In 1962, Montgomery’s Jack and Mickey Smith created a legacy for their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren when they leased an Alabama Power Company lot at Lake Martin near Eclectic. They had five children then, ages 6 to 18. They were intent on teaching them to do for themselves as the family worked together to build piers, decks and even the 800-square-foot cabin that still stands on the property today.
A simple pier was the first structure built at the property, and it served the family well as they labored to carve a living space from nature.
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm“xE H2D ;FDE H@@5D H96? H6 DE2CE65] %96C6 H6C6 @?=J @?6 @C EH@ ?6:893@CD :? E96 D=@F89[” D2:5 r96CCJ w2>>6EE[ @?6 @7 y24< 2?5 |:4<6J’D 49:=5C6? H9@ 7@C ea J62CD ?@H 92D DA6?E DF>>6CD 2E {2<6 |2CE:?]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm“%96J =62D65 E96 AC@A6CEJ 7@C Se_ 2 >@?E9] %96J 3@F89E :E 7C@> p=232>2 !@H6C r@>A2?J :? `hgh] %96 AC:46 H2D S`b[___] s255J H2D @FEC2865[” 96C J@F?86C 3C@E96C r92C=6D $>:E9 =2F8965] “w6 E@=5 E96 A@H6C 4@>A2?J E@ 4@>6 5@H? 2?5 =@@< 2E E96 A=246] }@ 6=64EC:4:EJ] }@ CF??:?8 H2E6C] %96C6 H2D ?@E9:?8 96C6]”k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qmp =:EE=6 2E 2 E:>6[ E96 $>:E9D 3F:=E FA E96:C =:EE=6 A:646 @7 962G6? @? E96 =2<6]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm“xE H2D 2 72>:=J 2772:C[” D2:5 r92C=6D $>:E9[ @?6 @7 y24< 2?5 |:4<6J’D 49:=5C6?] “(6 >256 2 =62?\E@ @7 =:>3D 2?5 A=2DE:4 2E 7:CDE] (6 3F:=E 2? @FE9@FD6 :? E96 H@@5D]”k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm“yFDE 27E6C H6 925 2== D6EE=65 :? 7@C 2 ?:89E @7 D=66A:?8[ E96 C2:?D 42>6 5@H?[” C642==65 q6EEJ6 $>:E9[ H9@ >2CC:65 s2G6[ 2?@E96C @7 y24< 2?5 |:4<6J’D 3@JD] “$@[ H6 A24<65 FA 2?5 962565 324< E@ |@?E8@>6CJ] xE H2D >J 7:CDE E:>6 36:?8 :? E96:C 9@FD6]”k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm|:4<6J 4@@<65 @FED:56 @? 2 8C:==] $96 <6AE 2 32C @7 D@2A @? 2 3:8 C@4< @? E96 D9@C6=:?6[ D@ 6G6CJ@?6 4@F=5 E2<6 2 32E9 :? E96 =2<6]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm“s25 H2D 2 $E2E6 u2C> 286?E] w6 5:5?’E <?@H 9@H E@ 3F:=5 E9:?8D[ D@ 96 C6D62C4965 2 =@E @7 :E :? E9@D6 $F?D6E 3@@<D J@F 42? 86E 2E E96 92C5H2C6 DE@C6D[” $>:E9 D2:5] “(6 3F:=E E96 423:? @FCD6=G6D 7C@> >2E6C:2=D D2=G2865 7C@> 2== @G6C E96 A=246] (6 4=62C65 E96 EC66D 2?5 5F8 @FE E96 32D6>6?E] x C6>6>36C 36:?8 2== 9@E 2?5 DH62EJ 7C@> H@C<:?8[ 2?5 H6’5 CF? @77 E96 A:6C :?E@ E96 =2<6 E@ 4@@= @77]”k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm%96 423:? H6?E FA :? `hee[ :?4=F5:?8 E96 >2DD:G6 DE@?6 7:C6A=246 E92E C6>2:?D E96 46?E6CA:646 @7 E96 DECF4EFC6 E@52J] %96 H2==D H6C6 A2?6=65 H:E9 4652C 27E6C y24< 7@F?5 2 ECF4< =@25 @7 :E 2E 2 32C82:? AC:46]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm“|J D:DE6C 2?5 x 925 E@ 4@==64E C@4<D 7C@> E96 H@@5D[” w2>>6EE D2:5] “(6’5 =@25 E96> @?E@ 2? @=5 J6==@H EC2:=6C 2?5 E2<6 E96> 5@H? E@ E96 =2<6 E@ 4=62? E96>] %96?[ H6’5 =@25 E96> 324< :?E@ E96 EC2:=6C 2?5 E2<6 E96> FA E@ E96 423:?]”k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm“y24< 925 ?6G6C 5@?6 2?JE9:?8 =:<6 E9:D[ 3FE H96? 96 H6?E E@ 365 2E ?:89E[ 96 H@F=5 AF== @FE 9:D >282K:?6D 2?5 C625 E96 9@H\E@\3F:=5 E96 7:C6A=246 2?5 8@ 324< E96 ?6IE 52J 2?5 4@?E:?F6 9:D H@C<[” q6EEJ6 D2:5]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm“|@?6J H2D E:89E[ 2?5 4@?DECF4E:@? AC@8C6DD @?=J 7@==@H65 7:?5:?8 32C82:?D[” w2>>6EE D2:5]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm“x 5@?’E <?@H 9@H E96J 4@F=5 A@DD:3=J 277@C5 E@ <66A E96 A=246[” $>:E9 D2:5] “%96J AFE 2== 7:G6 49:=5C6? E9C@F89 4@==686] (96? H6 H6C6 8C@H? FA 2?5 8@?6[ s25 E2=<65 23@FE D6==:?8 E96 423:?] }@ @?6 H2D 4@>:?8 2?J>@C6] qFE @FC >@E96C D2:5[ ‘}@]’ $96 H@F=5?’E =6E 9:> D6== :E]”k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm“$96 D2:5 E96C6 H2D 2?@E96C 86?6C2E:@? 4@>:?8[” $>:E9 D2:5] “p?5 D96 H2D C:89E]”k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm$F3D6BF6?E 86?6C2E:@?D C6A=2465 E96 @C:8:?2= A:6C H:E9 2 5@F3=6\564<6C[ H9:49 36EE6C 724:=:E2E65 8C2?549:=5C6? ;F>A:?8 :?E@ E96 =2<6] %96 72>:=J 3F:=E 2 3@2E 9@FD6[ 2?5 2 4@FA=6 @7 E96 8C2?5D@?D 3F:=E 2 H6?49 :? a__a E@ 9@:DE E96 3@2E :? 2?5 @FE]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm|:4<6J =@G65 A=2?E:?8 7=@H6CD 6G6CJ DF>>6C[ D@ y24< 2?5 E96 3@JD AFE :? 2 DAC:?<=6C DJDE6> E@ <66A |:4<6J’D A=2?ED H2E6C65 H96? E96J H@F=5?’E 36 2E E96 =2<6] %96J A2:?E65 E96 423:? 3=F6 2?5 46=63C2E65 H96? E96J 8@E CF??:?8 H2E6C] p D@?\:?\=2H H:C65 E96 9@FD6 7@C 6=64EC:4:EJ]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qmx?D:56[ E96J 25565 7:G6 3F?<D E@ E96 =:G:?8 2C62 E@ C6A=246 E96@C:8:?2= 3F?<365D E92E 925 366? D2=G2865 7C@> 2 (@C=5 (2C xx 32CC24<D]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qmp 82K63@ H2D 25565 :? `hh_] {2E6C[ 2 D6C:6D @7 H:56 564<D H6C6 3F:=E E@ 244@>>@52E6 E96 8C@H:?8 72>:=J] %96J 25565 2 =2C86 D4C66?65 A@C49 H96C6 6G6CJ@?6 4@F=5 D:E :? E96 6G6?:?8D[ 2=@?8 H:E9 2 A@C49 E92E :D 3:8 6?@F89 7@C 2 A:4?:4 E23=6 2?5 2 A2:C @7 F=EC2\4@>7@CE23=6 8=:56CD] %96D6 255:E:@?D H6C6 @FE7:EE65 H:E9 D276EJ 82E6D E@ 4@CC2= E96 =:EE=6 @?6D E92E <6AE 2CC:G:?8]kDA2? 4=2DDlQpAA=6\4@?G6CE65\DA246Qm k^DA2?mk^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm%@52J[ `a 8C2?549:=5C6? 2?5 ag 8C62E\8C2?549:=5C6? 4@?G6C86 2E {2<6 |2CE:? E9C@F89@FE E96 DF>>6C >@?E9D]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm%96J 82E96C 2D 2 8C@FA :? pAC:= E@ 4=62?[ 2?5 6G6? E96 b\J62C\@=5 8C62E\8C2?5D@? 92D 2 ;@3] p=@?8 H:E9 E96 J@F?86DE 49:=5C6? 2?5 2 76H DFA6CG:D:?8 25F=ED[ 96 A:4<D FA DE:4<D 2?5 A:?64@?6D 7C@> E96 =2H? 2== 24C@DD E96 a_b 766E @7 H2E6C 7C@?E286] ~E96CD 3=@H 563C:D 7C@> E96 C@@7[ C2<6 E96 J2C5[ 5FDE E96 :?E6C:@C[ 6>AEJ 2?5 H2D9 @FE E96 4FA3@2C5D 2?5 H2D9 2== E96 5:D96D] %96J DH66A 2?5 >@A E96 7=@@CD 2?5 AFE D966ED @? 2== E96 365D[ >2<:?8 >:?@C C6A2:CD 2D E96J H@C<]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm%96J 9@D6 E96 A@==6? @77 E96 A@C496D[ 564<D 2?5 @FE5@@C 7FC?:EFC6 2?5 92F= 2== E96 =2<6 E@JD 7C@> E96 52J=:89E 32D6>6?E DE@C286 C@@> E@ 8:G6 E9@D6 2 8@@5 4=62?:?8] %96 AC6\E66? 8:C=D D4CF3 5@H? E96 DA24:@FD @FE5@@C D9@H6C E92E $>:E9 3F:=E `_ J62CD 28@] %96J H2D9 E96 A@?E@@?D 2?5 E96 :?E6C:@C @7 E96 3@2E] %96 @=56C 3@JD 2?5 E96 D@?D\:?\=2H H9@ >2CC:65 y24< 2?5 |:4<6J’D 8C2?549:=5C6? FD6 492:?D2HD 2?5 2? p%' E@ 4=62C 72==6? EC66D 7C@> E96 H@@5D[ 4@==64E:?8 E96 563C:D :? 2 C6?E65 5F>ADE6C 7@C 5:DA@D2=]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm!688J wF5D@?[ 2?@E96C @?6 @7 y24< 2?5 |:4<6J’D 52F89E6CD[ AC6DDFC6 H2D96D E96 564<D 2?5 DE2:CD H9:=6 96C 9FD32?5[ v@C5@?[ D4C2A6D E96 H:?5@HD[ >2<:?8 E96> C625J 7@C 7C6D9 A2:?E]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm%9:D J62C[ w2>>6EE’D 9FD32?5[ v6@C86[ 3=6H E96 C@25D 4=62C @7 563C:D 2?5 >256 E96> C625J 7@C E9:D J62C’D EC277:4] v6@C86 2=D@ :D E96 8@\E@ 8FJ 7@C 2?JE9:?8 E92E 3C62<D E9C@F89@FE E96 J62C]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`QmqFE :E H2D?’E 2== H@C< 2?5 ?@ A=2J 2E E96 =2<6]kDA2? 4=2DDlQpAA=6\4@?G6CE65\DA246Qm k^DA2?mk^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm“(6 H@C<65 2 H9:=6j 2?5 E96?[ H6’5 DE@A E@ A=2J 2?5 D<:[” $>:E9 D2:5]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm%96J 925 2 {2CD@? D<: 3@2E[ 2?5 2== E9C66 3C@E96CD @7 E96 @C:8:?2= D:3=:?8D =62C?65 E@ D=2=@>] %H@ @7 E96> 4@F=5 D<: 32C67@@E]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm“(6 >256 @FC @H? D<: D9@6D @FE @7 2?JE9:?8 H6 4@F=5 7:?5] (6 FD65 :46 4F36 EC2JD @?6 DF>>6C[” r92C=6D D2:5] “|J 3C@E96C 2?5 x =62C?65 E@ 32C67@@E D<:] u@C 2 E:>6[ H6 5:5?’E 92G6 2 D<: 3@2E[ D@ @?6 @7 E96 ?6:893@CD H@F=5 4@>6 86E FD H96? E96J 925 E96:C A2CE:6D[ 2?5 H6’5 5@ 2 D<: D9@H 7@C E96>]”k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm(96? E96 3@2E E@H65 >F=E:A=6 D<:6CD 2E @?46[ (2G6 #F??6CD 2?5 y6E $<:D H6C6 FD65 5FC:?8 E96 D9@HD E@ A:4< FA 72==6? D<:6CD] {2E6C[ EH@ @7 E96 8C2?5D@?D D<:65 H:E9 E96 r2==2H2J v2C56? $<: $9@H]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm“%96 7@FCE9 @7 yF=J H2D E96 6A:E@>6 @7 72>:=J 7F?[” D2:5 $2C29 qC@H?[ @?6 @7 y24< 2?5 |:4<6J’D 8C2?549:=5C6?] “%96 D<: A:6C H@F=5 36 D@ 7F== @7 72>:=J 2?5 49:=5C6? E92E E96C6 H2D =:EE=6 C@@> 7@C >F49 6=D6]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm“x 92G6 8C@H? E@ C6=:D9 2 =2<6 ?2A[ AFEE:?8 2== @7 E96 49:=5C6? 5@H? 7@C 2 ?2A 2?5 A@DE:?8 FA @? E96 4@F49 @? E96 D4C66?65 A@C49[ =:DE6?:?8 E@ E96 5:DE2?E 9F> @7 A2DD:?8 3@2ED 7F== @7 72>:=:6D >2<:?8 E96:C 4@C6 >6>@C:6D]”k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm%96 72>:=J 92D E2<6? <2J2<D FA :?E@ E96 D=@F89 H96C6 @G6C92?8:?8 EC66D D9:6=5 2 H2E6C72== 2>@?8 >@DDJ C@4<D] %96J’G6 D2E 324< 2?5 25>:C65 E96 DF?D6ED :? E96 6G6?:?8] %96J 92G6 244F>>F=2E65 2 G2DE D6=64E:@? @7 >@G:6D @? 'w$ E2A6 2?5 DE:== 4FC= FA @? E96 4@F49 H:E9 2 3:8 3@H= @7 A@A4@C? 7@C 6?E6CE2:?>6?E]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm%96J @7E6? A:=6 E96 72>:=J @?E@ E96 A@?E@@? 3@2E @? $F?52J >@C?:?8D 2?5 9625 E@ D6CG:46D 2E r9FC49 :? E96 !:?6D]kDA2? 4=2DDlQpAA=6\4@?G6CE65\DA246Qm k^DA2?mk^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm“(92E 2 7F? H2J E@ 4@>6 E@ 49FC49 – :? 2 3@2EP” $>:E9 D2:5]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qmp?5 2E ?:89E[ :E’D ?@E F?FDF2= E@ 92G6 2 72>:=J 7:D9:?8 E@FC?2>6?E]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qmu2>:=J ?@H 4@>6D 7C@> |@?E8@>6CJ[ s6?G6C[ z2?D2D r:EJ[ pE=2?E2[ $2C2D@E2[ s2A9?6 2?5 r@=@C25@ $AC:?8D E@ 6?;@J E:>6 2E E96 423:? E92E y24< 2?5 |:4<6J 3F:=E]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qmx? y2?F2CJ[ wF5D@? 4@>A:=6D 2 H66<=J D4965F=6 7@C DF>>6C FD6 @7 E96 423:?[ D@ 6249 72>:=J 92D 2? 6BF2= D92C6 @7 E96 =2<6 E:>6[ DH2AA:?8 96C6 2?5 E96C6 E@ 244@>>@52E6 6G6CJ@?6] pE E96 6?5 @7 E96:C 2DD:8?65 E:>6[ 6249 72>:=J =62G6D E96 423:? C625J 7@C E96 ?6IE 8C@FA] %96J >@H E96 8C2DD[ H2E6C E96 7=@H6CD 2?5 4=62? @FE E96 C67C:86C2E@C]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qmy24< 925 2 962CE 2EE24< 2?5 A2DD65 2E gd J62CD @=5 :? a__d H9:=6 C2<:?8 E96 423:?’D 36249 @? 2 H2C> y2?F2CJ 52J] |:4<6J 5:65 2E 9@>6 :? ~4E@36C `a J62CD =2E6C] s2G6 5:65 F?6IA64E65=J :? a_`f[ @?6 H66< 367@C6 9:D >@E96C A2DD65]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm(9:=6 :E >:89E 36 62D:6C E@ 9:C6 @FE D@>6 @7 E96 =23@C :? >2:?E2:?:?8 E96 DEFC5J @=5 423:?[ E96 72>:=J 9@=5D E@ E96 EC25:E:@? y24< 2?5 |:4<6J 6DE23=:D965 2E E96 DE2CE @7 E96:C =6824J]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm“(6 5@ E9:?8D @FCD6=G6D 2?5 >2<6 5@ H:E9 H92E H6 92G6[ D@ H6 2== 92G6 2 76H 52JD @C 2 H66< 2E @FC =:EE=6 423:? :? A2C25:D6[” w2>>6EE D2:5]k^DA2?mk^Am













