You can still spot a “See Rock City” message painted on a handful of barns across Tennessee, although the Burma Shave signs and their humorous messages that peppered the highways from coast to coast – remembered now only by older readers – are all but gone. The ubiquitous highway advertising for Stuckey’s stores and their pecan logs are still around, but  are mostly confined to the Southeast with just 63 stores in a chain that once boasted more than 350.

Collectively, they are slices of what is known as Americana that tell a part of our story, the culture, fads and history.

Here in the Golden Triangle, we have our own supply of roadside curiosities that capture our notice along our streets, highways and neighborhoods, telling the story of our own version of Americana.

From organized efforts such as the Barn Quilt Trail and the murals that adorn downtown buildings in Columbus, Starkville and West Point to the work of a single person inspired by an idea, such as the “Dragon Tree” at the intersection of Highway 45 and Schaffers Chapel Road and the decorated hay bales, decked out in seasonal themes that grab the eye of travelers on Highway 45 near Aberdeen. The displays run the gamut from folk art to foolishness, established for no other reason than to bring a smile to all who encounter them.

For the past 12 years, one of the most heart-warming displays of Americana is found at the Starkville home of Charles “LaLa” Evans, whose shrine to his late wife has grown from a deeply personal tribute to a public panorama of explosive colors that compelled passers-by to not only look, but stop to find out more.

When Evans’ wife, Louise, died one month short of the couple’s 60th wedding anniversary in 2011, he began to wallpaper their home with the thousands of photos they had taken over the years. When the home itself could not contain LaLa’s expressions of love for his late wife, it spilled out onto his two-acre property in the form of dozens and dozens of umbrellas, all shapes, sizes and colors, along with colorful streamers, planters piled high with artificial flowers, wind chimes and inspirational messages painted on slabs of wood.

Before long, it had become a roadside attraction as Evans entertained visitors – especially children – with the story of his life, his wife and a love affair that began more than 75 years ago.

His story caught the attention of magazines and TV shows and newscasts across the nation, beginning in 2011 with Catfish Alley magazine. In 2016 the rock group Mutemath featured LaLa and his shrine in the video of their single “Monument.”

Things soon returned to normal, but Evans continued to greet visitors and maintain his shrine.

But in recent years, LaLa Land, as it is called, has begun showing signs of decline. Colors have faded. Streamers have frayed. Umbrellas have crumpled and toppled.

At age 90, Evans is finding it difficult to keep up appearances.

He is reaching out to the public for help in cleaning up the property, where limbs and debris have collected after recent wind storms. He needs help pulling weeds that have been getting the upper hand recently. A little help touching up faded paint on the inspirational messages that are fading away. The umbrellas need some TLC, too.

So if you’re driving along and spot Lala Land on Hancock Street, stop by and lend a hand.

You’ll be preserving a little slice of Americana right here in our own backyard.

Lala can be emailed at [email protected].

The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.

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