Thursday, June 26: Mountain Potluck Dinner
Day of Thanksgiving and 75th Anniversary of the von Braun Team Arrival
Our June 26th meeting was originally intended to focus on the historic 75th Arrival of the von Braun Team, but we all felt we should also make this an early “Thanksgiving Dinner.”
Despite the massive damage and hardships for so many residents, thankfully, there were no fatalities or injuries during the tornado. It could have been (and has been in the past) so much worse.
Please do whatever you can to help those neighbors who suffered the most damage, especially our elderly residents for whom this storm creates exceptional hardships. Our relief at no loss of life or serious injury is tempered by the knowledge that recovery has been extremely difficult for so many of our neighbors.
Trees down at the intersection of Panorama Drive and East Drive
The National Weather Service confirmed the storm was an EF-1—the “smallest” tornado on the scale.
Path of the tornado and its 107 MPH winds
Reports are still coming in, but there are several thousand downed trees on the mountain, and a majority of homes will need new roofs from the billiard ball-sized hail.
Hailstone
Some of us had relatively minor damage, while others had trees crash into their living rooms and will be forced to live elsewhere during repairs.
Large tree down on Panorama Drive
Please assist your neighbors during the recovery. Many capable tree companies and roofing companies are working on the mountain, but there are also some who are taking advantage of residents by charging far more than they should or providing poor quality services. If you have any questions or need advice, please contact us at info@montesanocivicassociation.org
Likewise, if you have any feedback or contractors—good or bad—please email us at the address above so we can get a better database. One useful rule of thumb is to be especially careful of out out-of-town contractors—they are more likely to overcharge or under-perform than the contractors who live here.
At the last Association meeting in April, we said that we need to be prepared for the next natural disaster that will inevitably hit, but few of us anticipated a direct hit by a tornado the following month. We are working on an Emergency Response Plan based on best management practices. As always, we welcome your input.
Mayberry on the Mountain
As always, the worst weather brings out the very best in our neighbors. Within minutes of the storm passing, neighbors were in the streets checking up on their neighbors. Those with power or generators offered up their homes, refrigerators and hot showers to those without power. Neighbors helped other neighbors clear driveways, and within minutes, dozens of residents’ chainsaws were fired up and put to urgent use.
Whether it’s tornadoes or ice storms, this is the way it has always been on our “Mayberry on the Mountain,” where we all look after each other and especially during such emergencies. This organic, ad hoc response was quickly supplemented by a truly heroic response from City of Huntsville and Huntsville Utilities.
The City’s Heroic Response
Within half an hour after the storm passed, we counted 26 City trucks on the mountain, with more streaming in every minute.
Our Councilman David Little was available 24/7 and personally intervened when he heard of areas that needed urgent attention—such as when Cooper Street was completely cut off by multiple massive trees. The City crews operated like elite Special Forces; their excellent training provided immediate dividends.
More than one resident said “They were doing such a great job. I went in to make them a hot pot of coffee, but forgot that we had no power!”
At the Little Green Store, food trucks were brought in on a Friday afternoon for the City’s crews. Many residents attended—but none from the City—they were too busy working! Residents promptly hopped in their cars or bicycles to track down the crews and get their food orders in the field.
We will have a massive ‘Thank You City Crews’ Card for residents to sign at the June 26th meeting. We’ll present it to the City after we collect more signatures at other mountain venues. We’re also looking at an in-person event for the crews in a few months so residents can personally thank them.
75th Anniversary Arrival of the von Braun Team on Monte Sano
The von Braun Team
Most of the 126 of the original von Braun team lived on Monte Sano or it’s slopes. They transformed Huntsville from a city of 13,000 people to the largest city in the state, and now nationally recognized as America’s best place to Live.
Since Monte Sano is the best neighborhood in Huntsville—-that makes us the ‘best neighborhood in America!’ It would not have been possible without the arrival of the von Braun team in 1950.
Historians agree that the 20th Century’s Greatest Achievement was the Apollo Moon Landing. No city was more important to this effort than Huntsville, and the ‘brain trust’ of the Apollo Program lived on our mountain. Remember in 1969 the excitement of ‘’The Eagle has Landed!” Well, the ‘Eagles’ wouldn’t have landed without the ‘Owls’—the rocket engineers. And the ‘Owl’s Nest’ was Monte Sano!
The von Braun team left an astonishing legacy. They joined with their former enemies—American GI Bill war veterans to pull off the 20th Century’s greatest achievement. This is a legacy truly to be celebrated: Astonishing Innovation arising from equally astonishing reconciliation. We must celebrate their remarkable legacy!
We will have a panel of ‘Old Timers’—family members of the von Braun team and local residents—so they can describe to us what it was like in the 1950’s ‘when the Germans came to town.’ It should be great fun!
Schedule of Events
As always, this is a potluck dinner and BYOB event:
5:00 – 6:00 PM Social Hour
6:00 – 7:15 PM Dinner and Dinner Program
7:15 – 9:00 More socializing with your neighbors
Please continue to look after your neighbors and reach out to us if you have any issues. We’ll see you on Thursday June 26th at the State Park Lodge!