Enterprising Enterprise, Alabama
From the Boll Weevil Monument to a Unique St Patrick's Day Parade
Sep 1, 2009
Enterprise by name, enterprising by nature. This Alabama city knows how to send tourists home with stories they’ll love to tell their friends.
First there is the only monument in the world dedicated to an agricultural pest. The Boll Weevil not only takes pride of place in downtown Enterprise, but it has an annual festival named in its honour.
So how did a beetle that is considered a serious pest become such a pin up in this Southern City?
From Agricultural Pest to Alabama Hero
It can all be traced back to 1915, when the boll weevil first appeared in Alabama and started making its presence known in local cotton plantations. Almost 60 percent of cotton crops were destroyed in and around Enterprise, and so farmers decided to plant peanuts instead.
It was a decision that saved the town. Farmers who had been facing bankruptcy were soon making more money than they had in the good cotton years. By 1917, Enterprise and the surrounding Coffee County was producing and harvesting more peanuts than any other county in the United States.
In the years that followed, farmers remembered the valuable lesson they had learnt and made sure they diversified their crops. They also decided to give credit where credit was due.
The Boll Weevil Monument, Enterprise
The Boll Weevil Monument is a curious combination of a classical statue of a woman and a large insect. The original statue of the woman with her flowing gown and arms above her head was commissioned by local businessman Bon Fleming, and made in Italy.
The statue was dedicated on the 11th of December 1919, with an inscription at the base that reads: “In profound appreciation of the Boll Weevil and what it has done as the herald of prosperity, this monument was erected by the citizens of Enterprise, Coffee County, Alabama.”
While the dedication may have mentioned the boll weevil, the original statue did not include the beetle itself. Thirty years later, the boll weevil was added to the statue, and the entire creation was placed on top of a fountain.
The boll weevil has been ripped out of the statue’s hands many times, and the entire monument has been stolen more than once. Today a replica of the statue stands in downtown Enterprise, while the original is on display at the Enterprise’s Depot Museum.
The Boll Weevil Festival
The Boll Weevil Festival is one of the most popular times to visit the memorial, and to enjoy a range of entertainment, and of course great Southern food.
The festival is held every October in downtown Enterprise. It features arts, crafts, children’s activities, a farmers’ market and more.
The Enterprise Chamber of Commerce is always happy to help tourists with information about the festival, and to provide extra tips on what to do while they’re in town.
World’s Smallest St Patrick’s Day Parade
St Patrick’s Day is another popular time to visit Enterprise, when visitors can take in the World’s Smallest St Patrick’s Day Parade.
Featuring just one person of Irish descent, this tiny parade has made the news around the nation and as far away as Ireland. Mayor Kenneth Boswell has described the parade as one of the city’s great traditions.
Alabama Hotels Offer Southern Hospitality
While Enterprise is a popular road trip spot for those who have heard the legend of the Boll Weevil Monument, it is also a good place to rest for the night and enjoy that Coffee County Southern Hospitality.
There are a range of accommodation options, including the historic Rawls Hotel, which many believe to be haunted. The Rawls Hotel was built in 1903 by Margaret and Japheth Rawls, and it’s said that Japeth still walks the halls, keeping an eye on his hotel.
Other guests have described hearing the spirits of children. The hotel is quick to point out that the Rawls Hotel’s more unusual guests are friendly ghosts.
Whether it's the ghosts that tempt you, the luck of the smallest Irish parade, or that insect that has the honour of being the only pest with its own monument, Enterprise Alabama is well worth a stop on your next trip through the deep south.
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