Browse Items (963 total)
- Collection: Alabama Places and Spaces
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Paul Kelly
Paul Elisha Kelly (born on November 10th, 1924; died on May 25th, 1997) was a broadcast engineer, who built and maintained many of the studios and radio stations (notably WLAY and WQLT, which was owned by Sam Phillips) responsible for the Muscle…
Andrew Freear
Andrew Freear, the Wiatt Professor of Architecture at Auburn University, became the Director of the Rural Arts Studio in Newbern, West Alabama in 2002.
Freear, who is from Yorkshire, England, was educated at the Polytechnic of Central London and…
Freear, who is from Yorkshire, England, was educated at the Polytechnic of Central London and…
Samuel Mockbee
Samuel Mockbee - who was born on December 23, 1944 in Meridian, Mississippi and who died on December 30, 2001 - was an architect and the co-founder of Auburn University Rural Studio.
A 1974 graduate of the School of Architecture at Auburn, Mockbee…
A 1974 graduate of the School of Architecture at Auburn, Mockbee…
Old Lexington Post Office
The old Lexington Post Office (circa 1940) had fallen into dis-repair and disuse after the new post office was built. Several businesses attempted to make the space usable without major updates.
When Dr. Paul Corfman, who grew up in North Alabama,…
When Dr. Paul Corfman, who grew up in North Alabama,…
Alabama Chanin
Natalie Chanin, a native of Florence, Alabama, is the founder and creative director of Alabama Chanin.
Her work has been featured in Vogue, Time, The New York Times, Town & Country, Bon Appetit, and Gun and Garden. She has been interviewed by…
Her work has been featured in Vogue, Time, The New York Times, Town & Country, Bon Appetit, and Gun and Garden. She has been interviewed by…
Athens Presbyterian Church
Athens First Presbyterian Church was organized in 1829. After meeting an interdenominational building, the church was built on Washington Street.
The building was badly damaged during the Civil War and the Presbyterians met at the First Baptist…
The building was badly damaged during the Civil War and the Presbyterians met at the First Baptist…
Harris-Pryor House
Limestone County, Alabama; Tanner, Alabama; Harris-Pryor House; Antebellum Trail;
Ritz Theatre
The Ritz Theatre, which was built as a playhouse opened on July 9. 1928, with the production of "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes."
Louis Rosenbaum, a prominent Jewish business owner who lived in Florence and who owned a chain of movie theaters in North…
Louis Rosenbaum, a prominent Jewish business owner who lived in Florence and who owned a chain of movie theaters in North…
Sheffield Land, Iron and Coal Company
Alfred Hugler Moses, who was appointed the first mayor of Sheffield, Alabama by the governor of the state, moved to Sheffield in order to build the Sheffield Land, Iron, and Coal Company.
Moses, who had been a captain during the Civil War and a…
Moses, who had been a captain during the Civil War and a…
St. John's Episcopal Church of Decatur, Alabama
St. John's Episcopal Church, in Decatur, was built in 1890. The original structure was constructed for approximately $2,000.
Through the years the building and the congregation have grown. Descendants of the first parishioners still worship at St.…
Through the years the building and the congregation have grown. Descendants of the first parishioners still worship at St.…
Trenholm High School
Trenholm High School, which is located on Trenholm Memorial Drive, was the last African-American High School in Tuscumbia, Alabama before desegregation.
The school, which opened in 1870 and closed in 1969, was subsequently torn down.
A movement…
The school, which opened in 1870 and closed in 1969, was subsequently torn down.
A movement…
Veteran's Memorial Sheffield
The residents of Montgomery Avenue and the citizens of Sheffield, Alabama have preserved several spaces for public use on the historic street. The Veteran's Park, which is maintained by the Veterans of Foreign Wars, is the home to several monuments…
Village One
Village One, located in Sheffield, Alabama, is a subdivision of stucco homes built around 1918. The village was designed in the shape of a handbell. At completion, the village had 112 houses, two schools, and one large apartment building. (Maud…
Athens-Limestone Public Library
The Athens-Limestone Public Library solved two problems very creatively with their 2014 move to the old Kroger building at 603 South Jefferson Street. The old library (located near Julia Newman School) was approximately 10,000 square feet and the new…
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…
Friendship Community Church is housed in what was once the first Jewish Temple in the Shoals area.
Sheffield was the home of what…
Henry Ford's Vision for Muscle Shoals
Henry Ford, in 1921, wanted to buy the unfinished Wilson Dam and two nitrate plants in Muscle Shoals. The United States government was willing to sell both to a private company with the intention of producing nitrate fertilizer.
Ford's dream was to…
Ford's dream was to…
Sheffield Water Tower
Montgomery Avenue, in Sheffield, Alabama, has maintained several spots along the street for the citizens of the area to enjoy the natural beauty of North Alabama. A water tower marks the end of the street and a small park with an overlook allows…
Tom Arlin Dean House
Tom Arlin Dean, an engineer who admired the Rosenbaum House in Florence very much, followed many of Frank Lloyd Wright's ideals in creating the house located at 509 Clinton Street in Athens, Alabama.
The house, which is a neighbor to two of the…
The house, which is a neighbor to two of the…
Harvey Robbins and Tuscumbia
Harvey Robbins who founded National Floor Products in Florence with his father, Stanley Robbins, in 1957, is credited with restoring downtown Tuscumbia, Alabama.
Born in Dayton, Ohio, he and his family moved to the Shoals while he was still…
Born in Dayton, Ohio, he and his family moved to the Shoals while he was still…
Rick Bragg
Rick Bragg, who was born on July 26, 1959, in Piedmont, Calhoun County to Charles and Margaret Bundrum Bragg, is a noted journalist, teacher, and writer who won the Pulitzer Prize for his work with the New York Times. His most lasting contribution to…
Southern Poverty Law Center
The Southern Poverty Law Center was founded by Morris Dees, Joe Levin, and Julian Bond in Montgomery, Alabama in 1971.
A non-profit, public interest law firm the a Southern Poverty Law Center specializes in civil rights cases that include hate…
A non-profit, public interest law firm the a Southern Poverty Law Center specializes in civil rights cases that include hate…
Rural Arts Studio
The Rural Arts Studio, based in Newbern, Alabama, is a design-build architecture studio run by Auburn University. The studio was founded in 1993 by architects Samuel Mockbee and D. K. Ruth, and Andrew Freear is the current director.
The Rural…
The Rural…
Jason Isbell
(Michael) Jason Isbell, who was born on February 1st, 1979, in Greenhill, Alabama (two miles from the Alabama-Tennessee state line) is an Alabama musician and songwriter whose work very much embodies a distinctive sense of place.
He grew up in…
He grew up in…
Dub's Burgers
Dub's Burgers was opened in 1961 by Dub Greenhaw and has been in the family for three generations. The current owner, Lanier Greenhaw, is the great-nephew of the founder.
Located at 204 South Jefferson Street, the restaurant is low-keyed and…
Located at 204 South Jefferson Street, the restaurant is low-keyed and…
North Alabamian & Times
The North Alabamian and Times, now the Standard and Times and the Colbert County Reporter, was published by Captain Arthur H. Keller (who may now be better known as Helen Keller's father). Local Jewish merchants routinely advertised with Captain…
Collier Special Collections -- University of North Alabama
The Special Collections and Archives at Collier Library at the University of North Alabama include many locally published manuscripts about the establishment of the cities of Florence, Tuscumbia, Sheffield, and Muscle Shoals.
The Rosenbaum Family…
The Rosenbaum Family…
History of Sheffield. Alabama Historic Marker
A historic marker, located on North Montgomery Avenue ad 3rd Street in Sheffield, offers a brief overview of Sheffield's history. Alfred Huger Moses, who was from Charleston, South Carolina and who had served in the Confederate Army, is credited…
Letter to the Editor, Florence Newspaper, Undated
A letter to the editor found in the files of the history of Temple B'Nai Israel at the Florence- Lauderdale Public Library suggests that Jewish immigrants to the area were encouraged and welcomed.
Mayor Alfred Huger Moses
Alfred Huger Moses was responsible for the establishment of Sheffield, Alabama. Born in Charleston, South Carolina, he moved to Alabama after serving in the Confederate Army where he achieved the rank of Captain.
HIs wife, Katherine, five…
HIs wife, Katherine, five…
Spielberger Family
Jacob Spielberger, who was born in Hungary in January of 1856, came to Alabama around 1888. He opened a dry goods store and clothing store, Spielberger and Sons, at 217 and 219 Mongomery Avenue in Sheffield. His three sons, Jacob, Harry, and Ben…
Temple B'Nai Israel Cornerstone
Coleman, Erwin M., A History of Temple B'nai Israel, Florence, Alabama: Centennial Celebration, 1906 - 2006. Privately Printed.
The Reisman - Coffee - Looft House
The Reisman-Coffee-Looft House, located at 618 N. Wood Avenue, was the home to Mark Reisman and his family. Mr. Reisman was one of the first Jewish merchants in the Florence area. His business was located the corner of Tennessee and Court Streets. He…
Montgomery Avenue - Business District
Most of the earliest merchants in Sheffield, Alabama were of Jewish descent and came to the area in the mid 1880's. The earliest Jewish families were the Spielbergers who owned a dry goods and clothing store, Speilbergers and Sons at 217-219…
Office of Sheffield Land, Iron and Coal Company
Alfred Huger Moses, founder and first mayor of Sheffield, Alabama (along with his brother, Mordecai) was the owner of the Sheffield Land, Iron and Coal Company, located on Montgomery Avenue.
Alfred Moses Home
Alfred Huger Moses, the designer and first mayor of Sheffield, built his family home at what is now 1315 North Montgomery Avenue, Sheffield, Alabama. The house burned to the ground circa 1890.
Montgomery Avenue, Sheffield, Alabama
Alfred Huger Moses was responsible for the layout of the residential, business, and industrial areas of Sheffield, Alabama, which was incorporated in 1895. He named Montgomery Avenue after Montgomery, Alabama where he and his family had lived (and…
Morris Nathan
Alfred Huger Moses and Morris Nathan were the first two alderman of Sheffield, Alabama. Nathan was buried in the Jewish section of Oakwood Cemetery in Sheffield, Alabama before the Jewish community incorporated or built a temple.
Sheffield, Alabama
Alfred Huger Moses and his brother, Mordecai, were largely responsible for the founding of Sheffield, Alabama. They named the city after Sheffield, England hoping for similar success in industrialization.
The sales of 500 lots for the…
The sales of 500 lots for the…
Jewish Owned Businesses in Downtown Florence, Circa 1900
The Tri-Cities Professional Directory of 1900 listed the following Jewish businesses in Florence, Alabama:
M. Coplan, Grocer
F. Cohn, Clothing
H. Kreisman, Grocer
A. Kreisman, Gents' Furnishings
Frank Perry, Grocer
Charles Perry, Gents'…
M. Coplan, Grocer
F. Cohn, Clothing
H. Kreisman, Grocer
A. Kreisman, Gents' Furnishings
Frank Perry, Grocer
Charles Perry, Gents'…
Bettie Ann Highway
The Bettie Ann Highway was once the home to a thriving farming community that included Toonersville and Whitehead.
The text from the historical marker offers description of how the road came to be named:
The home-place of Bettie Anne…
The text from the historical marker offers description of how the road came to be named:
The home-place of Bettie Anne…
Trenholm High School
Trenholm High School was originally founded as the Osborne Colored Academy in 1877. From there it became Tuscumbia’s Colored School, which lasted until 1921. The Tuscumbia’s Colored School changed its name to Trenholm High School in 1921. The…
Zion First Baptist Missionary Church
Zion Church used to be an white Baptist church prior to the Civil War. During the war, the church was used as a hospital by Union troops. After the Civil War, the white parishioners no longer wanted to use the church as it had become defiled. Because…
Leighton Training School
Leighton Training School was a trade school established with the help of a grant provided by Julius Rosenwald. Like other Rosenwald schools, the African American community was required to raise additional funds for the school to be built. The African…