Monday, January 16, 2023 – A VISIT THAT LEFT A PERMANENT MEMORY FOR ME, NOW DAMAGED BY A TORNADO

By admin

Hi Judy! I certainly remember you and your visit, hard to believe it was 11 years ago! And you’re right, Queens ancestors galore and I have continued (sporadically) my quest.

Poor Selma, old Town, has been beaten up badly. The path brought the tornado from Orrville right down Dallas Ave, heavily wooded, destroying everything in it’s path. It went from tall graceful shady pines to matchsticks in a few minutes. A dear friend’s family 60 acres, old family homes, (5 homes dating back to 1920s and a log cabin) flattened. Winn Dixie was destroyed, it went through New Live Oak cemetery, across to the country club, taking the roof off our stadium, through our ante bellum period homes in that neighborhood, huge ancient oaks, gone. Moved across Broad St. taking out business on the way. I was at work in the Missions building (Catholic Social Services, Bosco Nutrition Center and my medical program) we hid in the bathrooms and it went right over. We walked out front 15 minutes later and everything flattened. And it just kept going down highway 14 into Autauga County and across the entire state.

An amazing amount of people have arrived in town to help, feeding stations, chainsaw crews, heavy equipment, clothing, household goods. There is sporadic cell and internet service throughout town, I live north so my house was safe, but our utilities suffered a bit and I just got everything back about an hour ago.

So that’s what has happened so far. I’ll see if I can find some FaceBook groups that are documenting the damage. Since you remember what our town looked like you’ll understand the devastation.

Thank you for reaching out to me, I’ll keep you in mind when I get updates.

I hope you and yours are well and happy, 2023 started with a bit too much excitement!
Kathi

FROM THE ARCHIVES

MONDAY, JANUARY 16, 2023


ISSUE 887

MEMORIES OF A

SOUTHERN CONNECTION

IN

SELMA, ALABAMA

ON

MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.

DAY

In 2010 my extended family history arrived in the mail.  The step-son of a cousin contacted me and asked if I would like some family items, a set of cuff-links to be exact.  I accepted and soon three things arrived in the mail. The cufflinks, a marriage license and an Ordination Certificate from Hebrew Union College in Cincinnati for Rabbi Jerome Cohen.

Jerome Cohen was my mother’s cousin who moved to Selma as his first congregation as a Reformed Rabbi.

The marriage license was even more interesting since I knew Jerome’s widow who who visited us annually for many years. Jerome was killed in a car crash in the late 1950’s and left a widow and two sons.

This sounded interesting and I started looking into Jewish life in Selma and my connection.  I remembered that Matilda’s family owned a store in Selma and that was a good starting point.
 

Section of the marriage license which was a treasure trove of information.

By coincidence the New York Times published an article about the restoration of the former Harmony Club in Selma.  There were Harmony Clubs in other cities, all of which were social clubs for the Jewish community.  Jews were not welcome at many venues in the south and elsewhere.

Matilda “Teal” Kayser lived here prior to marrying Jerome

Kayser’s in it heyday and the build remains today. Below, the tilework remains at the front door,

UPDATE
Glad to report, that part of downtown, old stores and memories,  was untouched. Maybe a few shingles but a few blocks from the worst part. Sad to report tho, Swift Drug has closed due to Buddy Swift’s health. Over 100+ years and he was the last in his family line and a diagnosis forced him to close. Kayser is fine. Yes, the Harmony Club sold, David Hurbut, the owner and developer passed away. The St James has been completely refurbished and owned as a Hilton Boutique property. Very very nice. There are pockets of downtown that are doing well.

Time for you to return!
Kathi
(Kathi is a descendent of the Willett family of Astoria, NY)

Text by Judith Berdy
Thanks to Bobbie Slonevsky for her dedication to Blackwell’s Almanac and the RIHS
Thanks to Deborah Dorff for maintaining our website
Edited by Melanie Colter and Deborah Dorff

All image are copyrighted (c) Roosevelt Island Historical Society unless otherwise indicated

JUDITH BERDY

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