75 years later, Sheffield remembers FDR

SHEFFIELD - It was 1933, and President Franklin Delano Roosevelt was coming to Sheffield.

Nothing was going to keep O.W. "Woody" Stanley from seeing him, even if it meant hitchhiking to Montgomery Avenue from his home in Spring Valley.

"I remember it very distinctly," the 92-year-old businessman said. "I was so excited about going to see FDR, I forgot who I hitchhiked with."

There were only two families in Spring Valley who owned motor vehicles at that time, and Stanley thinks he may have ridden with one of them.

He caught a ride to Tuscumbia, then got another ride to the corner of First Street and Montgomery Avenue where the president's train stopped. Roosevelt talked about the creation of the Tennessee Valley Authority.

Unlike that day on Jan. 21, 1933, it will be much easier for Stanley to get to the corner of Montgomery Avenue and First Street on Thursday for the unveiling of a marker commemorating Roosevelt's speech.

Carole Driskell, administrative assistant to the mayor, said other Shoals residents who were present when the speech was made will be attending the ceremony.

Stone craftsman Terry Hutcheson has completed a commemorative sandstone wall and will soon attach three bronze plaques, one of which will be a relief bust of the late president.

"I'll tell you right now, it's a beautiful plaque," Driskell said.

Two of the plaques will feature a brief synopsis of what occurred at the site and the other will include the names of those who donated to the project.

Driskell said the unveiling is timely. It coincides with the celebration of TVA's 75th anniversary, which began Sunday and has been observed during events this week.

The busy intersection near the Norfolk Southern Railway tracks is near the actual site where the crowd gathered to hear Roosevelt's speech.

"He appeared to be standing, but he could have been sitting in his wheelchair," Stanley said.

Driskell pointed out that Roosevelt was president-elect at the time he made his speech and would take the oath of office on March 4, 1933.

Invitations were sent to local legislative representatives and the event will be attended by two representatives of TVA. Driskell said the city was unsuccessful in its attempt to get a relative of the late president to attend the ceremony.

Stanley said he was 17 or 18 years old when the president came to Sheffield. He was excited because of Roosevelt's New Deal programs that would help bring the country out of the Great Depression.

Roosevelt spoke about the creation of TVA, one of his New Deal programs, and also toured Wilson Dam.

"It was just something that I would not miss," Stanley said. "I have fond memories of FDR today more than I ever have."

Police Chief Greg Ray said that because of the event, North Montgomery Avenue will be closed from Second Street to the Norfolk Southern Railway crossing. First Street will be closed from Atlanta Avenue to Georgia Avenue.

The streets will be closed from 1-3 p.m., Ray said.

If anyone has questions about the street closings, they may call Sheffield police at 383-1771.

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