Remember When: Do you remember what it all looked like?

By Guest Columnist Mary Jane Boutwell

Earlier in the year, my oldest brother told me he remembered the highway department building “new” Highway 51. My family lived along the roadway. Is there an old Highway 51? It just so happened that, as I was waiting in the car, I found a county map. There was a road with the label Highway 51.

There is a group of us “ole folks” that meet at Old Madison once a month to visit and talk. Joe Hardy was there, and I know he had once lived down Virlillia Road. All of this was when a lot of horse and mule pulled wagons went over dirt and gravel roads. So, I asked him what Highway 22 was before it became a paved state road. 

Highway 22 was the upper Flora Road, and Virlillia Road was the lower Flora Road. Now, the question is, when did the lower Flora Road become Virlillia Road? Answers bring more questions.

Talking with someone recently, they commented that they had been at the Old Jail helping decorate for the Christmas Open House. To the best of my old memory, I was the first one to decorate it for Christmas. The Madison County Home Decoration County Council was having a tasting tea and crafts fair. I remember I used horse apples as part of the decorations and climbed out on the porch roof to hang the garland. If anyone remembers an earlier decoration, please let me know. 

Another question for old timers: Do you know who trained their race horses to come out of the starting gates? She would have graduated from Canton High School after 1960. The setup was on Highway 51 south of Canton. My memory says it was on the west side of 51, where Deviney is today.

Also, there were several families that had and trained racehorses around Canton. As a child, I was told there was a fairground with a race track just outside the then city limits on Highway 22. There was a large wooden building across from where the chicken plant is today. Going by a not-very-knowledgeable memory, it was probably for trotters.

Just think, we had racehorses, a race track, and a professional baseball team. What else is out there, long-lost and forgotten? Oh, there was a YMCA with an enclosed swimming pool, too. Ole Dr. Durfey was a lifeguard, and I was told he could not swim. The old ice house would put ice in the water at night so it could not be uncomfortably hot.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Mary Jane Boutwell is a passionate historian and is thrilled to share stories about way back when.