By Karen Hall

Editor

The rain held off Wednesday afternoon as Cornersville residents assembled to dedicate the town's new park.

Called "Calaboose Park by the Spring" the park showcases the old calaboose (jail) and the even older spring, where townspeople used to draw their water.

Before work started on the park, the building and the spring were totally concealed by undergrowth, and a dilapidated town equipment shed stood where the pavilion is now.

Recorder Scotty Brock said the town thought of creating a park there as early as 2006, but it was only when Jonathan Sandifer, 16, came to him looking for a community service project for his Eagle Scout badge that the idea got off the ground.

"Jonathan Sandifer and (town employee) Scott Stiles have done an outstanding job," said Brock. "This is a work in progress."

The plaque explaining the history of the park was donated by Sarah Haynes and her family, in memory of her late husband Lawrence Haynes.

"Lawrence would be so proud," said Sarah. Lawrence Haynes served the town of Cornersville as an alderman, elected recorder, vice mayor, and finally as mayor.

"A long, long time he served this town and loved it," Sarah said. She's known Sandifer since he was a little boy and started coming to First Baptist Church, and watched him working on the park from her home on the other side of Water Street.

"Just to watch it come to life was amazing," she said. "It's good to see so many people interested," she added, commenting on the small crowd that turned out for the dedication.

Sarah and several other older people at the dedication said they remembered being sent to the spring for water, and many remembered playing in and around the old "calaboose."

According to the plaque, the jail was built on town property in 1948 by Newt Nix, acting on instructions from the Board of Mayor and Aldermen. It is an 8-by-16-foot concrete block structure, divided into two sections. The spring is probably one of the reasons people chose Cornersville as a place to settle. As early as 1829, when Cornersville was still called "Marathon," deeds refer to the plan of the town and state "that streets and alleys and the use of the spring lot with waters ... shall forever remain free for all citizens of said town," according to the plaque.

"This is a historical moment for the town of Cornersville," said Mayor Amos Davis. "Thanks to everyone who made this possible." Those who helped include the widow of former Alderman Frank Pickens, who donated many of the plants used in landscaping the park.

The park fronts on Water Street, almost behind Cornersville Town Hall.