About The Nest

Written by Johnnie Stone Bird Known to All as Mama Bird on March 25, 1980.

This house was torn down and moved here sometime between 1909 and 1911. It stood on Sewell Hill as a sawmill house somewhere close to where Westover water tank now stands. And the water comes from the well now in front of the house. A Mr. Griffin who married a Wheeler girl owned this place. He bought the house and had Mr. John Gill tear it down and move it here and rebuild it. Then Mr. Griffin sold the place to Dr. H. B. Lane. Then, John Bird and wife bought it from Dr. Lane for $1,100. Eighty acres of land on November 8, 1913, made the deeds on November 16, 1913 and worked it for 3 years before moving here. Moved on January 1, 1916 with four children. The second one, Gladys now owns the old house place. When we came here the house was surrounded by woods, cleaned it up and built barn, chicken house, dug a well and built other shelters. The public road to Birmingham just the yard distance in front of house. In 1930 of November begin Highway 280, at first it was Florida short route 91.

Children when moved here was:

Born Died

Annie Sarah October 11, 1910 August 16, 1997

Gladys Estelle June 6, 1912 April 10, 1990

Jim Henry March 6, 1914 September 11, 1974

Floyd Phagin October 22, 1915 February 13, 1988

After moving here:

Born Died

Mattie Lura October 25, 1917 July 23, 2001

Isaac Elmer November 17, 1919 July 31, 2008

E. V. January 1, 1922 February 16, 1998

A. B. January 23, 1924 August 4, 2018

Nettie Vonzelle February 18, 1926 January 18, 1927

Dorothy Dean January 27, 1928 March 27, 2024

John Jr. November 27, 1929 October 12, 1999

Carl Embry February 18, 1932 February 15, 1981

All born at home.

The farm was payed for by two boys, Elmer and E. V. after serving in World War II in or around the year of 1945.

Father Mother

John Robert Bird Johnnie Alberta Stone

Born July 24, 1880 Born November 10, 1892

Died May 29, 1950 Died January 26, 1990

They were married on December 26, 1909.