Started as a hobby. Photographed one historical Marker in Florence, then added several nearby signs. Since I enjoy photography, I decided to get all the roadside historical markers in my town of Florence. That was so much fun, my wife and I decided to include all of Lauderdale County. When that was finished we continued into Colbert County. Early on, I tried to get an accompanying photo to illustrate the subject of each sign. That's when creativity really kicked in. For example, what should accompany a Waterloo sign describing the "Trail of Tears"? I might have used a painting of Native Americans, or a map of the "Trail" , however I decided upon a quote of Alexis de Tocqueville, the French philosopher, who witnessed the Choctaw "removals":
“ In the whole scene there was an air of ruin and destruction, something which betrayed a final and irrevocable adieu; one couldn't watch without feeling one's heart wrung. The Indians were tranquil, but sombre and taciturn. There was one who could speak English and of whom I asked why the Chactas were leaving their country. " To be free ," he answered, could never get any other reason out of him. We ... watch the expulsion ... of one of the most celebrated and ancient American peoples.”
- - Alexis de Tocqueville: Democracy in America
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