Load your wagon and head for Rainsville

By Tim Eberhart, executive director
Rainsville Chamber of Commerce
Newspaper column for the Times-Journal - April 23, 2010 edition

Ninety six year ago, an advertisement in the Fort Payne Journal promoted a real estate auction in what is now downtown Rainsville. Fifty one valuable door prizes were to be given away, and a cash prize of 15 dollars was offered to the farmer “for bringing the most people on one wagon to the sale.”

I do not know if they sold any of the lots, but Zedikiah Arthur Land won the contest when he transporting 95 men to the sale in a 12 by 20 feet wagon he prepared especially for the occasion.

“He hauled the load with four of his best mules, and beat his nearest opponent by 14 men,” according to a report in the July 6, 1914 Journal.

Fifteen dollars was like 900 bucks in 1914.

Can you imagine how the guy who finished second felt? His wagon was loaded down with 81 men and he won zilch.

Now, back to 2010. An advertisement in this week’s newspaper tells about a big event this Saturday in Rainsville where dozens of door prizes will be given away. It is the 70th Annual Meeting of Sand Mountain Electric Cooperative.

Two lucky Co-op members will win free electricity for an entire year.

If I win one of the grand prizes, the Cooperative will pay 12 of my actual electric bills which would be worth about 1,900 bucks to me.

The chances of winning will not increase if your wagon, SUV or mini van is loaded down with dozens of men. But, they can enjoy the gospel concert featuring New Ground, and, if they are Co-op members, they can vote in the trustee election.

Another advertisement earlier this week told of a big show coming to Rainsville. The Carson & Barnes Circus will roll into town early Monday morning. The sponsor, the Rainsville Civitan Club, invites everyone to come out to watch the elephants help put up the big tent. That should be around 8:30 to 9:00 AM.

If you have not got your tickets already, the circus’ box office will open at 9:00 AM on Monday.

My favorite things about the circus are the Friesian horses, the performing elephants, the “Salute to America” parade, and the daring young men and women on the flying trapeze.


Contact info

Rainsville Chamber of Commerce
PO Box 396; Rainsville, AL 35986

115 Main Street West
PHONE: 256-638-7800