NOT ALL THERE IS TO A FIRE
by
Inez McCollum
It was with sadness that I read an article about the Hotel Talisi in Tallassee burned in December, 2009. I had visited that landmark hotel more than once and eaten from their buffet that was laden with delicious southern dishes. Ironically, this eighty-one year old building had been built to replace the previous building which was destroyed by fire in 1915.
There was a 1960’s song by Peggy Lee, “Is That All There Is?”. (refers to a fire in the lyrics) Even though it was a beautiful song, I have seen people devastated by fires. My husband’s parents lost their home to a fire when they were in their 80’s. At that age, they were not able to fully recuperate from the loss of their much loved home. This experience took years from their lives.
Churches torched
A few years ago, several churches in Shelby and Bibb Counties were destroyed by arsonists; but, like the Phoenix, most of them have risen from the ashes. That certainly was not as simple as it sounds. Members of those churches did a lot of praying and put a lot of hard work into rebuilding.
A rural Cleburne County church my Father and his Father before him had labored in for years, went up in blazes at the hands of an arsonist. The church was replaced by a new building. Our family had gotten over that fire only to go through the same fate when a church my husband pastored, in Shelby County, was torched. The members of the latter church rolled up their sleeves and, after multiple prayers, much hard work and expense, were able to move into a new building. They continue to grow in number and have become a light in their community.
Hopefully, something positive will again draw people to Tallassee. Hotel Talisi might be gone; but it isn’t forgotten.
Note: added by Donna R. Causey – The Talasi fire was set by an arsonist. He was caught and punished.
See all books from Alabama Pioneers
Shelby County Alabama Pioneers Volume I
This Volume reveals the relationships between the ACTONS, BAILEYS, CLOWER, CROWSON, LEES, NABORS, NELSON, ROBERTSON, and WILSON families of early Shelby County, AL. Notes and sources are included. Genealogy reports with all supporting evidence, wills, and deeds when available are included.
Surnames found in this book include; ACTON, ALEXANDER, ALLEN, ALLGOOD, ASHMORE, AVERY, AYETTOTT, AYLETT, BAILEY, BAINS, BAKER, BALCH, BANDY, BARHAM, BARNETT, BARRONS, BASS, BEALER, BEARDEN, BELL, BEMAN, BENGE, BENTON, BEVILL, BILLINGSLEA, BISHOP, BLANTON, BLEDSOE, BLEVINS, BLOUNT, BOOTHE, BOYD, BOYLE, BRAGG, BRASHER, BRIELAND, BRINKER, BRATTON, BRITTON, BROWN, BRYAN, BULLOCK, BURNETT, BURROW, BUTLER, BYARS, BYNUM, BYRUM, CAHILL, CALDWELL, CARPENTER, CARTER, CASEY, CLAYTON, CLEVELAND, CLIETT, CLOWAR, CLOWER, COHEN, CORLEY, CRAIG, CRAWFORD, CROCKETT, CROSS, CROWSON, DANIEL, DAVIS, DEAN, DESHAZO, DICKENSON, DILBANE, DOLLAR, DUKE, ELLIOTT, ELLIS, EDGE, ESSMAN, ESTILL, FANNIN, FARLEY, FARR, FAVRE, FERRELL, FINNEY, FLOURNOY, FOUST, FRASER, FREEZE, FROST, FULTON, GAILEY, GARRETT, GIBSON, GLIDEWELL, GODDEN, GODWIN, GOODGAME, GOODSON, GREEN, GRIFFIN, GRIFFITH, GRIGGS, GRIMMETT, GULLAHORE, GULLEHORN, HAFNER, HAGIN, HAIL, HALE, HAMILTON, HANNAH, HANEY, HANSARD, HARDIN, HARKINS, HARLESS, HARRIS, HARRISON, HAYES, HAZARD, HEARNE, HESTER, HICKS, HILL, HODGES, HOLBROOK, HOLLINGSWORTH, HORTON, HOWARD, HUDSON, HUTCHINSON, JOHNSON, JONES, KIDD, KIERDON, KNOWLES, LALADY, LANIER, LAVINSKY, LAWLER, LEATHERWOOD, LEE, LEEPER, LEONARD, LINDSAY, LINDSEY, LOFTIN,LOONEY, LOVELADY, MAHAN, MARDIS, MARLOW, MARONEY, MASKE, MASON, MATHEWS, MATTHEWS, MAXWELL, MCCAIN, MCCLINTON, MCCRAFT, MCGOWAN, MCLANAHAN, MCLEOD, MCLEROY, MCMAHON, MCNAIR, MCNEAR, MCNEELY, MCNEER, MCPHERSON, MEREDITH, MERONEY, MERRELL, MILES, MILLER, MILLS, MILSTEAD, MITCHELL, MOORE, MORGAN, MORRIS, MOSTELLER, MOWDEY, MUNDINE, MURPHY, MURRY, MUSE, MYRICK, NABORS, NAISH, NEAL, NELSON, NEWMAN, NIVENS, NORTH, NUNNALLY, OLDHAM, ORR, OZLEY, PARKER, PARKS, PATTON, PAYNE, PEARSON, PERRY, PERSON, PETERS, PITNER, POINTER, POWERS, PRENTICE, QUINN, RANDALL, RASBERRY, REED, REEVES, REID, ROBERTS, ROBERTSON, ROGERS, ROY, SAWYER, SHACKELFORD, SHANK, SHAW, SMITH, STERRETT, STORRS, STREET, STRIPLING, TEAGUE, THOMPSON, TRUELL, TURNER, WALDROP, WALLACE, WARD, WARE, WATKINS, WATROUS, WATSON, WEEKS, WEST, WHARTON, WHITE, WIGGINS, WILLINGHAM, WILLSON, WILSON, WOOLEY, WOOLLEY, WRIGHT
As a amateur genealogist since 1958 I just recently heard about Alabama Pioneers and I would like to know more about you. My ancestors came into Alabama in 1819 and with the help of my late father and husband I have accumulated a lot of information that I would like to share with anyone interested. Cathron Day Davis.
[…] Little Tallassee, four miles above Wetumpka, was later on the farm owned by Howell Rose, and not far from where he built his house. This town had incidents of interest occurring about it. […]
A sad day. I too had partook of the buffet there several times and belonged to a civic organization that met at the Hotel once a month. The food was always great as were the people who worked there. I really hated to hear this when it happened. Had hoped it would be rebuilt but that hope fades more every year.
I live there and it is just not economical possible to reopen even though the owners have stabilized the building. Tallassee is a great place but most residents are older and very resistant to change so little investment funds its way here which is a shame since its location between Montgomery’s growing east side and Auburn’s growing west side along with the three fantastic lakes close by would be a huge draw.
So sad… My wedding rehearsal was there
Would go over often from Auburn and pig out with a bunch of guys!!! They lost money on us!!!
Never missed a lunch when I visited
Ate lunch there a few times.
Civil War era heritage events in September: http://www.civilwarheritagetrails.org/civil-war-events/september.html
The Talasi fire was set by an arsonist. He was caught and punished. – I guarantee that his punishment was not great enough.
Our wedding rehearsal dinner was there…42 years ago. Chuck Watford.
I understand the hotel was by Dr. Patterson (1C1R) and his wife for many years.
David Oswalt it indeed was. My great-grandfather and his brother built the Hotel in 1928. My family owned it until 1962 when they sold it to the Pattersons. I loved the Pattersons so much because they let me run around as if I owned the place my entire childhood. They were great people 🙂
Lunch was really good there. I have never lived in this town, but I’ve eaten at this hotel!
Lunches off the chart good……….
My first time eating at Hotel Talisi was in the early 70’s. My wife’s father was from Tallassee and we would go there some Sundays after church to eat. In those days everyone would sit at big tables and food would be brought to the tables. We would pass the food around, boarding house style. My wife’s great aunt lived at the hotel after her house had burned. We would go visit her on occasion. The hotel was like a museum.
Used to eat lunch there sometimes!
Best Fried Chicken in Alabama.