls as background and how many picnics have happened there. Granddaddy and Aunt Ouida loved that it meant so much to so many people in Blount County. I love that too.
I remember how angry Granddaddy got when a nasty looking foam started showing up in the creek from the chicken processing plant upstream probably in the early 1960s. I still remember the stench almost 60 years later. From what I understand, Granddaddy was among the people who worked to get things changed about the way the plant used the creek at that time.
A chicken processing plant is once again damaging Graves Creek and adversely affecting families by not controlling adequately what the plant discharges. It is my sincere hope that ADEM will set and enforce strict regulations on Tyson’s discharge into Graves Creek so that families can continue to enjoy fishing, swimming, picnicking, and picture taking. It is a beautiful creek and an amazing waterfall. I believe that we all have sacred trust to ensure that people now and generations to come can continue commune with the beauty of that place.
Sincerely,
The Rev. William S. Blackerby, Jr. 4307 Clairmont Avenue South Birmingham, AL 35222
ADEM Russell Kelly, Chief Permits Division Tyson, Blountsville, AL Permit # AL0001449
Dear Mr. Kelly: My family has owned land that borders Graves Creek, including Mardis Mills Falls, since 1959. My grandparents, George and Kate Blackerby, were in the real estate business and purchased land on both sides of Mardis Mill Road, much of which they subdivided and sold. However, they held onto about 23 acres along the creek including the Falls. I now own that property as well as about 7 acres next to it on the creek.
The Blackerby’s have loved that land and Graves Creek, especially the Falls, for 60 years. Granddaddy and his daughter, Ouida Blackerby Kinzey, probably loved it the most of any of us. There’s no telling how many pictures Aunt Ouida took of that waterfall over the years, many of which ended up in photo exhibits she entered as an amateur photographer. She and my Uncle Bill spent hours walking up and down a newly cut portion of Posey Road many years ago looking for arrowheads, a tray of which I have in my study at home. Granddaddy loved to fish there or just walk around communing with the beauty of the creek, the land, and the Falls.
While I don’t get up there as often I’d like, I have fond memories of my family’s time there for picnics, fishing, hiking, and watching Aunt Ouida take pictures. I know, too, that there are generations of families in Blount County that have wonderful memories of that creek and the Falls probably even more than I do. No telling how many family photos have been taken with the Falls as background and how many picnics have happened there. Granddaddy and Aunt Ouida loved that it meant so much to so many people in Blount County. I love that too.
I remember how angry Granddaddy got when a nasty looking foam started showing up in the creek from the chicken processing plant upstream probably in the early 1960s. I still remember the stench almost 60 years later. From what I understand, Granddaddy was among the people who worked to get things changed about the way the plant used the creek at that time.
A chicken processing plant is once again damaging Graves Creek and adversely affecting families by not controlling adequately what the plant discharges. It is my sincere hope that ADEM will set and enforce strict regulations on Tyson’s discharge into Graves Creek so that families can continue to enjoy fishing, swimming, picnicking, and picture taking. It is a beautiful creek and an amazing waterfall. I believe that we all have sacred trust to ensure that people now and generations to come can continue commune with the beauty of that place.
Sincerely,
The Rev. William S. Blackerby, Jr. 4307 Clairmont Avenue South Birmingham, AL 35222
