Down Memory Lane program to spotlight early businesses

The early history of downtown Hartselle, featuring displays of business-related memorabilia, will be the focus of Hartselle Historical Society’s Down Memory Lane program on Mon,., Sept. 13.
The annual Depot Days event will be staged at Hartselle Fine Arts Center beginning at 5:30 p.m. with the opening of displays and concluding with a program in the auditorium beginning at 7 p.m.
Displayed for public viewing will be a wide variety of keepsakes collected by   merchants who were in business in Hartselle from the late 1800s to the 1950s. Items of special interest include  a pendulum clock that was used in the former Corsbie Furniture and Hardware store in the early 1900s and a train conductor’s uniform and railroad worker’s’ tools, which are over 75 years old. The displays will also contain old photos, calendars, handbills, novelty gifts and  other artifacts depicting the history of the downtown shopping district.
The displays will also be open for viewing on Sat., Sept. 18, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
A display of the town’s early physicians as well as displays of other prominent business families will be included.
The program’s featured speaker will be native historian David Burleson. He will speak on the early history of the town’s business community and use slides made from old photographs to illustrate his talk.
Other program speakers and their topics will include:  Lib Peck, 1926 bank robbery; Robert Peck, early years of Peck Funeral—backup for fire and police departments; Frank Stewart and Sara Bennett Debter, early years of the former Stewart & Bennett store; and Charles Quinn, early years of Hartselle Grocery Co.
Memorabilia for the displays is still being  accepted.  Anyone with a keepsake they’re willing to share with others is invited to call Betty White English at 256-773-9390.