TOP PHOTO: Family members of the late Joe Allen Turner attended the celebration of his life and the unveiling of his portrait which will hang in the Turner Reading Room within the Museum.
BY SARAH STEPHENS
ELMORE/AUTAUGA NEWS
Dec. 12 was a day of remembrance at the Elmore County Museum in Wetumpka. It marked the 50th anniversary celebration for the Elmore County Historical Society, and a celebration of the life Joe Allen Turner, who passed in July of this year.
Turner was a charter member of the historical society, but so much more. He was born on Sept. 18, 1931 at his family’s home in Wetumpka, and lived in the city his entire life except for his time in military service. A brilliant mind, musician, and artist, Turner was also a lifetime collector, archivist and genealogist of Wetumpka history and memorabilia. He retired as the church organist for First Baptist Church of Wetumpka in 2019 after 63 years of faithful service.
In a moving invocation, Wetumpka Councilman Joe Brown said, “We come with great joy today, as we remember a great loved family member, friend, a mentor, a great historian, a great author and a man of great character. That is Joe Allen Turner. Father, let us never forget the influence he has had on his family, this town, his church, the county and the history.”
Friends and family gathered at the Elmore County Museum in Wetumpka to hear stories of Turner’s life, and for the unveiling of a portrait that will permanently hang in the museum as a remembrance to his many accomplishments. So many spoke of humorous stories, or about his seemingly endless knowledge of all things Wetumpka. But more importantly, and what they hold close to their hearts, was the loyal friendship he offered. He was a faithful friend, a trusted confidant, an advisor. But he could also be quite the comedian. He freely shared so much history and information of Wetumpka, so much of which he was fortunate to witness in person.
A few years ago while attending an event at the Museum, Turner told the EAN he vividly remembered the dedication day of the U.S. Post Office building on Main Street in Wetumpka. Though just a boy, he talked of people around his family that day, and the music that was played. Today that post office is the home of the Elmore County Museum.
If Turner ever met you, he never forgot your name or your face. He often spoke with people from across the country and assisted them in their search for family history in the Wetumpka and Elmore County area.
ECHS member Gale Skinner spoke lovingly of Turner before the crowd that included many members of his family who attended.
“I could not pass up this opportunity to recognize and speak about Joe Allen Turner. There is no one more special than Joe Allen was to us, to this historical society, this town, this county and his family. He was family to us.”
A few facts: He graduated from Wetumpka High School and the University of Alabama. He served as Chaplain’s Assistant in the Army. He retired from Civil Service at the Air University Library at Maxwell Air Force Base. Skinner said, “He was probably best known for the 63 years he served as organist for the First Baptist Church because he rarely missed a Sunday. He played for countless weddings and funerals over all those years also.”
He authored the book “Wetumpka” with Jan Wood.
Wood said the time they spent working on the book will forever stay with her. She credited Turner for sharing so much information and history that will always treasure. Later they worked together again on the “Images of America” project for Wetumpka.
Turner researched many biographies over the years. He gathered the information for the cemetery tours, and portrayed many of the people during the events.
Members said they will always treasure the memories of Joe Allen Turner and everything about him. He will always have a permanent place in the museum because of the Turner Research Room. He always was there to help anyone in need.
Two portraits that are today within the museum were very special to Turner. Skinner said when he heard the portraits were going to be sold, he “put out a chunk of change” to purchase them and have them secured in the museum.
Another portrait on a different wall also was very special to him, she said. Florence (Golson) Bateman 1891-1987 was a Juilliard trained music composer, vocal performer and teacher and very close friend with Turner. He would play music for her. Bateman was blind, and Joe Allen would take her to the symphony and other events.
To the family of Turner, Skinner said, “You come from a true legacy of music, his love for music and his love for Mrs. Bateman. He was very glad when we got that picture back from the Archives.”
Councilman Joe Brown said that Turner was a huge inspiration to him. He credits Turner’s talent on the organ for assuring his membership at the First Baptist Church.
At one time when Turner was nearing retirement from the church, Brown said he told Turner that he would never know what an inspiration he was to so many people. He recalled Turner saying, “You know Joe, it says in the Bible that that we all need to make a joyful noise. I made a lot of noise and I hope it was enjoyable to a lot of people.”
Sammy Turner is Joe Allen’s baby brother and shared some memories. “I first met Joe Allen in 1933,” which brought a great laugh from the crowd. “I really miss him. I could sit down and we could talk about people from years ago. We started working in Uncle Turner’s grocery store when we were about eight or 10 years old. We knew what just about everybody ate for dinner. We could write a book. We had stories that we would tell just working in that grocery store. We would sit at home and laugh about it. I miss that. I had a fellow call me last week from Brooklyn, New York. He had heard about Joe Allen’s passing. He just wanted to let me know what a fine person he was.”
Museum Curator Sharon Fox said she relied on Turner’s expansive knowledge of Elmore County history. She spoke with great emotion of how much he meant to her, and the city itself. In the near future, the Turner Reading Room will be open, and a portrait of him will be on permanent display.
Fox said the room will not just be for local or even state genealogy. There will be books and research materials from across the country.
“We will have an area set up and dedicated to Mr. Turner. His portrait and a beautiful plaque will hang there,” she said, admitting it was hard for her to look at the portrait without getting emotional. “I didn’t know him long, but I loved him to death.”
The room will house genealogical information and serve as a place for researchers. Research and genealogy was a huge part of Turner’s life.
Kathleen Holt talked of the early days when the museum took over the old post office. There were untold hours of hard work over two years to prepare the building.
One humorous story she shared involves Mrs. Jenny Howell’s house that is on the corner of North Bridge and Tuskeena. “Jenny and Joe Allen were about the same age and they played together all the time. One day they got bored. They went in the house to look around and see if they could find something to do. They saw this lamp that had these little balls hanging down from it. They went and got the scissors and they cut every other one of those little balls off the lamp shade. Then they went outside and played with them like they were marbles.”
Years later after Mrs. Jenny had married and moved away, Holt was asked if she wanted to go through the house and see if there was anything she wanted.
“We went over there and we went up to the attic and there that lamp shade was in a paper bag. I asked if I could have it. I carried it to Joe Allen and said, ‘I am bringing you this lamp shade because you need to put some marbles back on it.’ We had so much fun over that. He was a gentleman if there has ever been a gentleman that lived. He was a wonderful friend and I loved him dearly. I go by the cemetery and I holler at him every time.”
Per Turner’s obituary, he is survived by his brother, Samuel Clifton Turner; nieces Beverly Turner Mack (Dean) and Leigh Turner Vines (Michael) of Brentwood, Tennessee; great nieces Ashley Kristen Mack and Katie Leann Mack; and great nephews Samuel Thomas Vines and Mitchell Pierce Vines of Brentwood, Tennessee.
Many of them were in attendance for the event and are shown in the group photo.
50 years of History of the Elmore County Historical Society
ECHS President Jan Wood spoke of the 50 years of history surrounding the anniversary celebration.
In 1970 the Alabama Historical Commission in Montgomery saw the need for people to take leadership roles in accumulating and recording their historical information in their local areas. “So it was, that when people became interested in doing this, on May 2, 1971 the Elmore County Historical Society was chartered with about 100 people signing that original charter.”
“I hope you took a minute to look at the charter on the stand in the front part of the building. It will show you the names of those people. It is like parading through the past when you look at those names,” Wood said.
“There have been so many people who have been through the doors, so to speak,” she said crediting the work of not only the charter members, but those who have offered their time and talents over the past 50 years.
The early members went to work with fundraising and establishing historic markers. They began meeting every second Sunday throughout the year. This continues today. “Our core group of officers and committee members have continued to meet during this this time, even with the pandemic.”
In the early years, the society met throughout the county, but later determined to keep the meeting site at the Elmore County Museum. Membership continued to grow, and more projects were taken on over time.
One of those is the Ma and Pa Brown Dogtrot Log Cabin, and great news was revealed that the structure will soon see renovation. We will have more information on that great news in the near future.
It was built in 1884 and eventually donated to the city. The dedication took place after it was moved to a location the city of Wetumpka provided. Today it is located near the Jeanette Barrett meeting room downtown. The dedication day was an auspicious occasion, Wood said. Through the years the Dogtrot and its vintage gardens were used for different occasions related to activities.
The Museum project began in 1984 when the Elmore County Commission offered the space which the county owned. The Museum outgrew that particular building, and the city allowed it to move into the old Alliance Warehouse that sits on the banks of the Coosa River. The President at that time proposed there be a merger between the Museum and the Historical Society and the current Museum has become the meeting place.
Following the meeting the group enjoyed mixing and mingling while enjoying wonderful hors d’oeuvres thanks to White Wings Catering, owned by Diane White.
The Elmore County Historical Society is always welcoming to new members. If you are interested in membership, the fee is just $25 per year. Simply include your name, address, phone number and email and send a check payable to the Elmore County Historical Society (ECHS) to P.O. Box 211, Wetumpka, Alabama, 36092.
Current Officers:
President Jan Wood, Vice President Janice Howard, Secretary Janice Massey, Temporary Treasurer Jan Wood, Membership Chairperson Gale Skinner, Museum Curator/Certified Genealogist Sharon Fox, Projects Manager Calvin Chappelle and Hospitality Chairman Janet Cox.
For more information about current events at the Museum, follow them on Facebook.
