Historical Society Cuts Ribbon
For Lola Boyd Home

The Arab Historical Society officially opened the Lola Boyd home during a dedication and ribbon cutting ceremony Sunday afternoon.  Pictured L-R: Daphine Light, Harold Purdy, President Arab Historical Society, Mayor Frank Lee Cox, Steve Hallman, Arab Park and Recreation Director and Gail Sheppard.
Photo by Dwight Hayes

The Lola Boyd home sits in the Arab Historical Complex after being moved from it's original site and undergoing extensive restoration.            Photo by Dwight Hayes

November 11, 2007
"If these walls could talk...." mused James "Shorty" Smith as he walked through the newly restored Lola Boyd home during the dedication ceremony held Sunday afternoon.  Smith and his wife Glenda were two of the more than 100 people who turned out to participate in the ribbon cutting and tour of the 117 year old home.  Glenda, who is Mrs. Boyd's niece could probably tell many stories about the home.  She was just one of the relatives who came to reminisce and share stories about the home and their beloved Lola.  Other members of the family traveled from Birmingham, Georgia and New Mexico for the event.

The home was built in 1890 by her her parents Matthew and Eletter Boyd on a 160 acre homestead deeded to the Boyd's by the federal government.  In fact the original deed, signed by President Benjamin Harrison, hangs in the front hallway of the home.  Mrs. Boyd, a retired schoolteacher,  was born and lived her entire 99 years in the home.  She donated the house to the Arab Historical Society in August of 2002 as well as funds to help with moving the home after her death.         Take a photo tour of the home.....

Glenda Smith (Mrs. Boyd's niece) shares a story with her daughter and granddaughter, Susan and Katy Cavender, during the dedication ceremony. Photo by Dwight Hayes

The home originally stood near the Guntersville road in the vicinity of the Arab High School.  Timber for the house was cut from the land.  The house contains a hall and, four rooms and two porches.  The front door and sidelights are original.  Plans call for the historical society to add the barn, crib and other outbuildings to the homestead at a later date.

Mrs. Boyd, who never married, devoted her life to teaching.  She was also the recipient of the Outstanding Citizen of the Year Award from the Arab Chamber of Commerce.

Another niece, Mrs. Grace Burden Light, who traveled from Birmingham for the ceremony, shared several stories about the Boyd home.  According to Mrs. Light, she lived with the Boyd's until she was about 16.  Lois Boyd, her mother and Lola's sister, died approximately 2 months after her birth so that she was thrust into the care of Matthew and Eletter.  According to Mrs. Light the home was built in stages, with the kitchen being built first and additional rooms added after the crops were harvested each year.

Moving and restoration of the home took slightly more than a year according to Harold Purdy, who welcomed the visitors to the ceremony.  He said the project was a work of love my many volunteers who donated hundreds of hours to the project.

Mayor Cox thanked the Historical Society volunteers, Arab Park & Recreation Director Steve Hallman, and Arab City employees who helped with the project.  Hallman voiced his thanks to several city employees who worked on the project each Thursday.  Hallman told the crowd that the Historical Complex was a great asset to the City and that it rivaled the historical complexes in other larger Alabama cities.

To add to the authenticity of the day, the historical society served tea cakes made from Mrs. Boyd's own recipe.      Take a photo tour of the home.....