No more Tears

FLORENCE - The town that was the final stop for American Indians who were forced from their homes in the 1830s during a time known as the Trail of Tears is being removed from the official commemorative event.

Members of the Alabama-Tennessee Trail of Tears Corridor Association board of directors have decided to stop holding official events in Waterloo.

Beginning this year, the popular motorcycle ride that normally draws thousands to the tiny west Lauderdale town will end at McFarland Park in Florence.

During the commemorative event, motorcyclists travel the 230 miles that retraces the route that American Indians were forced to take on foot and by wagon from Chattanooga, Tenn., to Waterloo, where they were put on boats for the final journey to reservations in Oklahoma. It was a horrendous journey that resulted in the death of thousands of American Indians.

Now, part of the route that commemorates that journey will be cut short.

During the Trail of Tears event, motorcyclists not only spend the day in Waterloo, but vendors sell products highlighting the event. One of the main concerns, according to a letter sent to Waterloo Mayor Jerry McIntyre, was the unrestricted sale of unlicensed Trail of Tears merchandise.

Alison Stanfield, the Trail of Tears board treasurer, said that in 2005 the association lost about $35,000 to the sale of unofficial merchandise.

Stanfield said the board normally earns about $100,000 from the sale of T-shirts, caps, pins, patches and other items.

"The whole purpose is to raise funds for our scholarships and other educational projects," Stanfield said.

The board appropriates $30,000 for Alabama students and $30,000 for students planning to attend the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga.

Applicants must be able to verify that they are one-sixteenth American Indian to be eligible. Last year, 80 people applied for six scholarships in Alabama.

The Trail of Tears board operates a booth with official event merchandise at the three-day festival, but Stanfield said numerous vendors at last year's event were selling their own Trail of Tears motorcycle ride T-shirts.

"A person attending the event probably doesn't realize when they buy the other shirts, the money does not go toward the educational projects," she said.

According to the letter, sent by Trail of Tears Association President Perry White, Waterloo officials were unwilling to restrict vendor's merchandise.

"If you sell someone a license to vend, how can you tell them what to sell?" McIntyre said. "We'll still have a rally down here regardless of what they do in Florence."

Despite the cutoff by official organizers, the mayor said the town council has decided that there will be vendors and a variety of events including a free concert featuring Toni Borden and Slick Lizard in Waterloo during this year's event.

"The council was of the opinion that the (Trail of Tears) committee can't tell us what to do in Waterloo," McIntyre said. "When someone makes up their mind, what else can you do?"

Official Trail of Tears events, such as the American Indian powwow, will take place at McFarland Park, Stanfield said.

Stanfield said the Trail of Tears Association would have control of the vendors at McFarland Park. She said they were still working on rules for the vendors.

Glenda Morgan, owner of the Riverwalk Cafe in Waterloo and a variety store next door, said she is not concerned about organizers cutting Waterloo from the event.

"The riders who have been coming here for the last 13 years, I look to see them here," Morgan said. "I'll lay you money we'll still have that thunder heading down this highway," she said referring to the rumble of thousands of motorcycles.

She said the "true meaning" of the ride is still in Waterloo.

Morgan said some riders start arriving in Waterloo a week before the main festival, which this year is Sept. 15-17.

The motorcycle ride originates in Cherokee, N.C., on Sept. 16 and travels through Chattanooga, Tenn., Huntsville and traditionally ends in Waterloo. The ride then continues to Okmulgee, Okla.

"It's all a money thing," Morgan said. "They see money being made for two days and everybody wants their cut."

McIntyre said he could not say how much the town makes from the event, but said the only money earned is from the vendors.

He said Waterloo covers a variety of costs, such as clean-up, water and electricity, and portable toilets.

McIntyre downplayed another concern voiced by association members that involves the safety of riders traveling the winding two-lane road to Waterloo from Florence.

"Would they want them to take a four-lane or an interstate?" he asked.

White said they will still encourage riders to visit Waterloo and the association will still help complete the commemorative river walk project on the banks of the Tennessee River.

The Trail of Tears Association board is made up of 11 members from north Alabama, Tennessee, North Carolina and Georgia, Stanfield said.

Stanfield disagreed with a statement McIntyre made that Florence-Lauderdale Tourism has wanted to move the event out of Waterloo.

"This is a totally separate issue," said Stanfield, who is assistant tourism director. "Our office never tried to get the event moved. The only association is I'm on the board and I happen to work for tourism."

Florence Parks and Recreation Department Director Tina Kitchens said the city does not want to take the event away from Waterloo.

Kitchens said she will be meeting with Trail of Tears officials, Florence police and the tourism department Saturday to discuss the event.

"We want to look at what we've got, what we can handle, where we can put people to make sure we can handle it," Kitchens said.

White said the event is simply getting too large for Waterloo to handle.

"This event has increased every year to the point that we feel Waterloo does not have the ability to handle it," White said in his letter to McIntyre.

Russ Corey can be reached at 740-5738 or russ.corey@timesdaily.com.