How Do You Pronounce Mobile?

Specifically, my home town, Mobile, Alabama. The correct pronunciation is Mo-beel (with emphasis on the second syllable).  Mobile is also the name of the county, shown in yellow in the map below.

Mobile's name is derived from Fort Louis de la Mobile, which was a French fortification near Mt. Vernon,  in the northern part of the county.  The settlement was established in 1702. 

It was later moved to its present location.
The word Mobile is believed to come from a Choctaw Indian word for
'paddlers.'  Mobile has been under French, British, and Spanish rule since it was first settled.  That's enough history for today, though.

source: Alabame Department of Archives and History (http://www.archives.state.al/)
http://img.realtor.com/mobile/region.gif

The Southern Smorgasbord Alabamian of the Month!

The first Saturday of every month I will announce my choice for the person(s) to be given this honor. It is strictly arbitrary and based on my criteria. Some of the people I announce will be familiar to you, some will not. But each will have made a contribution, not only to the State of Alabama, but in many cases to the United States and beyond. Throughout the month interesting information about this person(s) will be posted periodically and at random. Oh, and a few of the recipients may be somewhat 'notorious.' You just never know....

Why the Camellia japonica, you ask?

Until 1959, the goldenrod was the state flower of Alabama. It had been officially named by the Alabama Legislature in 1927.  School children had selected it because, according to the Alabama Department of Archives and History, "...it blooms everywhere and brightens the fall months with its liberal plume-like flowers."

It seems that some ladies residing in Butler County did not consider the goldenrod worthy of the title, since it was a wildflower, and for all intents and purposes, a weed.  So, in spite of the fact that the camellia is native to China, it officially replaced the goldenrod as Alabama's State flower in August of 1959.

The story does not end there, however. In June of 1999, the Alabama Legislature specifically named Camellia japonica as the official State flower.  This particular cultivar is very widespread throughout the entire southeast United States, not just Alabama, as an ornamental shrub. There are apparently over 3,000 separate varieties, hybrids and cultivars of Camellia japonica, according to http://www.floridata.com/.

While we're waiting for spring.....

How about some interesting factoids about Alabama? Do I have your curiosity aroused?

What is the Alabama state flower? 

A) goldenrod
                                                          

   B) camellia
                                                           

  C) azalea

  D) camellia japonica

Since the suspense is probably more than you can stand, I'll tell you.  If you guessed B, you are partially correct.  If you guessed A, you are also partially correct.  If you guessed C, you are wrong, although I personally think it should be. So that leaves D.

Yea, Alabama!!!

I learned the words to Bama's fight song while still a little girl. My brother Jim, who was seven years my senior, taught me the words and taught me to love this school. The song was composed by E.L.'Epps' Sykes in 1926. This site has a fascinating history of 'Yea, Alabama' http://bryant.ua.edu/includes/band/behindyeaalabama.pdf
How fitting that the song refers to the Rose Bowl, which Alabama had just won in January of that year, earning its first national championship. Now, in 2010, Alabama returns to the Rose Bowl once again, with the opportunity of capturing another national title. If you listen to the song it may be difficult to hear all of the lyrics--here they are: Yea, Alabama! Drown 'em Tide! Every 'Bama man's behind you, hit your stride! Go teach the Bulldogs to behave, Send the Yellow Jackets to a watery grave! And if a man starts to weaken, That's a shame! For Bama's pluck and grit Have writ her name in crimson flame! Fight on, fight on, fight on, men! Remember the Rose Bowl we'll win then! Go, roll to victory, Hit your stride, You're Dixie's football pride, Crimson Tide!