POWERGRAMS

30 a four-way stop sign, which is the norm where streets and avenues cross in the older sections of town. Surrounding the courthouse are the modern county offices of the Health Department, Mental Health, USDA, a Seniors Center, Corrections Center, Sheriff's Office and new County Jail. Unlike many county seats, the courthouse isn't surrounded by lawyer offices and doesn't require visitors to pass through metal detectors at the entrance. In 2010, Fayette citizens approved alcohol sales by a 1,036- 763 vote, officially ending prohibition here 77 years after the 21st Amendment. Still, there are no bars in town and the 1st Package Store just down the street from the courthouse is boarded up and out of business. But Fayette County had a more historic election in November 1860 when citizens voted overwhelmingly against secession from the United States. When the Alabama Convention met two months later in Montgomery, Fayette County's two delegates voted to remain in the Union. By 1864, the county had sent 678 men and boys to fight with the Confederate Army, while 155 chose to fight for the Union; an estimated 250-300 refused to fight for either side, and spent the Civil War hiding out in the hills of north Fayette County. Following the Reconstruction era, hundreds of Fayette men worked in the coal mines or, by the 1920s, for Brown Lumber Co., which had a huge operation employing about 400 local workers. Facing Temple Avenue, the sprawling factory became the nation's largest exporter of creosote poles, with its own railway between Fayette and Brownville. Brown Lumber was sold in the 1960s, eventually shut down and today only concrete slabs remain of the mill. Many local people later found work at Arvin Industries and Fayette Cotton Mill, which both had closed by the early 2000s. The mining and lumber jobs that provided a good living in Fayette have been replaced through a variety of businesses through the years. Fayette Medical Center, with 61 beds and a 122-bed nursing home, employs more than 300. Showa Glove has the nation's largest glove plant in Fayette, employing about 300. The Daltile plant is another major local employer. Phifer Wire in 2006 set up a Fayette factory that now has 125 workers. Fayette Fabrication, founded in 2014, has more than 130 employees. Early on most mornings, workers pack the booths at Charles' Cafeteria & Grill, housed since 1985 in a former Dairy Queen along 2nd Avenue Northeast. On a Friday, a boisterous group gives orders to friendly waitresses, who already know if most customers want their coffee with cream or without. Many patrons pick the $4.25 special with two eggs, grits, bacon, two huge biscuits and homemade peach preserves, "if you like." A Fayette County High football coach brings in two Tigers wearing their game jerseys and shorts as they prepare to leave for their game at Winfield. Assistant Chief of Police John Underwood greets nearly every diner, finally taking a seat with an elderly friend. Fayette is recognized as one of Alabama's safest cities. At lunch, a line extends out the door waiting to order Lisa's BBQ, where a sign pushed into the ground near the entrance notes "We have Dumplings today." Bottles of locally made, farm-to-table Alabama Sunshine Hot Sauce are on a shelf next to the cashier's window. The walls are covered with photos of local sports heroes, as well as autographed posters of 13 classes of Alabama Crimsonettes. A woman proudly remarks that Fayette is the top producer of the young women who perform with the Million Dollar Band on college football Saturdays. A photo of Don Bell notes that the Fayette native holds the SEC baseball record for consecutive hits in a game, with six for Mississippi State against Arkansas in 1966. A popular place for dinner is Huatulco Mexican Restaurant, named after the tourist resort on the Pacific Ocean in south Mexico. All of the chairs and booth backings have colorful carvings of fruit, flowers and wildlife of Mexico. A Miles mural depicts Aztec Indians welcoming Spanish conquistador Hernan Cortes to Mexico City in 1517. Not far away on Temple Avenue is the Alabama Power Engineering Services, Warehouse and Crew Headquarters buildings. A billboard on the highway congratulates the 10 high school graduates of Fayette First Methodist, who are all pictured. Fayette County High graduate Dexter Roberts, 28, has been making his hometown proud the past five years. He finished seventh in the 2014 American Idol, joining the live tour of stars but had to leave after a few shows because he had contracted Rocky Mountain spotted fever while hunting. Vintage firetruck parked across from City Hall. Golden Eagle Syrup headquarters has mural across one side.

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