This photo taken near Poarch Switch Road in the 1930s shows the impact of creeks and ponds on local roads. Projects funded by the WPA helped alleviate many of these issues.
The Great Depression had a profound impact on those who lived through it. It was a test by fire and hardened the resolve of those who made it through those dark days. The times were dark in that jobs were hard to find, starvation was right around the corner, and for some, hunger and despair were ever-present companions.
At this point in history Franklin Roosevelt was elected President. Although many of his policies resulted in a dramatic increase in government programs and entitlements, these programs were not such that they rewarded inaction or paid someone to stay home.
To the contrary, the programs of that era created true public works which benefited society. Look no further than "CCC Trail," roads with this name exist in Escambia and Monroe and I'm sure they also exist elsewhere. The Civilian Conservation Corps built roads, parks such as Little River State Park and made other improvements while paying men to work.
The Works Progress Administration (WPA) conducted other projects. An amazing local project was the draining of Indian Pond. This project was so successful that few, if any, remember the exact location of the pond or even remember its existence.
This writer became aware of the pond some years ago when researching an old Atmore Advance article written by Mr. Currie if Atmore, who was well known for his knowledge of area history.
He wrote of the pond being a mile or so east of Atmore when the community was founded. In that the earliest structures in Atmore existed around what is now United Bank and First National Bank and Trust, it would appear the pond started somewhere around Escambia Lawn and Garden and extended east beyond what is now Parker and Sons Construction. This is a guess and partially based upon the presence of the big ditches in the area and the mounds of dirt just north of Highway 31 in the area.
In a 1929 Atmore Advance article, R.W. Brooks noted the difficulty in traveling from Canoe to Atmore due to the presence of the pond. "In years gone by, many cows attempted to cross that pond and never came out alive. The only way you could get to Canoe was to go out where Horner Street is and go down past Mr. Purvis' home and on where Salem Church is and then up to Canoe, going in to where Ed Stanton's store now stands," noted Brooks.
Yet four years later, the WPA would have other plans for Indian Pond. The Atmore Advance noted on November 30, 1934 of the money being appropriated to drain the pond. "Two miles of ditching will be required to drain Indian Pond and seven other ponds which lead into it."
By August 1934, three hundred men and women were employed in relief work (work funded by the Federal government) in District Four, this was according to Arthur D. Ellsbury, county relief director. Some of their projects included repairing the school at McCullough, drainage in Atmore, road work, Atmore library repairs, city school repairs and at the four canneries in the District (one of which was at Canoe). The total expenditures for relief work in July 1934 totaled $10,665.00 The Indian Pond drainage project also began during August 1934.
One year later, in August 1935, the work on draining the pond continued. Twenty-five men were reported to be working on the project. The Atmore Advance reported that the project required little expenditure for material, which leads one to believe most of the job consisted of moving earth and digging the large ditches which drained the massive pond.
Pictures of the old pond are hard to come by and the names of the workers who took part in the big dig to drain the pond and its surrounding ponds are lost to history. Yet when driving between Canoe and Atmore its interesting to imagine a huge pond taking up perhaps 100 or more acres and a wayward cow being eaten by alligators in what was then the backwaters of the area.
The book Shadows and Dust III: Legacies is now available for purchase. The hidden history of our area is documented through ten years of All Things Southern articles. Shadows and Dust III is available online at Lulu publishing.com or by sending $35 (this includes shipping-the book cost without shipping is $30) to Kevin McKinley at PO Box 579 Atmore, AL 36054. Also available: Shadows and Dust I and II and Canoe: History of A Southern Town. Shadows and Dust I and II and the Canoe book are available for $20 each.
A yard sale, with a portion of the proceeds to benefit the Canoe Civic Center, will be held Saturday June 22, 2019 from 8am-1pm at the Canoe Civic Center on Highway 31 in Canoe. Produce, adult/children clothing, electronics, cookware, housewares and other items will be available. The Canoe Civic Center is also selling smoked chicken plates for $7.50 to be picked up on July 13, 2019. See a member for details or call 251 294 0293.
