Dear Editor,

This past week, my husband and I got to make some special memories with our granddaughters, Kayle and Taylor Kimbril, on the square in Andalusia. We were going to see a movie and arrived a bit early, so to pass the time, we walked around the square.

There was a magnificent Autumn display, featuring an old wagon, farm implements and glorious fall flowers, pumpkins and gourds. I took a picture of my girls standing in front of it, that I will treasure forever.

I pointed out some bits of history that they weren’t aware of, like the six-story building that I have always heard was the tallest in Covington County. We watched the “bullbats” coming out for the evening as the skies turned from misty blue to deep azure, then to lavender.

I showed them a store on the square that was founded long ago by one of their foremothers, in a time it was rare for women to own a business. Most of the store windows were getting into the fall spirit, while others showed their support of the Andalusia Bulldogs football team. I showed them the memorials in front of the courthouse and explained how they were in honor of those who had given the ultimate for their city, county, state and country. We looked at the magnificent murals painted on the walls of some of the buildings including the Clark Theater.

In the end, that quiet stroll gave us a gift that is worth more than gold, memories of a precious time together.

I would simply like to say thank you, from a grandmother’s heart, for those who had the vision to make the downtown area so lovely and such a tribute to the area’s history.

Marsha Phillips

Lockhart