Sculpture of Turtle

After seeing the small outdoor “Mice on Main” animal sculptures displayed in downtown Greenville, SC, Lucy Orr, a junior in high school at the time, wanted a similar attraction for Decatur. While doing research, Lucy discovered that the state of Alabama is #1 in the number of different freshwater turtle species, and they are a routine sight in the Decatur area.

Turtles in the Decatur area often sun on logs near streams that are Tennessee River tributaries. Lucy went on to plan the locations for the turtles on the trail, learning many fun facts about the history of downtown Decatur along the way. Lucy designed each turtle and sculpted the accessories for each. Local sculptor, Everett Cox, carved the shells and limbs and cast the bronze turtles based upon Lucy’s designs. Additionally, Lucy worked with local tourism officials to brand and develop a plan to promote the Downtown Turtle Trail.

Today, two new turtles have been added to the trail of ten. Find them all and receive a prize when you share photos of the sculptures to social media! Prizes can be redeemed at either the Cook Museum of Natural Science or Decatur Morgan County Tourism office.

Meet the new turtles:

Tallulah #11
Near Gordon’s bridge, on Rainey’s wall she stays,
A turtle with chicken and spuds on her tray.
Salons once above,
Cafeteria to love,
Honoring women who led the way.

Turtle sculpture

(DecaturMoCoTourism/Contributed)

Built in 1948 by Mrs. JT Rainey, Rainey’s Beauty Salon and Academy were located on the upper floors of the building. Crane’s Cafeteria, owned by Mrs. Tallulah Crane, was in the basement and was a local favorite for their meat & three cafeteria-style meals.

The Judge *BONUS TURTLE*
Near river, rail, and hedge;
Where The Judge takes his seat on a ledge;
With a jolly laugh and a smile,
You’ll stay for a while,
Hearing his love for Decatur pledged.
Sculpture of turtle dresses as a judge

(DecaturMoCoTourism/Contributed)

Rhodes Ferry Park in Decatur is a historic site, named for Dr. Henry W. Rhodes who operated a key ferry across the Tennessee River in the early 1800s before Decatur was incorporated. The area became a significant stop on the Trail of Tears, where thousands of Cherokee passed through during their forced removal in 1837–1838. Today, the park is a stopping point for multiple riverboats that host guests from across the country. The Judge (Judge David Breland) would famously welcome riverboat guests upon their arrival with his colorful tales of Decatur history and deep belly laughs. The Judge served as a historian for the City of Decatur.

Meet the Sculptor: Everett Cox

Everett Cox graduated from Auburn University with a BFA and received his MFA from the University of Georgia. Cox sculpts and casts his works in his studio at Lowe Mill in Huntsville, AL.

Figure sculpting and casting has been a subject of interest in Cox’s work. The two are conjoined in that to make a clay sculpture permanent in metal, and it has to be molded, reproduced in wax, invested, burned out, cast, cleaned, welded, chased, and patinated. The dichotomy between the clay modeling and the soft forms of the figures and the heat of melting bronze, the force needed to make metal conform to one’s wishes, is the yin and yang of cast sculpture.

To learn more about the Turtle Trail and meet all of the beloved turtle sculptures, go to visitdecatural.org/turtle-trail.