Historic Markers; Florence, AL; Lauderdale County, AL
This historic marker is located on Jackson Road, Florence, Alabama. The text on side one of the marker reads: "Side 1: The Forks of Cypress plantation was established in 1818 by James and Sarah Jackson. Its home, believed the design of William Nichols, was one of Alabama's great houses, featuring perhaps the earliest peristyle colonnade in America. Built by skilled African-American artisans in slavery. The Forks stood until June 6, 1966, when it was struck by lighting and burned to the ground. Its surrounding brick porch with twenty-three brick columns-once plastered with a mix of lime, horsehair and molasses and topped by cypress Ionic capitals-remains on limestone foundations. Irish-born James Jackson, engineer, turfman, merchant, financier, planter, statesman, member of the Cypress Land Company, was a founding father of Florence. He was the major figure in establishing the local textile industry. As President of the Alabama Senate, he was its key advocate of the 1832 Treaty of Cusetta." The text on side two reads: "James Jackson's most enduring contribution was his legacy on the thoroughbred horse industry. With the purpose of improving American bloodstock. Jackson imported some of England's finest horses, most notably Leviathan, Gallopade, and Glencoe. Peytona, bred at the Forks, in 1843 won the Peyton Stakes, the flushest purse ever, and the Race between the North and South, for which she walked 1,200 miles to Long Island. Reel, the leading American broodmare of the 19th century, was another Forks-bred horse. Both were daughters of Glencoe, as was Pocahontas, England's all-time pre-eminent broodmare. Jackson's greatest horse was the immortal stallion Glencoe who led the Stud Brook eight years, "a truly epochal animal such as appears only at rare intervals and with whom only a scattering few others of all time deserve to be ranked." -- James Hervey, Racing in American His successful progeny insured such prevalence of the line that by mid-20th century virtually no thoroughbred in the world could be found who did not descend from Glencoe of the Forks of Cypress."
Dylan Tucker, University of North Alabama
“Forks of Cypress Plantation Marker”. Accessed 11/02/2015. http://www.lat34north.com/historicmarkersal/
Forks of Cypress Plantation Site; James Jackson; Greek Revival Style; Tourism; Alabama Historical Commission
Originally owned by James Jackson, one of Florence’s founding fathers, the Forks of Cypress was one of the earliest Greek Revival homes built in Alabama. The home featured a temple-type veranda supported by massive columns that surrounded the exterior of the house. The Forks of Cypress plantation house burned on June 6, 1966. A severe thunderstorm produced cloud-to-ground lightening that struck the mansion, setting it on fire. The fire destroyed everything except the twenty-four Ionic columns that had surrounded the foundation. Forks of Cypress had been a part of Florence and Lauderdale County for 145 years. The Forks of Cypress was owned by Mr. Rufus B. Dowdy at the time of the fire in 1966. The Forks served as a museum that housed around a million dollars worth of antiques. Imported china, silver and glassware, pioneer artifacts, and other museum pieces were lost in the fire. The Forks of Cypress had been the number one tourist attraction in Florence. While the historic ruins are owned by the state and presided over by the Alabama Historical Commission, the access road is privately owned. The ruins are viewable from a distance via a public road.
Kayla Scott, University of North Alabama
Bob Martin, “Mid-Morning Today: Historic Forks Burns.” Tri Cities Daily, June 6, 1966. Florence Herald “Historic Forks of Cypress Burns to Ground Monday.” June 9, 1966, p. 2. Personal Interview with Lee Freeman, November 24, 2014. Images courtesy of UNA Collier Library Archives
Sam Siegel Knoxville, Tennessee Professional Wrestling
Jackson County, Stevenson, Military Fortification, Civil War, National Register of Historic Places, Alabama Historical Commission Markers
Constructed by the Union Army in the summer of 1862 and expanded in 1864, using soldiers and freed slaves, Ft. Harker was built on a broad hill a quarter-mile east of town. It overlooked Crow Creek and was well within firing range of Stevenson’s strategic railroad lines, supply depots and warehouses. Ft. Harker was an earthen redoubt, 150 feet square, with walls 14 feet high, surrounded by an 8 foot deep dry moat. It contained 7 cannon platforms, a bomb-proof powder magazine, a draw-bridge entrance and an 8-sided wooden blockhouse at its center. Soldiers building the fort reported that “the soil is very hard, requiring the continual use of a pick.” Despite that, Ft. Harker was critical to Union plans. The officer in charge was ordered by his commanding general “to work night and day” to complete the fort “as rapidly as possible.” One other large fort, two smaller redoubts and at least seven blockhouses were constructed along the railroad lines at Stevenson during the Civil War. No major fighting occurred here, but skirmishes and sniper attacks were common as territory traded hands between Union and Confederate forces. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places 5/2/77 (From the historical marker erected at the site by the Alabama Historical Commission)
Historical marker erected at the site by the Alabama Historical Commission http://focus.nps.gov/nrhp/AssetDetail?assetID=95bdb8b3-ef52-477c-851f-ae8cb34f821d http://focus.nps.gov/pdfhost/docs/nrhp/text/78000491.pdf http://loc.gov/pictures/resource/ppmsca.23042/
Northeast Alabama Community College Archives and Special Collections
This historic marker is located at the intersection of Florence Boulevard and North Oak St., Florence, AL. The text on side one reads: "The United States flag that flies at the base of this hill stands as a sentry over the site that was the home of Fort Willingham Armory from 1937-1979. The Armory was named after Dr. Henry J. Willingham, president of Florence State Normal School, and later, Florence State Teachers College for 25 years. In addition to its military functions, the Armory also served as the focal point for community sporting events and social gatherings. In 1935, an extensive building program was inaugurated by the State of Alabama, the Adjutant General's Office, and the Works Progress Administration for the construction of an armory for each National Guard unit in the State. For Governor Bibb Graves, Adjutant General John C. Coleman, and many National Guardsmen, the building program was a dream come true. The cost of construction for 32 armories exceeded two million dollars. Fort Willingham Armory cost $31,110. The Armory was razed in January 1981. All that remains of Fort Willingham are the rock walls surrounding the site, history of the units stationed here, and memories of those who trained here." The text on side two reads: "The lineage of the units of the Alabama National Guard that trained at Fort Willingham Armory changed over the years as they were reorganized. The units that trained here included: Service Company, 106th Med BN 1937 101st Light Pantoon Co. 1939 Co. F., 151st Combat Eng BN 1940 Co. F., 1343rd Eng BN 1944 104th Air Defense BN HQS, & A Co. 1947 278th Air Defense Arty BN HQS, & A Co. 1953 161st Medical Co. 1953 115th SIG BN, HQS CO. & A Co & D Co. 1960 Co. B., 1st Special Forces BN, 20th Group 1961 Members of these units were patriotic citizens of the NW Alabama Region who served their State and Nation with distinction during wars, natural disasters, and humanitarian missions. Sponsored by the Retirees of the 115th Signal Battalion, Alabama Army National Guard."
“Fort Willingham Marker". Accessed 11/02/2015. http://www.lat34north.com/historicmarkersal/
Civil War; General Philip Roddey; Union General Granville Dodge; Confederate Colonel William A. Johnson; 9th Illinois Cavalry; 4th Alabama Cavalry; Lamb’s Ferry; Rogersville, AL; Lauderdale County, AL
The first skirmish at four mile branch in Lauderdale County during 1864. January 25, Confederate Colonel William A. Johnson’s 4th Alabama Cavalry was dispatched to forage in Lauderdale County by General Philip Roddey from his headquarters at Bainbridge. A Union spy in Florence sent word of Colonel Johnson’s mission to Union General Granville Dodge’s headquarters at Pulaski Tennessee. General Dodge sent Colonel A. O. Miller’s 2nd Cavalry from Pulaski and Lieutenant Colonel Jesse J. Phillips with the 9th Illinois Cavalry from Athens to join the 18th Missouri. The combined Union forces were tasked with intercepting Johnson’s expedition. Johnson’s Confederates avoided Phillips’ Union cavalry but encountered Miller’s forces at the crossroads of Huntsville and Byler Roads. The ensuing skirmish lasted for a couple of hours until dark. Miller withdrew to the east bank of Shoal Creek and Johnson’s forces held the field for the night. The following day Johnson went on the offensive and caught Miller’s forces at Lamb’s Ferry in Rogersville. Miller’s 2nd Cavalry suffered two casualties in that engagement. Meanwhile, General Roddey took advantage of Phillips’ forces leaving Athens and attacked the garrison there. In the raid, Roddey’s forces captured prisoners and supplies. Miller’s forces suffered fifteen killed and twenty-five wounded in the two days of skirmishing. The Confederate forces under Johnson suffered seven deaths.
Michael Williams, University of North Alabama
McDonald, William Lindsey. 2003. Civil War tales of the Tennessee Valley. n.p.: Killen, Ala. : Heart of Dixie Pub. (1812 CR 111, Killen, Ala., 35645), [2003], 2003. UNA Library Catalog, EBSCOhost (accessed April 30, 2015).
Photo from following websites: http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=7217181 Photo from following websites: http://www.oocities.org/bourbonstreet/Delta/3843/johnson.htm
Fourth of July Celebration (Cherokee, Alabama)
Independence Day Festival; Fourth of July; Cherokee, Alabama; Colbert County, Alabama; Festival
The town of Cherokee celebrates with an Independence Day Festival that includes children’s games, bingo, food, street dance, music and fireworks. This festival is held annually on the 4th of July.
Thomas Hale, University of North Alabama
“Fourth of July Celebrations”, Accessed on November 29, 2015, http://www.colbertcountytourism.org/index.php/2012-11-08-15-07-00/annual-events
Frank Lloyd Wright Rosenbaum House ; Florence, AL; Lauderdale County, AL; Museums
The Rosenbaum House was built in 1939-1940 with a price tag of approximately $14,000. The Rosenbaum House is located in Florence and serves as the only example of Frank Lloyd Wright architecture in Alabama. Stanley and Mildred Rosenbaum were the owners of the house until 1999. Frank Lloyd Wright designed the Rosenbaum House using the Usonian architectural style. The house was designed to blend with and rise from the landscape, and features carports, flat roofs, overhanging eaves and a concrete floor. The home is constructed from cypress, glass, and brick. Wright designed a 1,540 square feet floor plan. Storage space was a key component, and every inch of the house was meant to be used to the fullest extent. The kitchen is a tiny workspace that allows for standing room only. There were numerous problems with the home’s construction. The chimneys were not ventilated properly. The flat roofs did not drain, so water leaked in. Despite these problems, an addition was added in 1946-1948, with Wright designing the plans. The addition added an additional 1,084 square feet, adding two wings to the house and enlarging the kitchen. A second carport was also added at this time. The Rosenbaum House was purchased by the city of Florence in 1999 for the sum of $75,000. Termite and water damage had caused extensive structural problems over the years, requiring between $600,000 and $700,000 of renovations. The house now serves as a museum and is open for tours each week Tuesday through Sunday.
www.florenceal.org Ben Berntson, “Rosenbaum House Museum,” Encyclopedia of Alabama. http://www.encyclopdiaofalabama.org/article/h-2397#sthash.Ja3m6yMb.dpuf Image courtesy of UNA Collier Library Archives
Located in Loachapoka along County Road 652. Coordinates: 32.6243002, -85.6110637
Professional Wrestling Knoxville, Tennessee Promoter
Lee County, AL; Beulah, AL; National Register of Historic Places; Commerce
Franklin Yarborough, Jr. Store was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on June 29, 1989.
Architectural drawings; Watercolors; Houses; Dwellings; Doors & doorways; Windows; Shutters; Balconies; Hand railings; Porches; Columns; Roofs; Ironwork; Stairways; Woodwork; Men; Women; Horses; Trees; Landscapes (Representations)
This image is a watercolor painting of the Frasier-Brown house, also known as Noble Hall or Frazier-Brown House or Frazer-Brown-Pearson House or Casey Homestead, in Auburn, Alabama done by an unknown student sometime between 1917 and 1942. The painting shows the front and side exterior of the house at an angle with its doors, windows, shutters, balcony, railings, columned porch, steps, and roof surrounded by trees and landscaping. There is a woman on the porch, a man on horseback, and people on the grounds in period costume. The house and grounds are placed within framing art showing its architectural features including columns, a corner of the roof, a wooden staircase and iron railings. Floor plans and the interior of the house are shown within the framing art. There is an Alabama Polytechnic Institute School of Architecture stamp and the handwritten inscription "2nd Medal" in the lower right corner. The painting is in fair condition with minor wear on the edges and is encapsulated.
Unknown (rendering) ; Foster, J. L. (house)
Auburn University Libraries. Special Collections and Archives Dept. Architecture, School of -- Architectural Renderings Student Projects
This image is the property of the Auburn University Libraries and is intended for non-commercial use. Users of the image are asked to acknowledge the Auburn University Libraries. For information about obtaining high-resolution copies of this and other images in this collection, please contact the Auburn University Libraries Special Collections & Archives Department at archive@auburn.edu or (334) 844-1732.
Library of Congress (Historic American Buildings Survey): http://www.loc.gov/item/al0283/ ; Alabama Department of Archives and History: http://digital.archives.alabama.gov/cdm/singleitem/collection/photo/id/2267 ; Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noble_Hall
Auburn -- Lee County -- Alabama ; Shelton Mill Road, Auburn, Lee County, AL (three miles north-east of Auburn)
Lee County, Lochapoka, Music, Alabama Music Hall of Fame
Freddie Hart (December 21, 1926- ) Born Fred Segrest on December 21, 1926, Hart was one of fifteen children. His parents were sharecroppers. He began playing guitar at age 5, and by age 12 he dropped out of school to work for his parents. When World War II broke out, Hart was 15. He lied about his age, joined the Marine Corps, and saw action at Guam and Iwo Jima. While in the service, he became interested in the martial arts, and after the war, he taught self-defense at the L.A. Police Academy. In 1948, Hart met Hank Williams who taught Hart about songwriting. In 1951, he joined Lefty Frizzell’s band. During his year with the band, Hart got his first recording contract with Capitol Records. In 1959, he recorded his first hit, “The Wall,” with Columbia Records. In 1971, his hit “Easy Lovin’” went to number one on the country charts and number seventeen on the pop charts. The song won two Grammy awards and was recognized as The Country Music Association as “The Song of the Year” for both 1971 and 1972. His songwriting has produced hits for many artists including Porter Wagoner and Charlie Rich. He was inducted into the Alabama Music Hall of Fame in 2001. Click the link to listen. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aaU8txxC04I
Joy Caitlin Monroe, University of North Alabama
“Freddie Hart.” Alabama Music Hall of Fame. (2016) http://alamhof.org/inductees/inductees/inductees-2/
Freedom Hills; Shooting Range; Colbert County, Alabama; Cherokee, Alabama; Primitive Camping
Freedom Hills is a 34,500 acre wildlife area. It borders the Natchez Trace and Cherokee, Alabama. The main attraction to the area is the abundant hunting available in the area and the outside shooting range. The shooting range is open to the public and can also be used for archery. It has a distance of 100 yards. The shooting range is also wheelchair accessible. A valid hunting or fishing license must be had to use the shooting range. It is also only open during daylight. This wildlife area is also home to the famous Coon Dog Cemetery. The cemetery is a resting place for many hunting dogs. The area also has primitive camping.
Carrie Keener, University of North Alabama
Outdoor Alabama,. 2014. 'Freedom Hills WMA Shooting Range'. http://www.outdooralabama.com/freedom-hills-wma-shooting-range. Alabama's Official Travel Guide,. 2015. 'Freedom Hills Wildlife Management Area - Cherokee - Alabama.Travel'. http://alabama.travel/places-to-go/freedom-hills-wildlife-management-area.
Colbert County, Alabama; Sheffield, Alabama; Temple B'Nai Israel; Jewish Culture; Friendship Community Church
Friendship Community Church, an Evangelical Church, is located at 800 North Atlanta Avenue in Sheffield, Alabama. Friendship Community Church is housed in what was once the first Jewish Temple in the Shoals area. Sheffield was the home of what became Temple B'nai Israel from 1906 until 1953. The original building had no indoor plumbing and the toilet facilities were outhouses. The temple was remodeled and updated in the 1940s when the choir loft and indoor toilets were added.
Pam Kingsbury, University of North Alabama
Coleman, Edwin M., A History of Temple B'nai Israel Florence, Alabama, Centennial Celebration, 1906 - 2006.
Education; Lee County, AL; Frog Pond School; Jones Academy; Beulah Academy; Beulah High School; Consolidation of Schools; Holder, S.J; Bradshaw, J.H.
Frog Pond School, also known as Jones Academy, was on Lee County Road 279 near the intersection with Lee County Road 259. Professors S.J. Holder and J.H. Bradshaw instructed students at Frog Pond around the turn of the twentieth century. Frog Pond closed when its student body consolidated with Beulah Academy and other schools to form Beulah High School in 1928.
Text Source: The Heritage of Lee County Book Committee, The Heritage of Lee County, Alabama (Clanton, AL: Heritage Publishing Consultants, 2000), 68.
Front of March, Eastern Side of Highway 80
Architectural drawings; Watercolors; Dwellings; Mansions; Houses; Doors & doorways; Niches; Sculpture; Windows; Porches; Columns; Hand railings; Roofs; Chimneys; Moldings; Vases; Trees; Landscapes (Representations)
This image is a watercolor painting of Gaineswood, also known as Whitfield Home or Gen. Nathan Whitfield-Kirven House, in Demopolis, Alabama done by Morris A. Hall in 1938. The painting shows the front exterior of the house with its windows, door, niches with statues, columned porch and a flat roof with two chimneys and a round railing. The house also has two wings that also have columned porches. One wing porch is one story with a railing and the other is two stories and has steps. There is a tree in front of the house and landscaping around it. The house is placed within framing art showing its architectural features including a including a small inset of the back exterior of the house and a close-up of the columns and the molding under the roof, the handrail on one of the porches, and a stone vase. In the lower right corner, there is an Alabama Polytechnic Institute School of Architecture stamp with the handwritten inscription "2nd Medal" and the artist's information block which reads: "Measured drawing, Major II, Arch 476, Morris A. Hall, April 9, 1938." The painting is in fair condition with a few pieces missing from the edges and is encapsulated.
Hall, Morris Aaron (rendering) ; Whitfield, Nathan B. (house)
Library of Congress (Historic American Buildings Survey): http://www.loc.gov/item/al0370/ ; Alabama Department of Archives and History: http://digital.archives.alabama.gov/cdm/singleitem/collection/photo/id/15082 ; http://digital.archives.alabama.gov/cdm/singleitem/collection/photo/id/1293 ; http://digital.archives.alabama.gov/cdm/singleitem/collection/photo/id/2320 ; http://digital.archives.alabama.gov/cdm/singleitem/collection/photo/id/15077 ; http://digital.archives.alabama.gov/cdm/singleitem/collection/photo/id/7356 ; http://digital.archives.alabama.gov/cdm/singleitem/collection/photo/id/15078 ; http://digital.archives.alabama.gov/cdm/singleitem/collection/photo/id/1279
Demopolis -- Marengo County -- Alabama ; 805 South Cedar Street, Demopolis, Marengo County, AL (U.S. 80, 1/2 mile)
Opelika, AL; Lee County, AL; Industry; Medical Equipment; Dialyzers
Sweden-based Gambro Renal owns this plant, which produces dialyzers for patients with kidney failure. A large expansion has been planned for 2016. The business opened in 2008, and still operates today. The factory currently employs around 150 people and is located at 1101 Jeter Ave., Opelika, AL.
Image: http://www.aecci.com/completedprojects/industrial/gambro/gambro.htm
Located in Opelika along Frederick Road. Coordinates: 32.6265232, -85.3957799
Park; Colbert County; Muscle Shoals, Alabama; recreation;
Gattman Park is maintained by the Muscle Shoals Parks and Recreation Department. The park has access to both indoor and outdoor activities. There are two gym facilities, one with a rubber floor walking track. The other gym also has meeting rooms available for renting out. Outside, the park has two large pavilions and one small one. This is the location of the areas' ball fields, as well. There is an outdoor walking track around the park, with playground equipment in various locations around the area. During the summer months the splash pad play area can also be rented out for parties. Gattman Park is a well maintained park and is popular with the area's families.
Alabama's Official Travel Guide,. 2015. 'Muscle Shoals Parks And Recreation Department - Muscle Shoals - Alabama.Travel'. http://alabama.travel/places-to-go/muscle-shoals-parks-and-recreation-department. Cityofmuscleshoals.com,. 2015. 'Muscle Shoals – Facilities'.
General and Governor Edward Asbury O’Neal from Florence
Edward Asbury O’Neal; Florence, AL; 9th Alabama Infantry Regiment; Sannoner Historic District; Army of Northern Virginia; Secession; Andersonville Prison; Lauderdale County, AL
The Home of Governor and Confederate Brigadier General Edward Asbury O’Neal was in downtown Florence Alabama. After graduating from LaGrange College he studied law in Huntsville and married Olivia Moore. He passed the bar in 1840 and began a law practice in Florence, Alabama, that same year. When the couple rode through the town of Florence, Olivia spotted a home under construction that she liked and persuaded her husband to buy it. The house was on North Court Street in the Sannoner Historic District. O’Neal had been a strong proponent of the secession movement. After the firing on Fort Sumter in South Carolina, he raised a company form the local area for the 9th Alabama Infantry Regiment. O’Neal received a commission as colonel for the 26th Alabama Infantry Regiment, in March 1862. The 26th Alabama was assigned to General Robert E. Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia. The unit and O’Neal fought in many of the major battles of the Eastern Theater of the Civil War. This included Seven Pines, Seven Days, Chancellorsville, and Gettysburg. O’Neal was wounded twice in battle and placed in command of the guards at Andersonville prison in Americus, Georgia for a short stent when it was first opened. O’Neal and the 26th Alabama participated in the unsuccessful defense of Atlanta from General Sherman. O’Neal and a group of survivors from Alabama regiments surrendered in 1865 at Greensboro North Carolina. When he surrendered his official rank was Colonel. The Confederate government had agreed to a promotion to Brigadier General; however, the designation had not arrived before his surrender. The state of Alabama would later give him a commission as a brigadier general. After the war O’Neal returned to Florence and the practice of law. He entered back into Alabama politics in 1875 and was elected the 26th Governor of Alabama in 1882.
McDonald, William Lindsey. A walk through the past : people and places of Florence and Lauderdale County, Alabama. n.p.: [Killen, Ala.] : Bluewater Pub., 2003., 2003. UNA Library Catalog, EBSCOhost (accessed April 30, 2015). McDaniel, Mary Jane. 2008. "Edward A. O'Neal." encyclopediaofalabama.org. February 13. Accessed April 14, 2015. http://www.encyclopediaofalabama.org/article/h-1459.
Photo from following websites: http://www.encyclopediaofalabama.org/article/h-1459 Photo from following websites: http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=11041 Photo from following websites: http://www.encyclopediaofalabama.org/article/h-1459
General Arthur E. Brown, Jr. Historic Marker
This historic marker is located at Hightower Place, Florence, Alabama in River Heritage Park. The text on the marker reads: "A 1953 graduate of West Point, Gen. Brown culminated a 36-year military career as Director of the Army Staff (1983-1987) and Vice-Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army (1987-1989). Inducted 2007 City of Florence Walk of Honor."
“General Arthur E. Brown, Jr. Marker”. Accessed 11/02/2015. http://www.lat34north.com/historicmarkersal/
Auburn, AL; Lee County, AL; Industry; Aerospace; Manufacturing
General Electric Aviation produces machined parts for jet engines. The business opened in 2013, and is still operating today. In 2014, a $50 million expansion was announced that will allow the factory to mass produce, via 3D printing, fuel nozzles for jet engines. The business is located at 2400 Innovation Dr., Auburn, AL.
Image: http://www.wltz.com/story/22115779/ge-aviation-plant-creates-auburn-jobs
General Forrest Hides on Seven Mile Island
Confederate General Nathan Bedford Forrest; Civil War; Colonel W.H. Morgan; Lauderdale County, AL
Confederate General Nathan Bedford Forrest hid his men on Seven Mile Island in Florence October 5-6, 1864. General Forrest’s cavalry crossed into Lauderdale County at Colbert Shoal and rode down the Huntsville Road toward Athens. After raiding Athens and then disrupting the Nashville and Chattanooga Railroad, Forrest’s cavalry were chased back into Alabama by Union cavalry under Colonel W.H. Morgan. With the river flooded, Forrest’s hopes to use the Bainbridge Ferry were dashed, and he had to improvise. Forrest’s troops located and used a barge to ferry the men across while the horses swam. Lieutenant Colonel Windes regiment of the 4th Alabama Cavalry was left to provide cover as Colonel Morgan’s forces bore down on the Confederates. Forrest then camped on Seven Mile Island with no fires in the chill of the fall nights until the covering regiment was able to reunite with his command.
McDonald, William Lindsey. 2003. Civil War tales of the Tennessee Valley. n.p.: Killen, Ala. : Heart of Dixie Pub. (1812 CR 111, Killen, Ala., 35645), [2003], 2003. UNA Library Catalog, EBSCOhost (accessed April 30, 2015). Pitts, Alan. 2005. "The Alabama in the Civil War Message Board - Archive." History-sites.com. August 8. Accessed April 17, 2015. http://www.history-sites.com/cgi-bin/bbs62x/alcwmb/arch_config.pl?md=read;id=19361. Wallace, Harry E. n.d. "Lauderdale County, Alabama History." algw.org. Accessed April 14, 2015. http://www.algw.org/lauderdale/historyshoals4.htm.
Photo from following websites: http://battleofselma.com/?page_id=1208
Confederate General John Bell Hood; Civil War; General Hatch; Lieutenant Colonel Stephen W. Presstman; Florence, AL; Lauderdale County, AL; Tennessee River
After Union General Williams T. Sherman captured Atlanta in September of 1864, Confederate General John Bell Hood devised a plan to aide General Lee in Virginia by going through Ohio. The plan necessitated a crossing of the Tennessee River. Hood’s forces were blocked by strong union positions at Guntersville and Decatur. This left Florence as the only viable option for a large force to cross the river. Florence was occupied at the time by a force of Union cavalry numbering about four thousand under the command of General Hatch. The Confederate army arrived at Bainbridge, Tuscumbia, Leighton, and South Port on October 27th. The Union forces placed a strong picket at the destroyed railroad bridge. Hood ordered a nighttime boat crossing of the flooded river at two points, South Port and two and half miles upriver for October 29. The crossing at South Port under General Clayton went smoothly with covering fire from artillery batteries stationed on the south bank. Colonel Gibson’s brigade landed and drove the Union forces from banks of the Tennessee. Meanwhile, the landing force upriver under General Johnson found the shoals to be treacherous. After some delay, Johnson took one brigade and moved inland to attempt to cut off the union retreat. Johnson’s forces engaged part of the retreating Union cavalry. Although the Union cavalry lost forty men they were able to slip by Johnson’s brigade and make it across Shoal Creek. With the north bank secured, Hood’s chief engineer, Lieutenant Colonel Stephen W. Presstman, was placed in charge of the crossing. Because the river was flooded, Presstman decided to make use of the piers from the destroyed railroad bridge across the Tennessee. The pontoons were anchored to the piers for superior stability. The pontoon bridge was completed early the next evening. Johnson and Clayton’s divisions were the first across the pontoon bridge in order to reunite their respective commands. As Hood’s crossing continued General Hatch reformed his men and retreated north to Waynesborough Tennessee. After several delays caused by weather, Hood’s force of 32,000 were finally reconstituted in Lauderdale County on November 20.
McDonald, William Lindsey. 2003. Civil War tales of the Tennessee Valley. n.p.: Killen, Ala. : Heart of Dixie Pub. (1812 CR 111, Killen, Ala., 35645), [2003], 2003. UNA Library Catalog, EBSCOhost (accessed April 30, 2015). Edgar D. Byler, III. n.d. "GENERAL JOHN BELL HOOD'S INVASION OF TENNESSEE." tngenweb.org. Accessed April 11, 2015. http://www.tngenweb.org/wayne/Hood.htm. Eric. 2014. "HOOD’S BATTERED ARMY RECROSSES THE TENNESSEE." Civil War Daily Gazette. December 26. Accessed April 11, 2015. http://civilwardailygazette.com/2014/12/26/hoods-battered-army-recrosses-the-tennessee/. Wallace, Harry E. n.d. "Lauderdale County, Alabama History." algw.org. Accessed April 14, 2015. http://www.algw.org/lauderdale/historyshoals4.htm.
Photo from following websites: http://civilwardailygazette.com/2014/10/30/hoods-confederates-finally-cross-the-tennessee/ Photo from following websites: http://bshc-granbury.org/wp/the-stories/the-civil-war-era/john-bell-hood
This historic marker is located beside Florence Coliseum on Veterans Drive, Florence, Alabama. The text on the marker reads: "Following his tragic defeat at Franklin and Nashville, General John B. Hood managed to escape over the Tennessee River at Bainbridge Ferry, a few miles south of here on December 26, 1864. Two corps under General Benjamin Cheatham and Stephen D. Lee were the first to cross, followed by men under General Alexander P. Stewart. General Nathan B. Forrest and Edward C. Walthall were the last to escape over this treacherous pontoon crossing which narrowly missed becoming one of history's bloodiest fields of slaughter."
”General Hoods Narrow Escape Marker". Accessed 11/03/2015. http://www.lat34north.com/historicmarkersal/
Auburn University; Lee County, AL; East Alabama Male College; Agricultural and Mechanical College of Alabama; Alabama Polytechnic Institute; Social Clubs; Auburn; Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage; Civil War
The Lane House was built in 1853 at the corner of Thach and College Streets in Auburn. It was the residence of several prominent figures in the history of Auburn University. The home was leased in 1873 by Agricultural and Mechanical College of Alabama Treasurer E.T. Glenn. Future owner (and the home's namesake) Brigadier General James H. Lane was a revered Confederate veteran from Virginia. He rose in the ranks from Major to Brigadier General by age thirty in 1862. He was wounded three times and fought in every major battle of the Army of Northern Virginia before the Confederate surrender at Appomattox Courthouse, Virginia in April 1865. It was a squad of his own men who accidentally shot Major General Thomas J. “Stonewall” Jackson at the Battle of Chancellorsville in May 1863. After arriving in Auburn, Lane taught Civil Engineering, eventually becoming the Chair of the Engineering Department. General Lane purchased the home in 1884. He was also a leading figure in the establishment of the School of Engineering and the college's Corps of Cadets. The property was sold by his daughter in 1960 to Auburn University to become the site of the school's new library. To save the home, Mollie Hollifield Jones purchased it for the Auburn Women's Club, moving it to its current location at 712 Sanders Street. Added to the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage in 1991, the home continues to serve as the offices of the Auburn Women's Club.
Image: Home: User sfwife, waymarking.com, http://www.waymarking.com/gallery/image.aspx?f=1&guid=2b230b57-b2a2-4de6-b5a8-1160869852fb Text: Lee County Heritage Book Committee, The Heritage of Lee County (Clanton, AL: Heritage Publishing Consultants: 2000), Kenneth Phillips, James Henry Lane, Encyclopedia of Alabama, http://www.encyclopediaofalabama.org/face/Article.jsp?id=h-1614
Auburn Heritage Association: Historic Markers
General John Coffee (Walk of Honor Marker)
This historic marker is located in River Heritage Park. The text on the marker reads: "Through his personal and business relationship with Andrew Jackson, Gen. Coffee led Jackson's cavalry in the Battle of New Orleans in 1815 and became a celebrated American hero."
“General John Coffee (Walk of Honor Marker)”. Accessed 11/03/2015. http://www.lat34north.com/historicmarkersal/
This historic marker is located on Cloverdale Road/Co Rd 157, just off N. Cox Creek Pkwy, Florence, Alabama. The text on the marker reads: "General John Coffee Home Site and Grave Cavalry Commander under Andrew Jackson throughout War of 1812: (Creek War, Pensacola, New Orleans). Negotiated many treaties ceding Indian lands to U.S. Made original surveys of Tennessee Valley."
“General John Coffee Marker”. Accessed 11/03/2015. http://www.lat34north.com/historicmarkersal/
This historic marker is located along the pier of the Tennessee River at Joe Wheeler Lodge, Rogersville, Alabama. The text on the marker reads: "Trusted, honored, and loved by the people of Alabama for his splendid character and distinguished service as a citizen and soldier. Born September 10, 1836, in Augusta, Georgia, Joseph Wheeler graduated from West Point in 1859, and was commissioned A 2nd Lt., U.S. Army. In 1861, he resigned his commission and offered his services to the Confederate States of America. His devotion to duty and tireless efforts resulted in rapid promotion from 1st Lt. to Colonel of the 19th Alabama Inf., to command of the Cavalry of the Army of the Mississippi, with the rank of Brigadier Gen., by July 1862. At age 27, Fighting Joe" Wheeler was promoted Major Gen. and given command of the Cavalry Corps of the Army of Tennessee. He was constantly engaged in battle, wounded 3 times, and had 16 horses shot from under him. He was promoted to Lt. Gen. on February 28, 1865. Following the War Between the States, Wheeler married and settles in Alabama. He was elected to the House of Representatives ten times by the people of the eight districts and served with distinction. Because of his Allegiance to the country, Wheeler's offer of military service in the war with Spain resulted in a commission as Major General Commanding the U.S. Volunteer Cavalry. He fought in Cuba and in the Philippines. He retired as a Brigadier Gen. of the Regular Army on September 10, 1900. Wheeler died on February 25, 1906, and is buried in Arlington National Cemetery. He is regarded by the people of both North and South as a beloved symbol of our reunited country."
“General Joseph Wheeler Marker”. Accessed 11/03/2015. http://www.lat34north.com/historicmarkersal/
Civil War; People; Moulton, AL; Lawrence County, AL
General Philip Dale Roddey was born in Moulton, Alabama, in 1820. Because Roddey's parents were poor, he did not receive any formal schooling. Roddey first worked as a tailor. Later, Roddey served as a sheriff of Lawrence County. He resigned from this position to join a steamboat business in Colbert County. In 1861, Roddey recruited a company of mounted men and entered the Confederate military as a captain. Roddey repelled the first attack from Union troops who tried to invade Alabama, which earned him the title of "Defender of the North Alabama." His service led him to rise to the rank of brigadier general. Roddey served with General Joseph Wheeler during the Tennessee campaign. Roddey also served with General Harris at Harrisburg, Athens, Tishomingo, and Sulphur Trestle. Following the end of the war, Roddey abandoned his family and moved to New York to become a commission merchant. Roddey died in London in 1897 after negotiating the sale of a patent on a new water pump. His body was returned to the United States and was buried in Tuscaloosa.
Franklin County Data, Franklin County Archives
General William Rosecrans' Headquarters (Alston-Rosser House, "Little Brick")
Stevenson, Jackson County, Civil War, William Rosecrans, James A. Garfield, Ulysses S. Grant, National Register of Historic Places
The structure known locally as "Little Brick" was built about 1855 during the railroad construction boom in Stevenson, Alabama. The property was purchased prior to the Civil War by Michigan native Walter Rosser who was in Stevenson working as a railroad engineer. The nature of design indicates that Rosser may have built the structure himself. It is believed that a man named Thomas Osbourne lived in the home until it was commandeered by General William Rosecrans to be used as a headquarters during the Civil War. Little Brick's location on a side street, away from the bustling depot and downtown area fit with the general's needs. It was here that Rosecrans worked diligently on plans for the Chattanooga campaign from his arrival on August 8, 1863 until his September 4, 1863 departure. At Little Brick, Rosecrans met with two men who would become President of the United States, his Chief of Staff James A. Garfield and General Ulysses S. Grant. General William T. Sherman was in the area at the time and it is possible he came to Little Brick, as well. After the war Rosser returned to Stevenson and reclaimed his property, and it remained in the Rosser family for over a century. The structure has fallen into ruins and the property is now owned by the city of Stevenson.
Secrist, Phil. "The General's Headquarters (Rosecrans' Headquarters)." National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination Form. Jackson County Historical Society, Marietta, Georgia, February 1, 1978. http://npgallery.nps.gov/nrhp/GetAsset?assetID=ae9c19b8-578e-4c8e-90e4-c5e464f41768 "Union Army Headquarters" Historical Marker. Alabama Historical Association. Myrtle Place, Stevenson, Alabama.
built c. 1855, occupied by Rosecrans August 18 - September 4, 1863
National Register of Historic Places; Architecture; Florence, AL
Also known as Mapleton, the two and a half story frame house was placed on the National Register in 1981 for its significance in terms of architecture. The Federal style house sits on one of the highest lots in Florence overlooking both the central business district to the east and the Tennessee River to the south. Though the property’s address is 420 South Pine Street the house faces Limestone Street and the Tennessee River. According to the 1981 nomination the house is an outstanding northern Alabama interpretation of the Federal style with notable examples of delicate Adamesque mantles, finely carved woodwork in the double drawing rooms, and identical semi elliptical fanlights over double doorways leading to the central hall. Inspiration for much of the detailing appears to be popular standard builder’s handbooks. The 1825-1830 house was home to many prominent Florentines. The first, George Coulter, a native of Kentucky, was a lawyer, farmer, and military officer. The house passed to Dr. Levi Todd in the 1850s at which time it was known as Todd’s Hill. During the Civil War the house was used by both Federal and Confederate commands. After the was the house was owned by Major Robert McFarland, a local attorney, and later by Dr. W.W. Slaton during which time the house was renamed Mapleton in honor of Mrs. Slaton’s childhood home. During the Slatons ownership a doctor’s office was added to the east elevation and the matching front and rear porches were changed. The 1981 nomination states that no other major changes were made. The current (2015) façade of the house is almost totally obscured by massive Magnolia trees but the house appears to have no major exterior changes since the nomination. However the nomination was written 34 years ago and updates are needed to the nomination.
Missy Brown, University of North Alabama
Gamble, Robert. “George Coulter House National Register of Historic Places.” Montgomery: Alabama Historical Commission, 1981.
Historic Places; Florence, AL; Lauderdale County, AL
This historic marker is at the UNA Lion Habitat on North Wood Avenue, Florence, Alabama. The text on the marker reads: "The lion habitat is named in honor of George H. Carroll (1926-1998), a long-standing friend and supporter of the University of North Alabama (UNA). Mr. Carroll was the loving husband of Virginia Sego Carroll and father of Steven, Judy, and George Jr., and David. He was a prominent and successful businessman, community leader and philanthropist. Mr. Carroll loved the UNA lions and it is only fitting that this facility bears his name."
“George H. Carroll Lion Habitat Marker”. Accessed 11/03/2015. http://www.lat34north.com/historicmarkersal/
George Lindsey was born on December 17, 1928 in Fairfield, Alabama, and grew up in Jasper, Alabama. Lindsey became interested in acting after watching a play when he was fourteen. He later became interested in football and the sport gave him a way to fund his education. Lindsey briefly attended Walker Junior College in Jasper, Alabama and Kemper Military School in Boonville, Missouri, before attending Florence State Teachers College (now the University of North Alabama) on a football scholarship. Lindsey majored in biological science and physical education. He received his degree in 1952. Following his graduation from UNA, George joined the Air Force. He was based in Orlando, Florida, and worked as a recreational director while spending his spare time working in theater. Lindsey next worked at Hazel Green High School in Alabama. After a year of teaching, George decided to move to New York to pursue further education in acting. Lindsey’s first career breaks came with theater and his part in two plays: All American and Wonderful Town. After the plays ended he managed to land small roles on shows such as The Rifleman. Lindsey was most famous for a part of Goober that he landed on the Andy Griffith Show. He later played Goober on Mayberry R.F.D. and Hee Haw as well. UNA awarded Lindsey an honorary doctor of humane letters degree in 1992. Lindsey was instrumental in founding the George Lindsey/UNA Television and Film Festival in 1998. Lindsey attended the festival for several years before his death on May 6, 2012. He is buried in Oak Hill Cemetery in Jasper, Alabama.
“George Lindsey-Biography” https://www.una.edu/library/collections/george-lindsey---biography.html Cindy Watts, The Tennessean, “George Lindsey, aka Goober Pyle, dies at 83.” http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/people/obit/story/2012-05-06/goober-pyle-george-lindsey-obit/54787304/1 Images courtesy of UNA Collier Library Archives
Historic Districts; Athens, AL; Limestone County, AL
The George S. Houston Historic District encompasses 2nd Ave., Jefferson St., McClellan St., and Houston St. in Athens, Alabama. This historic district was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1989. Development in this district began soon after the town was founded in 1818. There are several homes that remain from the antebellum period. With the exception of First Methodist, the district is entirely residential. The historic district is named after Alabama's 24th Governor. His home is located within the historic district and serves as a memorial library and museum.
National Register Information System. Accessed August 5, 2015.
Lee County, AL; Opelika, AL; Government; National Register of Historic Places
George Washington Carver Homes Opens 1951
George Washington Carver Homes, Protestor Training
George Washington Foster was born on November 28, 1806, in Nashville, Tennessee. On January 10, 1829, he married Sarah Independence Watkins. They had seven children: Mary Ann, Virginia (Jennie), Watkins (Wat), Louisa (Lou), George Washington Jr. (Wash), Andrew J. (Jack) and Sallie. Foster was a wealthy industrialist and planter, a fact illustrated by his large and extravagant home, Courtview. Courtview, now known as the University of North Alabama’s Rogers Hall, was built for Foster in 1854. Foster had decided he wanted to build a house in the middle of Court Street, turning Florence’s main street into a dead end. An act of the state legislature and $300 granted Foster his building site. Foster also owned Woodland Plantation in the Colbert Reserve in Lauderdale County, and a plantation named Oak Grove. Foster donated $10,000 to La Grange College toward construction of Wesleyan Hall. This was a third of the total cost. He also contributed heavily to the Methodist church in Florence, of which he was member. Foster later served as President of the Board of Trustees for Wesleyan college. He made a sizable endowment to the college for mathematics. Foster did not serve in the Confederate Army during the war, but he assisted with recruiting soldiers and raising money for the cause. When William T. Sherman visited the area, he encountered bushwhackers and cited Foster as being one of them. Foster was even arrested by Union forces once, but was released within a few days. He spent most of the war on his plantations, while his wife and family stayed at Courtview. Foster died on December 4, 1878, and is buried in the Florence Cemetery.
Robert S. Steen, History of Foster House- Courtview- Rogers Hall and Early City of Florence . Florence: University of North Alabama, No Date, 18, 26-32, 31. William Lindsey McDonald, A Walk Through The Past: People and Places of Florence and Lauderdale County, Alabama. (Bluewater Publications, 2003), 45-46. Image of George Washington Foster Courtesy of UNA Collier Library Archives Image of Courtview/Rogers Hall Courtesy Kayla Scott
This historic marker is located on Gilbert Circle, Florence, Alabama. The text on the marker reads: "Gilbert School, named in honor of Henry C Gilbert, school superintendent 1892-1904 and long time member of Board of Education was built in 1920, costing $79,000. The structure was planned by George D Waller, architect. A relief sculpture portraying a teacher Henry Grady Richard's served as Principal from 1921 to 1964. The original building and 14 classrooms, library, cafeteria auditorium and supporting facilities. later a three classroom annex and private dwelling made into three classroom were added. Designed to serve North Florence in March 1921 students from Fifth Ward school is Seven points and elementary students to Coffee High School formed the first student body which usually consisted of 500 to 700 students with eighteen teachers. Gilbert school was planned to serve grades one through six, but seven and eight were added in periods of overcrowding. The school was closed in May 1980 and students were transferred to Hibbett Middle School. The sixty one year old building was destroyed by fire in 1981."
“Gilbert Elementary School Marker”. Accessed 11/03/2015. http://www.lat34north.com/historicmarkersal/
Colbert County, Alabama; Leighton, Alabama; Glendale Cemetery; Cemeteries
To reach Glendale Cemetery from Muscle Shoals, head south on Wilson Dam Road, then turn right onto Old Highway 20 and drive for about 3 miles. The cemetery is on the left, just past Gnat Pond Road.
Brian Corrigan, University of North Alabama
Located in Loachapoka along Ensminger Road