From a cornfield and a hay patch to a full town hall complex and park, the town of Sand Rock has come a long way in 20 years. And the journey continues!

A good crowd of local citizens and community leaders gathered in the town park recently to commemorate the 20th Anniversary of Sand Rock’s incorporation as a town. The celebration included food and fellowship, activities for children, musical entertainment and a time of reunion and reminiscing.

Paul Johnson, the first mayor of Sand Rock, was on hand to recall some of the town’s early days.

“As I look around here today, there have been some changes in the last 20 years,” said Johnson. “Twenty years ago we met in the high school gym and the people of Sand Rock decided they ought to try to incorporate. After about three or four months of working maps and a number of other things, we had enough people to qualify to become incorporated. They elected the first council.”

The council, however, had to place to meet and no money, Johnson recalled. Each council member chipped in $25 each and Mayor Johnson chipped in $50 to buy paper and stamps.

“We began looking for money,” said Johnson. “People thought we were not getting our fair share of things. We didn’t have a place for children to play in the summertime, so we began working on those things. Another thing we wanted was streetlights and we got those. We began figuring out how to get money so we checked with Montgomery, Washington and everywhere else and began to get a little bit of money to start things off with.”

“This was a corn field and a hay patch 20 years ago,” said Johnson as he stood under the pavilion and pointed to where he was standing. “It took us two or three years to accumulate enough money where we could buy some things to get started with. That first council didn’t want to go into debt. We didn’t owe people anything, so we waited until we got the money to buy things with before we began accumulating things.”

Eventually, the town acquired a town hall building and then began to work toward construction of athletic fields.

“Somebody said, ‘what are you doing Mr. Paul?’” said Johnson. “I said, ‘We are going to build some ball fields out here.’ He said ‘You are going to waste time and money. I can show you ball fields in Cherokee County that haven’t been played on in the last 10 years.’ I said ‘were they located in Sand Rock?’”

And today, the Sand Rock Town Hall Complex, park and athletic fields host numerous events throughout the year. Citizens use the walking track on a daily basis.

Johnson extended his appreciation to all those who had a hand in bringing the town where it is today.

Making the trek back to Sand Rock for the day’s festivities was Recording Artist Leah Seawright, a 1993 graduate of Sand Rock School, who now resides in Sand Mountain. While visiting her hometown, Seawright performed a few tunes for her many friends and family members.

“I love it!” said Seawright of the Sand Rock Day festivities. “I see some of the guys that I went to school with.” Laughed Seawright, “Of course they look older than me! But it has changed a lot. None of this was here when I graduated. It is beautiful.”

Seawright said she has been singing in front of audiences since she was 15.

“I just come from a long line of musicians and singers, including my mom and dad,” said Seawright. “I did two gospel CDS and am finishing up my first country album as we speak. It has been fun.”

Seawright says her first priority is rearing her three children. And then her spare time is donated toward singing and writing songs. She writes most of the music she performs.

Seawright says her weekends are booked for October, including an appearance at the upcoming Attalla Heritage Day and at a private event in Mississippi the weekend after that.

“Finishing up my country album is mainly what I am focused on right now,” said Seawright. “We are excited about that.”

Her CDs, available on independent label, are Surrender and Because of My Faith. She had some available at Sand Rock Day.

“It is good to be back in Sand Rock,” said Seawright.

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