Published: March 29, 2008 07:45 pm            

COLONY: A small town that’s about to get bigger

COLONY — Cullman County’s southernmost town, Colony, may be small in population, but the close-knit community and town officials who genuinely care for residents make for a refreshing change from the hustle and bustle of bigger cities.

Colony was incorporated in 1981, and shortly thereafter the town elected its first mayor, John Purifoy. Purifoy won the election with 64 of the 105 votes cast, defeating James Fields, who just this year becama Alabama’s state representative for District 12.

Earlene Johnson, Colony’s current mayor, began her service in 1981 as a council member, and in 1996 she was voted mayor. She has lived in Colony her whole life and said she wouldn’t have it any other way.

“The one thing I really like is small towns,” Johnson said. “I’ve lived here all my life, and it is a town where everyone knows each other. It’s home.”

The town of 385 is predominately black, but Johnson said that is not because they planned it that way.

“We have a few residents that are of other races, but they make up less than one percent of the population,” Johnson said.

There are many stories on how Colony came to be, but Johnson lended her version of events. She said an act of congress was approved on May 20, 1862 to provide homesteads to settlers.

Isham Byars was issued a certificate of ownership for eighty and 40/100 of an acre of land. This land was given by Congress and signed by President Benjamin Harrison on June 13, 1891, according to Johnson.



A religious history

One of the staples in Colony is the 150-year-old Pleasant Grove United Methodist Church. The church, which appears to be in poor condition, is still being used — but not for long.

The church family got a needed boost when volunteers from both the community and the East and West Cullman Baptist Association came together to construct a new house of worship.

Chairman Osmar Morris of the East Cullman Baptist Association said recent services were part of their Associational Mission Work Project.

“We’ve been doing this work since 1979,” Morris said. “Our normal mission trip for this time of year is to Sabine Pass, Texas. Some of our members are not able to travel far from home, and this allows them a chance to volunteer.”

Stanley Hall, a member of the church for 51 years, said volunteers have been working on the new sanctuary for the past three weeks, adding that their services are greatly appreciated.

“The Lord has been blessing us with volunteers and help,” Hall said. “Through this church has come a lot of wonderful people. God’s people. I have met some of the most Christian people that care about giving.”

Johnson said she hopes the new church will be open sometime in the Spring.



Possible annexation

The town could be growing if Damascus successfully annexes, and from the first meeting discussing the matter in late December most residents of both towns were pleased with the proposal.

Colony Mayor Earlene Johnson told those in attendance there was nothing to lose but everything to gain by annexing Damascus into Colony.

“All that met tonight were for it,” Johnson said at the time. “We don’t know about those that didn’t come, but this is the first step.”

Johnson said Colony welcomes residents of Damascus with open arms. She said she is delighted to have them as possible residents of Colony. Johnson told residents of Damascus if they are annexed into Colony they will be able to run for council seats and mayor, something not offered to them now.

Colony attorney Rita Nicholas said the town hopes the annexation will improve roads in Damascus, while also allowing Colony to apply for more grant money. Nicholas said the first step has been taken, but now mapping has to be laid out and property owners have to be contacted.

Nicholas said after the property lines are identified, a petition will be sent out to all the property owners bordering the new lines. She said if all goes well and the property owners unanimously sign the petition, the proposal, petition and maps will be taken to the Cullman County Probate Judge Leah Patterson-Lust.

“We are going to try to get a unanimous consent from the property owners by mid-January,” Nicholas said. “If they all sign the petition, a resolution would be prepared by Colony’s city council and taken to the probate judge. Maps, property lines and a legal description of the property being annexed would also be taken to the probate judge to be approved. Once approved by the probate judge the resolution will be sent to the Federal Justice Department for approval. After the approval the annex will be official.”

        

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