Today, Madison, Alabama, is a booming city with almost 65,000 residents and seemingly three times that many vehicles. In the 1920s and ‘30s, however, the town was a small dot on the map of North Alabama with a population hovering around 430 people.

Like much of Alabama at the time, the area was primarily agricultural, with farming being the most common way of earning a living. There were few businesses in town, so anyone needing something headed to the handful of stores that dotted downtown.

One of the most popular destinations was the drug store - a combination hardware and grocery shop that served as a place for medical advice when needed.

It was during this time that drugstore owner George Walton “Doc” Hughes had an idea – albeit an unusual one. What if he climbed on top of his drugs

See Full Page