Reflections-Community Spirit

 As the community grew there was a need for more activities for children and a youth sports program was begun.  There was no fire protection and volunteers came together to form a Volunteer Fire Station.  The Azalea Festival, Christmas Parade, Christmas Tree Lighting, Semmes Public Library, Semmes Heritage Park, Semmes Senior Center  are the results of volunteer citizens who had had a mind to work, and gave of themselves for the good of the  Semmes Community before there was ever a Semmes Municipality.

 In the 1800's when there was no school, the community rallied together building a log cabin school which was also used as a church. The center of town moved from Moffat Rd (aka highway 42, 98) to center around the railroad station. Thomas Jefferson Howell stepped up and gave land to the school board to build a school and a church.  Mr. Kino, an early resident of Semmes bought a gramophone and classical music that was given to the school so that students could have music once a week when the gramophone was wheeled to each class.  
The character of the people who settle in Semmes is one of hard work, determination; fortitude and that same spirit exists today.  When early settlers came there were just miles and miles of Piney woods.  They came by horse and buggy, wagons, walked, and by train.  Transportation was the major key to the growth of Alabama and the United States. 

Alabama was advertised as a land of milk and honey, temperate climate year around with abundant resources.  There were trees to build houses, good fertile land to plant crops and land was inexpensive.  The result was Alabama Fever, the Alabama land rush of 1817.

Reflecting back on what makes Semmes a unique and wonderful place to live, it is the PEOPLE !  There is a common thread of kindness and caring for others, a can do spirit and striving for excellence. There have always been individuals who were willing to volunteer their time to provide activities for the whole community.