We drove through a town called Ashville so pulled over because there was a sign mentioning an assassination.
In 1870 St. Clair Co. was still under Radical Republican Reconstruction. On August 20, 1870 honorable men of the County (former Confederates) had decided to hold the first Democratic Convention after the War Between the States. The meeting would be held at the Courthouse in Ashville. Former Sgt. E. Frank Harrison, Co. F. 10th Ala. Infantry Regiment was selected as one of the delegates. As Sgt. Harrison and a number of Confederate Veterans approached the Courthouse, they were ambushed by the cowardly “Springfield Gang”, led by H. J. Springfield, a Confederate deserter and outlaw of the worst kind. On this spot Sgt. Harrison was shot and killed by H. J. Springfield. Due to Harrison’s death, the meeting was postponed and then held at Bolton’s Crossroads.
Greek revival antebellum home built by Moses Dean in 1852, acquired by John W. Inzer in 1866. Home occupied by Inzer family from 1866 to 1987. In July 1987 home and its contents, including extensive law library, deeded by family heirs to St. Clair Camp 308, Sons of Confederate Veterans, to become museum in honor of Lt. Col. & Judge John W. Inzer. Museum is maintained for educational purposes and public awareness. Museum incorporated December 1988 as a non-profit corporation.
John Washington Inzer born January 9th, 1834, Gwinnett County, Georgia. The family left Georgia in 1853, moving to Eden in St. Clair County, Alabama. In 1854 John Inzer began his study of law; admitted to the bar in 1855. In 1856 moved to Ashville to practice law. In 1859, Inzer was licensed to practice law before the Alabama Supreme Court, appointed Probate Judge, St. Clair County, that year. In 1861, elected to represent St. Clair County at Alabama's Secession Convention, youngest man to do so.In 1862, he joined Confederate Army as a private; rose to rank of Lt. Col. in the 58th Alabama Infantry Regiment. Inzer fought in battles of Corinth, Shiloh, Chickamauga and Missionary Ridge where he was captured and made POW at Johnson's Island, Ohio, 1863 to 1865. After Chickamauga, Col. Bushrod Jones wrote of Lt. Col. Inzer's conspicuous bravery, his causing his men to charge with enthusiasm, and of his gallantry on the battle's second day, which exceeded that of the first. There was not a more gallant and courageous officer in the Confederate Army.
Appointed Probate Judge by occupying Union forces, July 1865; elected to that office, 1866. Elected to State Senate, 1874 and 1890. In 1877, appointed as Trustee of Howard College, later Samford University. From 1878 to 1900 was Trustee of the Alabama Insane Hospital. Appointed Judge of the 16th Judicial Circuit 1907, re-elected 1908.
John Washington Inzer died January 2nd, 1928, age 93, last surviving member of the Alabama Secession convention. He was known as “Alabama's Grand Old Man.” He is buried in the Ashville Cemetery.
Coffee and a bite to eat at Moody Brews in Gunterville.
The main trip of the day. To the Unclaimed Baggage store. From their website…
1970: Born and raised in northeast Alabama, third-generation entrepreneur Doyle Owens was struck with an idea. Using a borrowed pickup truck and a $300 loan, he headed up to Washington D.C. and bought his first load of unclaimed baggage from Trailways Bus Line. He then sold the contents on card tables in an old rented house - the venture was an instant success! With his family’s blessing, he left his full-time insurance job, and Unclaimed Baggage Center was born.
1978: Initially the business opened on Wednesdays and Saturdays, and Doyle, his wife Sue, and their two sons worked tirelessly to prepare the luggage contents for sale. Doyle’s entrepreneurial spirit took flight as he landed his first airline contract with Eastern Airlines. As larger volumes and more unusual items started flowing in, the business expanded its hours of operation to six days a week. Gradually, Unclaimed Baggage formed relationships with all other domestic airlines, solidifying its position as the country’s only lost luggage store.
1981: With a sizeable inventory of winter ski equipment on hand, the store launched its first "Ski Sale," drawing customers from all over the South. The sale was so successful that it became an annual event attended by winter sports enthusiasts from across the country. Unclaimed Baggage now saves all ski equipment and apparel received throughout the year to sell on this day. Come by the store on the first Saturday of November, and you'll find customers camping out in the parking lot hoping to be the first ones through the door.
1995: Doyle's son Bryan and his wife Sharon purchased the business and began a remodel project that expanded Unclaimed Baggage to cover more than a city block. The business added a cafe and a Museum of Found Treasures, making it a true shopping and tourist destination. From the earliest years of business, regional publications expressed a fascination with the “land of lost luggage.” Then, in 1995, Oprah featured Unclaimed Baggage Center as one of America's “best-kept shopping secrets.” More media and curious visitors quickly followed from every corner of the globe to see the one-of-a-kind-store. The store has been featured in publications ranging from Vogue to HuffPost, Buzzfeed, The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times and showcased on TODAY, the Travel Channel and many more.
1995-2020: Over the last 25 years, Unclaimed Baggage has added lost items from more travel and entertainment businesses, along with unclaimed cargo, which has been lost or damaged during shipment. The store now receives thousands of unclaimed items each week, all of which are sorted, cleaned, cleared, prepped, priced, and stocked via the center’s complex processing system.
As part of its commitment to service and generosity, the company created the Reclaimed for Good foundation that has given millions of dollar’s worth of product and profit to meet needs all around the globe. It has also received numerous commendations and awards, including Alabama Retailer of the Year in 2016. Today, Unclaimed Baggage hosts more than one million store visitors each year from every state and more than 40 countries, making it one of Alabama’s top tourist attractions.
2020: It’s Unclaimed Baggage's 50th Anniversary! We are humbled, grateful and give God glory for this milestone. Stay tuned for updates on our 50 Years 50 States Road Tour (postponed due to COVID), and check out our new online store that we launched in June!
There was also a museum with some of the stranger things found.
From the museum, a Fine Egyptian Painted and Gilded Wood Horus Hawk Sarcophagus, A Dogon Bronze Horseman Figure from 19th or 20th Century. Oh, and some shrunken heads. The Sarcophagus is a replica (as the one originally given to the store dated from 305-30BC.) Oh, and the shrunken heads are replicas too as the as doctor from Birmingham (Alabama), and a regular customer got them to agree he could keep the originals in his office.)
I just bought a book, and a couple of t-shirts. I didn’t buy a shrunken head, replica or otherwise.
Across the state line into Georgia. State number 29.
