Gris List: Wonders, trees and weather

We adore lists.

We are crazy in love with subjective lists that provide us with useful and useless information, like the worst song titles of all time and the breeds of dogs known to bite the most.

When the People’s Almanac was published in 1975, it was 1,400 pages long and considerably more entertaining than a set of family encyclopedias. It was informative and eclectic, even a bit edgy.

But do you know what readers loved most? There were 25 pages dedicated to lists … everything from the 10 longest rivers to the 10 tallest buildings. There were oddball lists, too, like 10 famous noses and a list of well-known people who died in the bathroom.

Two years later, the almanac branched out and published a popular spin-off book, “The Book of Lists.” It sold more than three million copies, produced four sequels, a board game and a short-lived TV show. It served up everything from famous southpaws, renowned redheads, longest words, greatest dancers and the most glamorous cities.

I’m a list guy, too, which is why I am introducing a monthly “Gris List’’ in The Melody. Readers can expect a variety of upbeat and offbeat lists about Macon. Some will be worthy of a spirited debate. Others will be solicited from Melody readers. You are welcome to email your contributions at [email protected]

Seven Wonders of Macon

1. Ocmulgee Mounds National Historic Park — This is not a new kid on the block. It has been around for more than 12,000 years. Hiking to the top of the Great Temple Mound will take your breath away. Literally. The Earth Lodge Council Chamber is believed to be one of the oldest public “buildings” in North America. And the park exit has one of my favorite signs in Macon: “All Things Are Connected.”

2. The Hay House — It has been called the “Palace of the South” and was considered one of the most technologically advanced antebellum houses in America. It has 18,000 square feet and 24 rooms. Movies and television shows have been filmed there.

3. St. Joseph Catholic Church — I have been to some of the great cathedrals in Europe, and our own St. Joe’s comes close to rivaling them. It took 14 years to build. There are 60 stained glass windows (made in Germany) and the same Italian Carrara marble used by Michelangelo.

4. Luther Williams Field — The second-oldest minor league ballpark in the country (1929) is right out of a Norman Rockwell painting. Everyone from Pete Rose to Chipper Jones has played there. No less than a dozen movies have been made using the historic stadium as a backdrop.

5. Grand Opera House — It lives up to its name. It is drop-dead gorgeous, and its stage was once one of the largest in the Southeast. Among the performers who graced that stage were Charlie Chaplain, Bob Hope, Harry Houdini and Will Rogers. The Grand hosted the world premiere of the movie “God Is My Co-Pilot” by Macon native Gen. Robert Scott.

6. City Auditorium — It boasts one of the largest copper domes (152 feet in diameter) in the world. There are giant columns on three sides, and an intricate mural above the stage that depicts the city’s history from Hernando de Soto’s visit to World War I. No other building has rendered a stage for so much history – graduations, proms, concerts, sporting events and some of the largest funerals (Otis Redding and W.L. “Young” Stribling) in city history.

7. Rose Hill Cemetery — It is as much a history book as it is a graveyard. Three governors, two U.S. senators, a congressman, 31 mayors, 600 Confederate soldiers, famous musicians and athletes are buried on 65 of the most scenic acres in the city along the banks of the Ocmulgee River. And, yes, even Lt. Bobby – the first dog to receive a commission in the U.S. military by President Calvin Coolidge in 1928.

Four signature trees of Macon

1. Yoshino Cherry Trees — There are more than 350,000 Yoshino cherry trees in Macon, making us the cherry blossom capital of the universe. The beauty of the trees inspired a festival, which will celebrate its 43rd year in March. They are our eye candy of the spring, making our community one of the most beautiful walking gardens on earth.

2. Gingko — While the cherry trees provide the breathtaking beauty of springtime, the ginkgos get top billing in the fall. Of all the autumn hues, they are the most gorgeous.

3. Magnolias — You can’t have a list of Southern trees without magnolias. They are our rock.

 4. Live Oaks — We respect our trees so much we named 14 downtown streets after them. The live oak is the state tree of Georgia. The five live oaks at the corner of Vineville Avenue and Calloway Drive are believed to be the oldest in the city. They were planted in 1836 by Bishop George Pierce, the first president of Wesleyan College.

Three most significant weather events

1. Great Flood of ‘94 — Tropical Storm Alberto hit Macon and the rest of the state, unleashing the worst natural disaster in Georgia history. Flooding from the storm killed 34 people and caused an estimated $1 billion in property damage. In Macon, the Ocmulgee River surged to an estimated 35 feet, more than twice its normal flood stage. It severely crippled the Macon Water Authority’s water treatment plant, forcing the facility to shut down. City residents went 19 days without water.

2. Blizzard of ‘73 — Old-timers will remember the unexpected whiteout of Feb. 9-10, 1973, when a bizarre snowstorm dumped a record 16.5 inches on Macon, burying the previous mark of 6.9 inches in 1914.

3. Mother’s Day Tornado of 2008 — A mother of a storm system spawned 10 tornadoes across Macon and Middle Georgia in the early hours of Mother’s Day. It caused widespread damage in south and west Bibb County. Particularly hard hit was the campus of Middle Georgia State College, where strong winds knocked down an estimated 3,900 trees across the 170 acres, uprooting large oaks and snapping pines like toothpicks. The college lost about 90% of its tree canopy.