Where the HECK is Waldo?

Our first stop is in Waldo, AL, Pop 281, located in Talledega County

Demographics:
Males: 143 (50.9%), Females: 138 (49.1%)
Median resident age: 39.6 years
Median household income: $26,563 (year 2000)
Median house value: $57,200 (year 2000)
Nearest city with pop. 50,000+: Hoover, AL (53.1 miles , pop. 62,742).
Nearest city with pop. 200,000+: Birmingham, AL (54.4 miles , pop. 242,820).

Waldo is not far from the Talledega Superspeedway (home to many NASCAR races) and the Aniston Army Depot.

The community was named for the maiden name of the wife of the one of the Riddle brothers, founders.

Waldo is home to the Waldo Covered Bridge:

Waldo Bridge (1858) spans Talladega Creek in the Waldo community southeast of Talladega. The bridge was built at Riddle’s Mill, a gristmill operated by the Riddle brothers. The mill has been converted into a restaurant. Used by Wilson’s Raiders during the Civil War, the bridge is near Riddle’s Hole, an 1840 gold mine that continued operating until World War II.

Now Waldo, AL is not to be confused with Albert (or "Al") Waldo, professor of molecurlar cardiology at Case Western and the 13th Annual GordonK. Moe Lecturer.

By measure of both Dr. Waldo’s research and clinical interests, he is one of the major leaders in our field currently and has been for a long time. More importantly he helped to develop the field of clinical cardiac electrophysiology.

He sounds like an important guy, and I would name a town after him, but that has already been done.

Waldo is also home to the Old Mill Restaraunt. I had a hard time finding much about this reastaraunt, except the following two quotes:

One place in such peril is the covered bridge in Waldo, a historical landmark that sits next to the Old Mill Restaurant on Alabama 77.

Cindie Brewer, who owns the restaurant and surrounding property, said people come from miles around, with their road maps in hand, to see the historic landmark — even in its current dilapidated condition.

One of the oldest in Alabama, the bridge was built in 1858 and spans 115 feet over the creek, resting on two stone piers.

It was once traversed by people coming to and from town to get their corn ground into meal and has a history as rich as the homemade pie offered at the Old Mill Restaurant.

Mmmmm....Homemade pie!

That night, we went to the Old Mill Restaurant, whose specialty is ... fried catfish! I'd pigged out on fried catfish for lunch, so I went with a salad instead!

I agree with her choice - catfish even once in a day is a big task, but twice? I'd go with the pie.

This is what Waldo would look like if you were in a blimp.

In case you were wondering, the Administrative report for the Talladega Drum Removal Site in Waldo, Talladega County, Ala. is available for public review. I have a website to prove it.


There is another mysterious website that boasts to tell all about Waldo, but really it is devoid of information. It does, however, give the weather report for Redmond, WA. It has a cute picture of a cat as well.

Well, that's a wrap from Waldo. I am not certain if the most famous Waldo has ever been there. I am not sure if he was named after Albert or after one of the Riddle brothers' wife's maiden name. I would have to do more research. If you have any of this information, please let me know.