BEARING
FRUIT
26
CLANTON BLOSSOMS AMIDST
REIGN AS PEACH CAPITAL
It's not fuzzy logic to guess that life could be peachy
120 feet below Clanton's iconic fruit-shaped water tower.
Goats, geese and cows graze in the pasture beneath the
creviced steel, red and yellow painted structure built for
$1.2 million in 1993 at Exit 212 along Interstate 65. The road
through town winds past Peachy Clean Car Wash, Peach
City Pawn, Peach Auto Sales and many other businesses
taking a peach stand.
At 7:45 a.m., people are waving across the street at each
other, exchanging shouted greetings in the heart of the old
downtown. Some sit on benches, others cross midblock
between passing cars to hug old friends. There are smiles
and kind words even for folks who don't look familiar.
Main Street Café has already been open more than two
hours. Inside is loud with conversation, most seats filled by
customers ordering the $5.29 special: two eggs, two meats,
grits, huge biscuit and drink.
A millennial siing in the corner with an open laptop
stands out like a sore thumb, but his head nods as
one of the Greatest Generation walks from table
to table saying, "Good morning. Good morning."
continued
Clanton's peach-shaped water
tower is familiar to travelers
on Interstate 65.
