Old-Fashioned Day in Haleyville Saturday

HALEYVILLE - The origin of how the City of Haleyville received its name, as well as its incorporation in 1889, will be celebrated in the city’s first-ever Old-Fashioned Day Saturday, June 20, at the Heart of Haleyville Park on Main Street downtown.
The public is invited to bring chairs, wear their old-fashioned clothes and come out for a day of events and music celebrating the city’s heritage, starting at 1 p.m., with live music, demonstrations, competitions between the police and fire department sand even a play with local people portraying historical characters, telling the story of how the city received its name.
“We did (the play) on Haleyville’s 100th anniversary, and we had a wonderful day, a wonderful turnout, wonderful participation,” noted Haleyville Historical Society member Vicky Dean, who will direct the play at the Heart of Haleyville Park stage.
“Our young people study Alabama history, but they need to know Haleyville history,” Dean said.
“This is an opportunity to see a play about how the town got its name,” Dean said. “It’s an opportunity to see what life would be like back in 1889, when our city was chartered.”
Old Fashioned Day will begin at 1 p.m. with live music by the bluegrass group Self Inflicted Wound performing on the park stage, according to Christy Harbin, member of the event planning committee.
The  band will perform until 3 p.m., when a short break will be held, in preparation for the play, which will be performed at 3:30 p.m., Harbin said.
The play entitled, “How Haleyville Got Her Name”, will be performed on the Heart of Haleyville Park stage, complete with eight characters portraying important figures from the past, such as pioneer Bucky Davis, the mercantile brothers  Charlie and Walker Haley, as well as local citizens Samuel and Viola Biddle and Mrs. Drewry, Dean said.
The play will also feature an Alabama history teacher and two students for the school room scene, where the history of Haleyville will be brought to life. 
The play will  center on the exchange of a suit of clothes from the Haley brothers at their mercantile business to Davis,  who had owned 40 acres of land in the area that is now downtown Haleyville, to mark the change in the name of the community from Davis Crossroads to Haleysville, which eventually became known as Haleyville, Dean explained.
“We invite everyone to come and learn how Haleyville got its name,” Dean said.
Brian Berry, a member of the organization committee, will be portraying one of the Haley brothers during the festival, as well as in the play.
“It’s going to be interesting for a lot of people to learn how Haleyville actually got the name Haleyville,” Berry said. 
Berry urged the public to wear old-fashioned clothes during the festival, but to bring an extra change of clothes, so they will be comfortable during the live music performances, since the weather is expected to be hot. 
“It’s a great opportunity to come out and visit with people from the community, but an even better way to learn about Haleyville itself,” noted Librarian Carla Waldrep, who will be portraying the teacher in the play.
“It will be a great day to socialize, including an ice cream social, a picnic on the ground, among many other things in conjunction with the historic play we are going to do,” Waldrep added.
The public is encouraged to bring not only portable chairs but a blanket, with the city providing a brown bag picnic lunch, as long as supplies last, committee members said.
At 5 p.m., winners of the Old-Fashioned Day costume contest will be announced, followed  by the gospel band Restore the Broken, from West Virginia, performing at the park stage until around 6:30 p.m., Harbin stated.
“I feel like Haleyville has been based always on faith and family,” Harbin pointed out. “It was important to have bluegrass and gospel as part of this because that’s where I believe Haleyville’s heritage lies, in faith and family.”
Throughout Old-Fashioned Day, some key historical and demonstration scenes will be displayed, such as a kitchen from the 1880s cooking beans and cornbread in large iron pots, as well as a spinning wheel, soap making and some tents showcasing some historical artifacts, organizers said.
Horse and buggy rides will also be provided throughout the festival, they added.
The public can also enjoy a lemonade stand.
During the day, competitions between the police and fire departments will include burlap sack races, tug of war and even horseshoe throwing at the park located beside BankFirst on Main Street, Harbin stated.
Haleyville Mayor Dr. Ray Boshell urges everyone to attend another free event at the Heart of Haleyville Park.
“This is not only entertainment, but it’s also a way to learn some of the city’s history,” Boshell said.
“The committee is really good about finding a variety  of things that are free entertainment, but this time, there’s an educational component to it,” Boshell added. “I think that’s really cool.”
“I hope everyone enjoys everything we are about to be doing,” noted Police Investigator and committee member Austin Lewis, who is organizing the musical acts for the festival. “Bring your lawn chair.”
“The whole family needs to come and be a part of it,” Dean said. “Get out your old-fashioned clothes. If you’ve got overalls, or if you’ve got aprons, hats, just  join in, and roll back time to 1889, and have a fun old-fashioned day.”