Judy Sells The Shoals

If you’ve been in downtown Florence, Alabama at night in the past two weeks you might have noticed a group of people standing in the glow of a dimly lit street lamp in front of various homes and businesses listening intently to a woman telling a story. While The Shoals always has something going on, one event that you shouldn’t miss out on is the Haunted History of the Shoals Ghost Walk. This unique tour gives you a look into the history and local ghosts that haunt the homes, restaurants, and buildings around Court Street. There are only two nights left for this tour and with Halloween just one night away how else would you spend your evening, but by listening to spooky ghost tales on a dark, chilly October night? The tour begins in Wilson Park at 7:30pm in front of the W.C. Handy statue where you are introduced to your tour guide, Debra Glass, who started the ghost walk in 2002, after the release of her first of many ghost story books, True Ghost Stories of the Shoals, Vol. 1....

As time marches on it’s hard to imagine life in the 1800’s, but in the Historic District of Downtown Florence located on Walnut Street, Wood Avenue, and stretching into the College district it’s easy to picture the rich culture and history that was cultivated during these times because of the beautifully preserved homes that line the shaded streets of our lovely downtown. When I tour a home on one of these streets I find myself truly wishing that the walls could talk as I think about the original residents who literally laid the foundations for generations of families to enjoy a place to create lasting memories of holidays and celebrations, family dinners and the raising of children. It’s humbling to think that these homes have seen the Civil War and housed great Generals, musicians, authors, and leaders. Each house has a story to tell and by preserving the architectural design of the house we preserve the memories of those who came before us and called Florence h...

Across the bridge, on the other side of the shimmering Singing River, sits a small town that was once the bustling center of the Shoals and hosted some of the greatest names in music history at the famous Muscle Shoals Sound Studio. Over the years the downtown has remained quiet—but just recently Montgomery Avenue has been busy opening new boutiques, restaurants, and stores. This up and coming downtown has brand new apartments and is surrounded by gorgeous, established neighborhoods covered with ancient oak trees that hang lazily over streets that run into the bluffs and shores of the sparkling Tennessee River. Sheffield, Alabama is a charming, small town that is on the rise and if you don’t hurry, you might miss out on business and prime real estate opportunities.   Amongst the recently opened downtown shops are new favorites like the stylish women’s boutique, The Rak, the delicious restaurant, Rhoda P’s, and the upscale event venue, George’s 217.   The Rak i...