A bug's life - boll weevil, that is!

This is a first.  A first for a city in America and a first for me.  A city, holding high and proud the insect, which changed their history - a grossly infesting, almost impossible to exterminate, cotton eating beetle - the Boll Weevil.  Welcome to downtown Enterprise, Alabama!

This 1/4-inch insect invaded the southern cotton industry from our southern neighbor, Mexido. in the very late 1800's.  Check this out - one mating pair produces 2-million offspring!  The city of Enterprise, located in the Coffee County, almost lost everything as cotton was their economic support. This multi-offspring and indestructible beetle were raining havoc on all the farmers.

One area farmer, C.W. Baston decided enough was enough.  He took a chance, bought enough peanut seeds for his entire farmland.  In one season, he was able to pay off prior years of acquired debt and still was able to pocket a nice chunk of change.  His prosperity rang throughout the streets.  Other farmers followed suit and began to diversify in their crops - peanuts, sugar cane, potatoes and such.  Ther sandy soils began to thrive once again while the boll weevil became almost extinct as it could only survive on cotton.  Today, the county of Coffee generates over 250 million dollars annually in the agriculture and forest industry. 

Near the downtown boll weevil monument is a barely funded museum housing many artifacts of the past.  Some of the antique objects are covered with blue Visqueen protecting it from a leaky roof in dire need of repair.  One piece of machinery grabbed my attention - the Boll Weevil Killer (I gave it that name).  This homemade contraption would shake each passing plant throwing the beetle into a leather pouch for later destruction.

Several times in the city's history, residents woke up to the reaching arms broken off of this unique monument and the black beetle missing.  Some got away with and some got caught.  In the window of a downtown building, displays the last time the Greek god's arms were broken a 'bugnapping' on the evening of May 15, 1981.  A local radio station installed cameras and to this day, she remains intact with the Boll Weevil proudly on display.

As I drive in and out of the streets of city of Enterprise I see it everywhere - the celebration of the Boll Weevil.  A town takes something 'evil' and turns it into prosperity!  Way to go! Also, thanks for the bit of weirdness making this a first for me - visiting a city because of a bug - A Bug's Life!