Grand Ole Georgiana: Hank Williams’ Hometown Hangs Onto Legacy Of Music Star

By Chuck Chandler

Two mutts meander onto a main thoroughfare at midday. They linger until a car horn honks, prompting them to slowly move out of the street. As the world turns, Georgiana is just Hank-ing on.

This tiny town in south central Alabama has changed in many ways since its most famous son lived here for a few childhood years in the early 1930s. Georgiana was a bustling railroad and lumber town then, stemming from its 1855 origins. It looks much the same today but time has not stood still for most of the businesses and 1,700 residents.

A new bypass diverts many outsiders around the outskirts of town. There’s a Fred’s and Subway and several other new businesses on the revised route. Longtime businesses almost a stone’s throw to the north no longer see much of the former beach traffic. Kendall’s BBQ has been a fixture at the Interstate 65 exit for nearly 20 years. On a breezy afternoon, heat from the pit rushes through one of two windows on the small metal building as a UPS driver and an Alabama State Trooper place their orders. The smoky aroma of pulled pork often lingers on satisfied customers.Folks who choose to follow the road 2 miles into Georgiana will find no traffic lights. Most houses are modest, one-story, well-kept with manicured lawns and gardens, reflective of the blue-collar background of the original homeowners.

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