This year’s Progress edition was inspired by this county’s love for celebrating its past.

This year seemed an especially appropriate time to highlight scenes from yesteryear in our annual progress edition as the entire state – as well as Franklin County and Russellville – continues bicentennial celebrations. Across Alabama the time is ripe to relish in the history that has served as a foundation for where we are today. Scores of events and special projects are helping to commemorate Alabama’s – and Franklin County’s and Russellville’s – 200th anniversaries, and maybe this edition of Progress can be just a small part of that.

We love to share memories with each other about “the good ol’ days,” don’t we? There’s just something about reminiscing on those days gone by, dwelling on thoughts of the past and the good times we experienced then. It gives us a sense of nostalgia, and while life is often about moving forward and facing the future, sometimes it’s nice to remember where we came from.
We make it a point to share many glimpses at Franklin County’s past in the weekly Franklin County Times – from our “Peek at the Past” photo feature to the “Looking Back” section, highlighting headlines of old. Every now and again, however, it’s important to dedicate a whole section to these precious memories.

Thirteen of your Franklin County friends and neighbors have done us the honor of sharing their stories from Franklin County’s past in this special edition – which was inserted in last week’s paper and of which there are plenty of copies available at our office.

Although their stories are personal to them, they are also the stories we all share – the memories we all have and cherish. We suspect their tales of the past will spark in you some memories of your own – memories, perhaps, you haven’t brought to mind in a long time.

These hometown folks were a joy to speak with, and we extend our sincerest thanks to them for their time and their generous sharing of memories.

We speak regretfully sometimes of the past, particularly of our sweetest memories, longing for times that are gone, times we feel we can never have again. But esteemed author Lucy Maud Montgomery encourages, “Nothing is ever really lost to us as long as we remember it.”

We hope this special publication can be a tiny piece of helping you remember.