Arley is located in the heart of Winston County, Alabama. Some early settlers in the area around 1832 were Byrd McDonald, James Blevins, Thomas Calvert, and John Hawkins. “The early pioneers are to be held in high esteem for their native skill, ability, ingenuity, and raw courage. The longevity of these early settlers was short. The exposure and hard work made old men out of young people. Families were large, the mother of the house was cook, nurse, gardener, seamstress, counselor, doctor, and you name her other responsibilities. It is easy to see why the were short lived. George W. Gibson, a minister in the area, had a son named Robert Arley Gibson, who the town was named after.”
Town first named Dismal
The town was probably first named Dismal since the first post office with that name was located in the home of Thomas M. Wadsworth. The Dismal post office was closed in 1902 and a new one opened in 1903 near the Arley school, so the town took that name as well.i
A historical marker in Arley states the following. “On January 11, 1861 the State of Alabama seceded from the Union. Deeply perturbed, the people of Winston County held a political convention on July 4, 1861 at Looney’s Tavern, near Addison. A resolution was adopted to the effect that Alabama had no right to secede from the Union; but if she did have such right, then Winston County had the same right to secede from Alabama. Uncle Dick Payne, a Confederate sympathizer, remarked, “Oh, oh, Winston secedes! The Free State of Winston!’ Winston did not secede, but ever after she has been beloved of her sons and daughters and fondly known as “The Free State of Winston”.
Canning and Sacred Harp Singers
In 1908, a canning company called the Arley Canning Company operated in the town and was said to have put up one thousand cans per day.
Sacred harp singing has been an important part of Arley, Alabama for over 85 years as can be seen in the film below by the Denson Quartet from Arley, Alabama.ii alm
Orin Adolphus Parris, who resided in Winston County, became a major figure in southern music as a publisher, teacher, and composer in varied styles for the Sacred Harp, Christian Harmony, and shape-note convention music. He was a quartet singer and a member of the Denson-Parris Quartet, which recorded for Columbia in 1934.
At the 2000 census, there were 290 people living in Arley with 123 households and 89 families residing in the town. In the 2010 census, the population had increased to 357.
“Much of Arley is located within the east side of Bankhead National Forest, and it lies within a mile of Lewis Smith Lake. On the third Friday of March, Arley holds its annual Chittlin’ Supper as a fundraiser. The event focuses on recipes featuring the southern mainstay as well as other types of regional cooking.”
SOURCES
1.Historical marker in Arley, Alabama, in Winston County. Marker is on County Route 41, on the left when traveling north.Marker located next to Meek High School across from Arley Town Hall.
iFrom The New Era Newspaper 4 Jan 1901 – From Arley, Arley, Ala. Dec. 28, 1900 – We have a new post office recently established which will be a great convenience to the people. Arley is its name and is located 20 miles north of Jasper, on the new road leaving the Decatur and Jasper road near the Dismal post office crossing the river at the new bridge. Arley promises fair. We have two mercantile establishments already, M. L. Aaron and A. F. Farley, are the gentlemen in business. Mr. N. Dover has a saw and grist mill, cotton gin. J. O. Farley is our blacksmith. He can do any work required of a blacksmith.
iiFrom The Makers of the Sacred Harp by David Warren Steel, Richard H. Hulan – “In the early years of the twentieth century, Marion County in western Alabama supported many singings and conventions; both Tom and Seaborn Denson taught schools in the county. Among the singing families of the area, the Frederick family of Hackleburg produced three composers, all pupils of Tom Denson, whose works are represented in The Sacred Harp, Oscar H. Frederick, born in 1885, was the grandson of Marion County pioneers; he farmed, worked in insurance, and taught singing schools. His son Elbert Foy Frederick went to college, then returned to the county as a schoolteacher and agricultural agent. Oscar’s nephew Floyd Monroe Frederick was an active teacher until his death in 1960. Another Alabama family that contributed to the Sacred Harp was the Parris family. Hosea Anderson Parris, born in Georgia, moved at an early age to Winston County, where he lived near the Densons. He contributed an arrangement to the Union Harp (1909). His nephew Orin Adolphus Parris, who also resided in Winston County, became a major figure in southern music as a publisher, teacher, and composer in varied styles for the Sacred Harp, Christian Harmony, and shape-note convention music. He was a quartet singer and a member of the Denson-Parris Quartet, which recorded for Columbia in 1934. He served on the 1935 Sacred Harp revision committee, revised the Christian Harmony in 1954, and founded the Parris Music Company and the Convention Music Company.
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I have old stock cents from sacred harp publishing that belonged to my grandparents. Also have a really old songbook. It’s hard to tell the date, it’s very faded. Best guess is that it was published in 1867.
My mother’s family was really into sacred harp back in the day.
As a child, my sister and I were taken to one of these singings by my Aunt Ruby and my Grandmother Sims. We tried to sing along but could not keep up and we got tickled (MISTAKE!)…will never forget the look of “scorn” my aunt gave us. So we just listened and pretty soon we got the hang of it!
This is all very interesting! My family has been in Arley for 5 generations. Some of this information is new to me. I would love to know who owned the Arley Canning Company. Arley is the best place in the world to live! Very good article! Thanks for posting it!
As a teenaager I was taken to these singings and taught to sing by my Uncle O.A. Parris and Aunt Mae..Still love this music..Have the “Original Sacred Harp: Denson Revision 1966 edition song book published by Sacred Harp Publishing Company Cullman, Alabama First edition was 1844
I am confused. My family lived near Arley at Falls City from 1907 to the 1940’s and they always referred to Arley has the town of “Meek” (not named for them but for another Meek) Now they did call it Arley by the late 1930’s but they did not know why it was called Meek or why the name was changed to Arley. I do know that there were others who reffered to Arley has the Meek name. Do you have any research on this or the reason for this discrepency?
Alabama had to change the name of mostly everything in order to effect the fraud of adverse possession in order to defray the Federal Law called the Non-Intercourse Act and Worchester v. Georgia which made the entire State’s existence Repugnant to the Constitution, Treaties, Federal Acts, and Judicial Decree.
The town of Arley, at one time, was located on Hwy 41 where Arley Baptist Church is located today. There was a school, store and churches. Around 1921 Meek High School was built because there wasn’t a high school in the area. As time went by the smaller elementary schools, including the one at Arley, consolidated into one on the same property as Meek High School. The school was named after A.B. Meek. That area was called Meek because of the name of the school. I’m not sure when the town down at Arley died. Although the town is named Arley, we still call the area where the school, store and businesses are Meek.
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Love this music, was raised listening to it
I have tried to sing along but if you don’t know the notes, it’s impossible!! They sing the notes and then sing the words. I love it!!!
Sharon Hill this contains an interesting very old recording of some Sacred Heart singers of rural west Alabama.
I have old stock cents from sacred harp publishing that belonged to my grandparents. Also have a really old songbook. It’s hard to tell the date, it’s very faded. Best guess is that it was published in 1867.
My mother’s family was really into sacred harp back in the day.
My grandfather use to sing it and I loved hearing him sing
Susan Allred
As a child, my sister and I were taken to one of these singings by my Aunt Ruby and my Grandmother Sims. We tried to sing along but could not keep up and we got tickled (MISTAKE!)…will never forget the look of “scorn” my aunt gave us. So we just listened and pretty soon we got the hang of it!
My grandad could sing it some, I love that memory.
Susan Cherones, i thought of you when I saw this title 🙂 I didn’t read it, but you might want to
Look forward to watching it, I know some singers from Arly!
My great grandfather was a harp singer.
The Denson family in the recording is my family. We still carry on the tradition. http://youtu.be/1d18T0Tk9J8
Dick Nail, Leah Nail Commer, and Pamela Nail Rosser are 5th and 6th generation Alabama Sacred Harp singers. http://youtu.be/FUrTOzYYVDk
very cool 🙂
I have lived in Arley 12 yrs. and haven t seen an advertisement in Arley for a singing as yet. hopeful one day soon.
This is all very interesting! My family has been in Arley for 5 generations. Some of this information is new to me. I would love to know who owned the Arley Canning Company. Arley is the best place in the world to live! Very good article! Thanks for posting it!
I’m glad you enjoyed it. Perhaps some reading can give us more information on the Canning plant.
Do you mind telling me where you got your information for this article? I am doing some research for a school project. Thank you!
Kay Johnson thought you might want to read this!
As a teenaager I was taken to these singings and taught to sing by my Uncle O.A. Parris and Aunt Mae..Still love this music..Have the “Original Sacred Harp: Denson Revision 1966 edition song book published by Sacred Harp Publishing Company Cullman, Alabama First edition was 1844
Both my grandparents on the Dean side of my Mother’s family were buried and this type of music was sung, very spiritual and sad.
Free state of Winston?
Nancy Wackerle Camp you might like this.
Chris Harris Dena Manies Harris
I remember going with my Grandma to Liberty when I was real young. I wish I could remember more about it.
Annette Hammock Newton, Verenice Hawkins
They have it at Chestnut Grove at Ider in October.
I would love to hear some. Hated when I was a kid but I appreciate the talent now.
Annette Hammock Newton , wish I had a video of Paw and Pete singing it.
Me too. I can see see them in my mind. Still miss them.
Nella Faye Mitchell-Fincher
The Free State of Winston.
Nancy Wackerle Camp
Used to live in Arley on Smith Lake.
I am confused. My family lived near Arley at Falls City from 1907 to the 1940’s and they always referred to Arley has the town of “Meek” (not named for them but for another Meek) Now they did call it Arley by the late 1930’s but they did not know why it was called Meek or why the name was changed to Arley. I do know that there were others who reffered to Arley has the Meek name. Do you have any research on this or the reason for this discrepency?
this town was once called “Meek”
Alabama had to change the name of mostly everything in order to effect the fraud of adverse possession in order to defray the Federal Law called the Non-Intercourse Act and Worchester v. Georgia which made the entire State’s existence Repugnant to the Constitution, Treaties, Federal Acts, and Judicial Decree.
But it has happened so far uncontested.
The town of Arley, at one time, was located on Hwy 41 where Arley Baptist Church is located today. There was a school, store and churches. Around 1921 Meek High School was built because there wasn’t a high school in the area. As time went by the smaller elementary schools, including the one at Arley, consolidated into one on the same property as Meek High School. The school was named after A.B. Meek. That area was called Meek because of the name of the school. I’m not sure when the town down at Arley died. Although the town is named Arley, we still call the area where the school, store and businesses are Meek.
Donnette May