Av and I had supper before services in Selma at the Tally-Ho restaurant (507 Mangum Ave, 334.872.1390), which has been in business since the ’40s.
It has this really interesting English foxhunt-style theme running throughout, which is really very charming; what made it particularly lovable was that it looks as if it hasn’t been reinvented over the years….that the restaurant was decorated ages ago and it’s been carefully kept intact, without need for further embellishment.
Our waitress was a lovely lady, and it was all ‘thank yous’ and ‘yes pleases’ and pleasantries back and forth. Av had the New York strip and I had the prime rib, which was just delicious. They don’t serve horseradish sauce automatically with my dish, but when I asked if they had any prepared, our waitress offered to make some up – and it was just perfect. I didn’t order any dessert, but Av had a slice of peanut butter and chocolate pie, which was very nice.
Downtown Selma is just great – old drugstores, signs painted on brick (I really like this ‘Sweet Alabama’ faded sign above). I wish I’d taken more pics – I should be back really soon, so I’ll take and post more later.
Whenever we go to Selma, which is a few times every year, we always visit Live Oak cemetery. I know it sounds weird to visit a cemetery, but Live Oak is truly special. It is just *so* beautiful. Spanish moss hangs over everything – the oaks, of course, and magnolias too.
Above is William Rufus de Vane King’s tomb. This is what the marker beside it reads:
William Rufus de Vane King
1786-1853
Native Sampson County, North Carolina.
Admitted to the 1806. North Carolina House of Commons 1807-1809. U.S. Congressman 1811-1816. Secretary U.S. Legation Naples and St. Petersburg 1816-1818.
Moved to Dallas County, Alabama, 1818. A founder of Selma, named city. Delegate Alabama Constitutional Convention 1819. U.S. Senator 1819-1844, 1848-1853. U.S. Minister to France 1844-1846. President pro tempore U.S. Senate 1836-1840, 1850-1852. Vice President of United States, 1853.
William Rufus King ran with Franklin Pierce on the Democrat ticket in 1852, and when he was to take the oath of office in 1853, he was actually in Cuba to recover from tuberculosis. It was by a special order of Congress that the oath was taken by someone in a different country. His health in Cuba did not improve, so he decided to return home to Alabama. He died the next day.
All the pics below are of beautiful Live Oak cemetery:
