Taking the path last traveled
Published 12:00 am Sunday, January 2, 2005
A combination of historic events and structures, natural beauty and genuine warmth of welcome has made Selma one of the country’s popular tourist destinations. A fact not to be taken lightly, the number of visitors each year is responsible for the nearly 3 million dollars income from lodgings taxes. In the 12 years since the tax was levied by city ordinance the fledgling tourism industry has grown to be one of the state’s most profitable.
And few citizens realize that each tourism dollar spent in Selma turns over seven times, thus affecting positively businesses such as service stations, restaurants, hotels and motels, gift shops and the four local museums. Special events; i.e. Pilgrimage, Riverfront Market, Jubilee, Black Heritage School Tours and Battle of Selma Reenactment, are coordinated with the Tourism Division of the Centre for Commerce by the Community and Economic Development Department of the City of Selma.
An appointed board, the Tourism Advisory Council has oversight responsibility. It should be noted that attractions for tourists also include bass fishing tournaments, wild game hunting, old Live Oak, the city’s National Register Cemetery, and recently, walking tours.
Planning for these events begins early, by both the city and the prospective visitors. An excellent example is the Capital City Wanderers Walking Club, Inc., who several weeks ago visited Selma in preparation for a volksmarch on Saturday, March 19, during the three-day Historic Selma Pilgrimage.
A volksmarch is a non-competitive 6 miles (10 kilometer) walk. Not a pledge walk, not a race, it is a fun activity with a club or your family or your pet or all by yourself. The origin of the name is in Europe, and there are now thousands of volkssport clubs around the world allied in the International Volkssport Federation, the IVV.
In the United States there are more than 350 such clubs, with local clubs hosting the walking events. They select a trail for safety, scenic interest, historic areas and walkability. Then members are invited to come and enjoy it on a weekend. Trails are marked on maps provided and may be in cities, towns, parks, forests and rural areas.
The length of the walk varies, although most people take 2 hours to stroll the 10K trails. The route description for this ground breaking event in Selma was determined by the Rev. Mark Waldo, Montgomery, assisted by Joannie Hammonds, Deacon of St. Paul’s Episcopal Churches in Selma and Lowndesboro. Acquainted through the Black Belt Round Table, which meets once monthly, Deacon Hammonds set up appointments and accompanied the Rev. Waldo when the Selma route was chosen.
A return visit to Selma was made last week when Frances Durr, Anne Waldo, John Leofsky, Angela Demerath and Waldo, members of Capital City Wanderers, visited the areas selected for the Civil War and Civil Rights 10K Round Event, as described in the brochure.
The walk or volksmarch begins at the St. James Hotel, and a brief history of it is given on page one of the brochure. From the St. James, the walk goes to Brown Chapel A.M.E. Church, then to the Old Depot Museum.
From the museum, the walkers cross Edmund Pettus Bridge to Memorial Park, with the Loop in the Park added. Returning over the bridge the walk continues to Church Street, then to the Vaughan-Smitherman Museum and on to old Live Oak Cemetery past the Confederate Memorial, noting the historical markers throughout the oak-lined streets.
Old Town Historic District is entered from the cemetery with a stop at Sturdivant Hall Museum and a block or so on Jeff Davis Avenue at the Reformed Presbyterian Church.
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church is the final stop before returning to the St. James hotel.
While new members are welcome, Waldo says you don’t have to join a club to enjoy the volksmarch events. All are open to the public. Those who like to keep track of their fitness may join the Individual Achievement Award Program, with record books available for $5 each. For each fitness goal achieved a medal, less than $7, may be purchased.
Other trails in Alabama are Birmingham, both downtown and Southside, opening in 2005, and Fayette, also Montevallo, Montgomery Capitol, Montgomery Parks, Orange Beach, Tuscaloosa and Selma.
For more information, write the Rev. Mark Waldo, 2046 Hazel Hedge Lane, Montgomery 36106.
Lead photo:
St. James Hotel, starting point
Sturdivant Hall
Reformed Presbyterian
Pettus Bridge
MLK in front of Brown Chapel