Episode 133: Sinkholes & Dirt Mounds
In this episode…
Patrice, Marleah, and Courtney drink Micheladas and talk about everything from Muscogee Creek (alleged) lore (we think a white man from New York made most of it up--don't quote us...just a feeling), sinkholes, and the muddy politics on dirt & Sam’s Club in Oxford, AL.
So, let me tell you a story that ties together Blue Pond, sinkholes, Signal Mountain, and Oxford, AL. There is a legend, according to Charles Montgomery Skinner of New York, of a Muscogee tale about a sinkhole swallowing people who set their women on fire. (see the 1896 text below.) It's a cautionary tale warning us about judging people who were not born looking like us. That sinkhole becomes Blue Pond and can be seen on Google Maps in the middle of Oxford near I20.
Speaking of sinkholes. Alabama, especially Oxford, has had its fair share of them. They're connected to the region's geological makeup, and these sinkholes have caused quite a bit of damage over the years.
Speaking of damage. There was a controversy surrounding Signal Mountain in 2016. It involves the destruction of a 1,500-year-old Native American mound in order to use the dirt to fill in a hole for the new Sam's Club. Yep, you heard that right. It was muddy dealings. This has sparked some heated debates about the importance of preserving and respecting historical and cultural sites.
So, there you have it – a rabbit hole of a story that weaves together a cautionary tale, natural phenomena, and a modern-day controversy. It's amazing how these seemingly unrelated things are all connected! Welcome to the Strange South!
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