Dec 31 2007
Asteroid Hits Wetumpka!
About 83 million years ago a meteorite hit just east of where the city of Wetumpka now sits. This is a feature the city likes to point out to visitors. So it is no surprise the city designed its New Year’s celebration with the meteorite in mind.
As everyone on the planet knows, New York has its famous New Year’s ball drop in Times Square. One of the cool things about living in a town like Wetumpka is that the city is able to do things you wouldn’t normally see in a bigger city unless you are in New York. Wetumpka has its own version of the ball drop. Three years ago in our first year as residents we went down to the courthouse for the first “Meteor Drop.”
The ball was constructed by students at the Elmore County Technical Center and is covered with Christmas lights. It has rockets attached to it that stream sparks as it shoots down a zip line to the base of the flag pole in front of the courthouse. All of this was the brain child of Jack DeVenney who when driving past the courthouse one day thought it would be a great place for a New Year’s Times Square type celebration1. Prior to the meteorite type ball Mr. DeVenney had been dropping a lighted ball from the top of the flagpole. The meteorite ball drops down a zip line from the top of a hill to the base of the flagpole where a traditional ball lights up.
On our first trip to the meteor drop 300 to 500 people were there to watch the spectacular event. This, after all, was the first meteor drop as opposed to the lighted ball from the top of the flagpole. We arrived at about 11:45 p.m. and the loud speaker was playing music. I’m not talking about music like you would hear on the radio. This was like music you would hear on ‘Main Street’ of Disney World. One piece of ‘umpa umpa’ music had a family of four attempt to do a little bounce up and down so that mom and daughter were up when dad and son went down. They never really got it together, but it was a good try! The boy scouts were selling hot cocoa and donuts and the whole thing had a feeling of a family fair. During the 15 minute wait an announcer (I’m assuming it was Mr. DeVenney) would come on the speaker and say, “It’s quarter to, folks!” And the crowd would cheer. At last the announcer said, “Ten seconds, nine, eight, seven, . . .” Sure enough the ball came streaking down the zip line to the base of the flagpole. As it reached the bottom and the lights of the ball came on, fireworks began to erupt from the opposite shore of the Coosa River. Big beautiful sparkles in the cool night air of an Alabama midnight. Appreciatively the crowd “ooooed” and “ahhhhed” during the fireworks and at the finale the crowd applauded. Then the announcer came on and said, “Happy New Year folks! Drive safe.” We were back home by 12:20.
This will be our third New Year’s Asteroid Drop in Wetumpka. As the years have gone by the crowd has gotten larger, but the feel is still that of a family fair. People will come with their children. Enjoy hot cocoa and support the boy scouts, be thrilled by the streaking rockets of the “meteorite” and the fireworks.
Life in a small town. Thanks Wetumpka.
