Montevallo locals sell Love Montevallo Day t-shirts on Main Street. Photo by Lily Dickinson.

On March 3, the City of Montevallo held Love Montevallo Day, a celebration of town’s hometown charm, and recognition of its bicentennial anniversary, through the patronage of Main Street’s small businesses and parks.

The events kicked off at 11 a.m. with a dedication of Streetscape in memory of former Montevallo mayor, the Honorable Ben McCrory. Streetscape is the mainstreet revitalization program which is helping to make Main Street Montevallo ADA compliant in conjunction with the Alabama Department of Transportation.

Following this was the dedication of two of the pocket parks in Montevallo. Owl’s Cove Park, a grassy little area that Montevallo students should recognize as the area in front of UMOM.  The other park dedication of the day was the new Bicentennial Park, located in front of Main St. Tavern, dedicated to the memory of Junnie Craig, Dr. Earl Cunningham and attorney Mitchell Spears.

Businesses and citizens alike flocked to Main Street, creating an atmosphere of excitement befitting the special day. Mark Lollan of The Great American Hot Dog Stand set up his cart outside of UMOM, the porch decked out in hand-drawn signs professing a love of the town. Tables were set up along the street selling a variety of shirts declaring a love for Montevallo and a warm recognition for the beloved and classic Main Street in America.

Attendees of Love Montevallo Day also got to appreciate the newest additions that have come over the last few months. Shiny new traffic lights and lamps now line the street, bringing a new, but old-fashioned style to Main Street. There were also little banners hanging on the lamps along the road, declaring phrases such as “Art” and “Nature,” as well as other qualities that describe Montevallo and make it the quirky, special town that it is. A beautiful new clock was present for residents to admire, in preparation for its placement in front of Bicentennial Park.

Many vendors sold Main Street-centric merchandise such as magnets, postcards, towels and t-shirts. Art made by the famed Tim Tingle, tree carver of Orr Park, was also being sold.

“Mugs and Kisses Shopping on Main,” encouraged people to go to local stores like Happy Dollar, Emma Gray and Lucky Penny Boutique to check out special deals of the day. Bradford Real Estate also sold merchandise, in celebration of Montevallo, such as Main Street t-shirts and local artists’ work.

“I think it’s wonderful,” said Patricia Honeycutt, 64, a lifelong Montevallo resident, who had a table selling magnets, cards and shirts, “and I couldn’t think of a better place to be. When my husband and I married, he lived in Sylacauga and he wanted me to move down there, and I went, ‘no, no, no, no, no!,’ and now he loves it here. I think the Love Montevallo Day is great, let everyone come out and show their support, and really, what we have is special.”

“I thought it was very neat seeing people come out from the community,” said Katherine Pearce, a sophomore at the University of Montevallo, who also came to Love Montevallo Day to show her support.

Pearce, a resident of Pelham, still believes that appreciating the town of Montevallo is an important thing to do as students in Montevallo. “We might be here a short time as college students,” Pearce explained, “but it’s still kind of our home.”