Information on this church is limited. The oldest burial, according to FindAGrave, was in 1865.
Category Archives: -Alabama
The Grave Houses of Alabama’s Peck Cemetery
Located near Falkville, Alabama, there are two grave houses located in a large pasture. The houses are part of a small family cemetery.
The grave houses belong to Elizabeth Ann Wiggins Brown (1938-1889) and her husband, John Jemisom Brown (1927-1890). According to FindAGrave, there are six burials in the cemetery.
An unlocked gate is at the entrance. I chose not to enter and shoot from the pull-in.
Cosmic Christ Mosaic-Huntsville, Alabama
The First Baptist Church of Huntsville is home to a fantastic mosaic officially titled “Cosmic Christ.” Still, it is colloquially known as “Eggbeater Jesus” because the bottom part of Jesus’s body resembles a whisk. The mosaic was inspired by Huntsville being the home of NASA’s Marshall Space Center and the United States Space and Rocket Center, and by a Bible passage that referred to a ‘cosmic christ.’ Glass artist Gordon William Smith designed it in 1966, and the mosaic was installed in 1973. It cost $115,000 to complete. It took over 14 million pieces to make the mosaic.
Over the years, the mosaic began to deteriorate, and it was decided to restore it in 2016. The restoration lasted until 2022. It took 4.3 million blown glass tiles to restore. The church continues to use the original tiles in art projects.
In addition to the “Eggbeater Jesus,” the church is noted for its 229-foot steeple made by Campbellsville Industries, a company based in Kentucky. Known as the “God Rocket.” it is the largest premade steeple in the world.
The combination of the tower and the mosaic makes for an incredible piece of public art that you can see on Governor’s Drive. If you are ever in Huntsville, it is a must-see. If you are able, try to visit it at night when the mosaic is lit up.
The B. A. Nowlin House-Collinsville, Alabama
This distinctive Queen Anne was built in 1896 for B. A. Nowlin, a local merchant who owned a dry goods store in downtown. It is a contributing property to the Collinsville Historic District.
Powell Harbor Lighthouse-Guntersville, Alabama
Lake Guntersville is an artificial lake created by the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), created in 1933 by Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s New Deal to help stimulate the economy after The Great Depression. The decommissioned lighthouse sits on Powell Harbor.
It’s also the lesser-known lighthouse. A much larger lighthouse was built into the side of a home as a labor of love. Photos and the history of that Lake Guntersville lighthouse can be read here.
Smith Chapel and Cemetery of Collinsville, Alabama
Located outside of Collinsville, Alabama is the Smith Chapel and Cemetery. I have not been able to find any history on the church. According to FindAGrave, the oldest burial is 1857. The cemetery is still active.
