Senior at Hudson High School The Selma Campaign 1963-1965 Wally G. Vaughn
17 years old at the time of the march The Selma Campaign 1963-1965 Wally G. Vaughn Near end of line
11th grader at Hudson High School The Selma Campaign 1963-1965 Wally G. Vaughn
Pregnant at the time of the march The Selma Campaign 1963-1965 Wally G. Vaughn Mother of Johnny James & Carrie Lee
Student at Hudson High School 50-70 yards from front The Selma Campaign 1963-1965 Wally G. Vaughn Brown coat
Lee County, Auburn, John J. Harper, Alabama Confederacy, Auburn Heritage Association
Pine Hill is the oldest cemetery in Auburn and was established in 1837. Auburn’s founder, Judge John J. Harper, donated six acres to be used a community burial ground for white settlers and their slaves. The oldest marked graves are dated 1938. There are no early cemetery records. The first survey was conducted in in the 1950’s and over 1,100 graves were cataloged. Of those, only one grave belong to a black individual. People who have been interred at Pine Hill include slaves and university presidents. For decades, Pine Hill was the main burial ground for local whites. Auburn’s confederate marker is at the rear of the cemetery standing over 98 common graves of Texas soldiers who died in a temporary hospital. Before 1995, Pine Hill was neglected and vandalized until the Auburn Heritage Association began to restore the cemetery. In 1978, Pine Hill was placed on the Alabama Register and is currently owned by the City of Auburn.
Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church
Montgomery County, Religion, Baptist, Civil Rights Movement, African American, Vernon Johns, Martin Luther King Jr.
Located in Montgomery Alabama, the Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church is most known for being at the forefront of the Civil Rights Movement and being led by then pastor, Martin Luther King Jr. However the church had a long history, going back to the late-nineteenth century, of being led by politically and socially conscious religious leaders. Created in 1877, the church was originally known as the Second Baptist (Colored) Church. A few years later, in 1884, the church was renamed the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church after the street it was built on was renamed Dexter Avenue in honor of Montgomery’s original founder, Andrew Dexter. The first pastor for the church was Charles Octavius Boothe, a freedman and author. Overall the two most renowned pastors of the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church were Vernon Johns and Martin Luther King Jr. Under Vernon John’s leadership, the church members became more politically active and began to challenge Montgomery’s structured segregation. The next pastor, King, followed in Johns’ footsteps and insisted that all of his flock become registered voters and join the local NAACP. King also orchestrated the Montgomery Bus Boycott from the church. In 1978, the church was officially renamed the Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church in memory of Martin Luther King Jr. Nowadays the church is under consideration to become a World Heritage Site. Visitors can also tour the church and parsonage, where king and his family lived.
Cullman County, Hanceville, Religion, Catholicism, Monastery, Mother Angelica
Construction began on the Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Hanceville, Alabama in 1996. The Our Lady of the Angels monastery was consecrated in 1996. Mother Angelica, who also founded the Eternal World Television Network, established the shrine and the monastery. According to its website, the shrine is modeled after the great Italian churches of the 13th century. Visitors walk across the piazza before entering the church in order to reflect upon the separation between faith and secularism. The church doors are adorned with Seven Joys and Sorrows of the Virgin Mary.
http://www.encyclopediaofalabama.org/article/m-3425 http://olamshrine.org/about/
Religion, Islam, Jefferson County, Hoover, Masjid
The Hoover Crescent Islamic center is one of the three branches of the Birmingham Islamic Society (BIS). The BIS started in 1990 when local Muslims in the Birmingham area were looking for a common place to worship. In the following years, the BIS established locations in Homewood, Hoover, and Fairfield. The Hoover location was bought in 2006 and the first Jummah prayer was held on December, 28, 2007. The new Masjid was later named the Hoover Crescent Islamic Center (HCIC). The members of the HCIC include Muslims of varying nationalities from states in the Arab and Indian subcontinents, and also the United States. The political leaders of the HCIC are the board of directors who are elected by the community. The board is responsible for laying down the policies at the center and also making sure that the center follows the bylaws. The current president of the board is Ashfaque Taufique. The current religious leader is Imam Tamer Salim. His responsibilities include leading the community in the ways of Islam. The Islamic community in Hoover is a very tight-knit community. The religion is the strongest affiliation for all members. The majority practice Sunni Islam; however, those who practice Shi’a Islam are welcome at the center. The center also welcomes non-Islamic members of the community to come and learn about Islam, and invites everyone to take part in activities like the Day of Dignity, a day where Muslims attend to the needs of the less fortunate within society. If anyone would like to contact the HCIC to learn more about center or just about Islam, you can email them through the website, http://www.bisweb.org/, or call the following number: 205-879-4247.
T. Salim, personal communication, October 13, 2015.
Cathedral-Basilica of the Immaculate Conception
Religion, Catholic, Mobile County, Mobile, National Register of Historic Places, Father Michael Portier
Located in Mobile, the Cathedral-Basilica of the Immaculate Conception was consecrated in December of 1850, fifteen years after the first cornerstone had been laud. Father Michael Portier was the leader in the construction of the cathedral after being made the founding bishop of the Diocese of Mobile in 1829. Originally this diocese included all of Alabama and Florida. The cathedral has gone through a series of enhancement and repairs over the years including in 1865 when the explosion of a magazine shop destroyed all of the plain glass windows in one of the walls and in 1954 when a fire collapsed the sanctuary floor, and the basement was flooded to stop the fire. In 1963, Pope John XXIII designated the Cathedral as a Minor Basilica. This designation is awarded based on several criteria including antiquity, historical, cultural, and artistic importance. On December 8th, 2004, the Cathedral celebrated the tercentennial of its establishment. A three-year plan for restoration was also completed at this point. Today the Cathedral offers daily mass and is open all day to everyone for private prayer.
http://www.mobilecathedral.org/cms/index.php/history/in-depth-history http://www.encyclopediaofalabama.org/article/h-3499
Religion, Judaism, Mobile County, Mobile, Mayer Mitchell
Ahavas Chesed was founded in 1894. In 1911, the community moved to its first building at the corner of Conti and Warren streets. In 1956, the location was moved across the street to Dauphin street. The congregation would move to its present location in 1989 on Regents Way. The synagogue has affiliated groups, a pre-school, and a Hebrew school. The synagogue also offers a range of worship services and burials services for men and women. The current rabbi is the 21st rabbi of Ahavas Chesed. One of the most famous members of the synagogue was Mayer Mitchell, who served as president of the Israel Public Affairs Committee, an organization that lobbies for Israel and Jewish interests.
Religion, Christianity, Cullman County, Cullman, Saint Bernard Abbey, Brother Joseph Zoettel, National Register of Historic Places
In Cullman, the Ave Maria Grotto is a collection of miniature replicas of shrines and other buildings. The Grotto is located on the grounds of the Saint Bernard Abbey. The Grotto was created by Brother Jespeh Zoettel, a monk originally from Bavaria who immigrated to the United State after being recruited by an American priest. Zoettel began creating his masterpieces in 1918 from leftover construction materials. His crafts were inspired by the Bible and real life historical buildings and accounts. Over fourty years. Zoettel created 125 images including miniatures of St. Peter’s Basilica, Noah’s Ark, the Alamo, and even a representation of the City of Jerusalem. Zoettel created his last miniature when he was 80 years old, the Lourdes Basilica Church. Zoettel died on October 15, 1961. The site was named the Ave Maria Grotto in 1934, after Zoettel’s most unique creation, the Ave Maria Grotto, a wholly original creation. The Grotto is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and is one of the most famous tourist attractions in Alabama.
Religion, Islam, Calhoun County, Anniston
The Anniston Islamic Center (AIC) is a non-profit organization that serves the Islamic educational and social needs of Muslims on Northeast Alabama. The mission of the AIC is to promote brotherhood, peace, and family values in the Muslim community. The center offers five daily prayers, weekly congregational prayers, Quran reading lessons, hadith reading after Isha prayers, weekly halaqa, Ramadan services, and family night gatherings. The center also has other events which are listed on its website. In 2007, the AIC added a Sunday school for ages four to fourteen. The AIC has a list of missions and goals that includes but is not limited to representing and serving the interest of Muslims in Anniston, AL, to promote Islamic principles among Muslim and non-Muslims, to conduct religious, social, cultural, and other activities in the traditions of Islam, and to promote friendly relations between Muslims and non-Muslims. The website for the Anniston Islamic Center is http://annistonic.org/index.php
Religion, Islam, Madison County, Huntsville
Originally the local Muslim community in Huntsville practiced Islam in their own homes. However as the community grew, it consolidated and purchased to houses in Huntsville to practice their faith. Around 1990-1991, 1645 Sparkman Drive was purchased and the current Huntsville Islamic Center was built. Now the center has a gymnasium, meeting rooms, and a community hall. It is also credited to teach school up to eighth grade. The Huntsville Islamic Center practices Sunni Islam but those who practice Shi’a are also welcome to worship at the center. The function of the center is to serve the religious, educational, and social needs of the community. It also promotes good citizenship, social justice, and good relations with other communities. One of the most important functions of the community is outreach efforts into the general community and also countering islamophobia through education and dialogue. The Islamic community in Huntsville is ethnically, racially, and culturally diverse. Muslims are converts and immigrants that go on to a variety of careers with one universal identifying faith. The Huntsville Islamic Center would like everyone to know that they believe in one God. At the center they enjoy the freedom to worship with the First Amendment and now feel they are truly an integral part of the Huntsville community.
Javed Haider, Personal Communication, November 2 2015.
Religion, Islam, Education, Jefferson County, Birmingham,
In 1996, the Islamic Academy of Alabama (IAA) was founded in order to provide an Islamic education to Muslim children in the greater Birmingham area. The IAA uses Islamic education to encourage moral behavior, rigorous academics, and social awareness in its students. Islam is integral in the school. Islam and Arabic as subjects are part of the study requirements. Since 2005, The IAA has been accredited by SACS CASI. The IAA has several core values including self-discipline, respect for others, accountability, positive self-identity, integrity and sincerity, good personal hygiene, being appreciative, to strive for excellence, and critical thinking.
Religion, Catholicism, Catholic, Bishop Michael Portier, Mobile County, Mobile, Education, College, American Civil War, Desegregation, Martin Luther King Jr., “Letter from the Birmingham Jail”
In 1830, Spring Hill College was founded by Mobile’s first catholic bishop. Originally most of the students were male from wealthy families in the Mobile, Pensacola, and New Orleans areas. However most of the students were not catholic. In 1954, Spring Hill College was the first college to desegregate in the Deep South. Bishop Michael Portier originally intended for it to be a boarding school that housed students under the age of 12. However the age restriction was soon relaxed and by 1832 there were almost 130 students. During the American Civil War, high officers of the Confederacy sheltered their sons from the draft at Spring Hill. Eventually the college formed two military companies. After the war, Spring Hill recruited among sons of Central American and Cuban leaders. Latin American culture was introduced to the mostly American student body. In the 1920’s the school expanded to include high school ages, yet the high school was closed in 1935. In 1932, the college opened Saturday classes for adults and began admitting women. The first two women, Marie Fidelis Yeend and Genevieve Cordilia Jarvis, graduated in 1937. In 1953 was the hiring of the first full-time female faculty member, Ella Morris, who lectured in biology. The school desegregated the following year, and in 1956, Fannie Motley became the first black graduate of a previously white college in Alabama. In 1963, Martin Luther King Jr. wrote about Spring Hill in his “Letter from the Birmingham jail” mentioning the school’s moral significance. Currently the school has a diverse student body with approximately 1.450 students. The school offers degrees in the liberal arts along with master’s programs in business, education, nursing, and theological studies.
Religion, Christianity, Jefferson County, Birmingham, Education, College, Edgar J. Rowe
Southeastern Bible College (SBC) was organized in 1933 as a four-year, nondenominational, evangelical institution. The school was created by northern fundamentalists as a training school in Christian ministry. Classes began in October 1934. Originally the college served Baptist and Presbyterian congregations but eventually spread to several independent churches. In 1927 Southern Baptist Edgar J. Rowe, his wife, and several friends attended a Bible conference led by fundamentalist teacher Harry A. Ironside. He inspired them to launch a Baptist institution in Birmingham. Rowe investigated the structure of schools and in 1933 wrote a prospectus to approximately 30 local pastors and laymen. With their support, Rowe laid the foundation for the SBC. Currently all SBC graduates receive a Bachelor of Arts degree in the Bible and theology. The Department of Education also offers a dual major in Biblical studies and elementary education. The Department of Biblical Studies allows students to minor in biblical studies, Christian ministries, pre-seminary, and world missions. There is also a church education major.
Lee County, Auburn, Baptist, Cemetery, African American
Baptist Hill cemetery is a part of Alabama’s first separate black community and is a critical part of Auburn’s black history. According to oral history, a white man gave most of the land in the 1870’s. Currently the cemetery is four acres and has over 500 marked graves and many unmarked. The oldest grave dates back to 1879. Many of the buried at the cemetery were born into slavery but later became teachers or people in business. The cemetery gets its name from the Ebenezer Baptist Church close by.
Lee County, Auburn, Religion, Baptist, African American, Baptist Hill Cemetery
Ebenezer Baptist Church was the first black church formed in Auburn after the civil war. Erected in 1870, the church was located on land donated by a white man, Lonnie Payne. The impressive church gave the local area the name “Baptist Hill”. The church also has claims to the nearby cemetery, Baptist Hill Cemetery, which was the first separate black community cemetery in Auburn. Members of the church were the first buried in the cemetery; however, currently members of other churches have been interred there.
Mobile County, Mobile, Religion, Baptist, African American, National Registrar of Historic Places
The original congregation of the group of Baptist was organized in Mobile in 1835 settling in a plain brick church building. This group disbanded in 1840 before immediately reorganizing under the name St. Anthony Baptist Church. This group moved to a building at the corner of Chestnut and Tunstall Streets. In 1870, the property was transferred to the trustees of the Stone Street Baptist Church. Over the next one-hundred and fifty years there have been many changes made to the church including in 1846 the creation of a separate African Church branch. The Baptist congregation has been a continuous black congregation in Mobile. One of the church’s most influential pastors was Rev. M. C. Cleveland who was also on the Selma University Board of Trustees as Chairman. Cleveland instituted a program for rebuilding the church in the early-20th century. By 1931, the new modern brick church was completed. In 1979, Stone Street Baptist church suffered damage from Hurricane Frederick and while in the process of rebuilding the roof, also built an educational building. Currently Stone Street Baptist Church is one of the most influential black Baptist churches in Alabama. The church building itself represent the achievement of laymen who utilized resources available to them to build a lasting and supportive congregation. Stone Street Baptist Church is on the National Registrar of Historic Places.
Talladega County, Sylacauga, Cemetery, Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage
In 1898, the Marble City Cemetery officially opened after the city of Sylacauga bought one acre from James T. Persons. Although there are earlier marked graves, it was originally a burial ground for the Pearson family. The original deed, notarized by J. W. Langley, was dated August 27, 1898. The land was divided into lots and numbered. Currently the cemetery contains 2,520 graves dating back to 1876. Over the years the cemetery has gone under renovations for cleaning and improvements. Eight Sylacauga mayors are interred at the cemetery along with a Union solider and Sylacauga’s first mayor. In 1995, the cemetery was added to the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage.
Walker County, Dora, Cemetery, Louisa Hoover
Davis Cemetery was the first cemetery in East Walker County. It is located behind where the Old White Church (Dora Second Baptist) now stands. The gravestones in this cemetery date back to the earliest settlers. In 1888, Louisa Hoover, wife of Daniel Davis, decided to build a church for the minders who moved into the area after 1886 when the railroads were built. Louisa Hoover gave the land and built the church on her own. The church became known as the “White Church” because of the color it was painted. Methodist, Nazarenes, and Baptists have worshipped at the church.
Montgomery County, Montgomery, Monument, American Civil War, Confederacy, Alabama Soldiers, Historical Monumental Association of Alabama, Jefferson Davis, Governor Robert Bentley
In 1865, the Historical Monumental Association of Alabama (HMAA) decided to request $5000 from the Alabama state legislature in order to build a marble monument dedicated to the 122,000 Alabamians who fought for the Confederacy during the American Civil War. Original efforts were delayed by appeals from Virginia in order to help protect the remains of Alabama soldiers who lay in shallow graves at the sites. Montgomery postponed the project in order to care for soldier’s graves on battlefields. Fundraising for the project began in 1865 and was mainly headed by the Ladies Memorial Association. This organization raised $47,000 though several efforts in order to build the monument. On April 29, 1886, former Confederate President Jefferson Davis laid the cornerstone. The dedication ceremony was on December 7, 1898 with the grand unveiling. On June 24, 2015, Governor Robert Bentley order the removal of four Confederate flags after a national controversy over displaying the flag in public places.
Montgomery County, Montgomery, Education, Alabama Women’s Hall of Fame
In 1914, Margaret Booth opened the Margaret Booth School as a college preparatory school for girls. This school occurred in Booth’s home. Margaret Booth was a longtime proponent of women’s education after receiving her own education in Montgomery public schools, the Agnes Scott Institute, and Mt. Holyoke College in Massachusetts. When she returned to Alabama, Booth became the first principal at the new Demopolis High School. She was also the founder of the Demopolis Public Library after donating a single volume. Booth is now a member of the Alabama Women’s Hall of Fame Between 1914 and 1915, Miss Booth stated in the Margaret Booth school bulletin, “It is my hope to be the instrument in the hand of Providence of founding an institution which shall accomplish for young women in Alabama what our college preparatory schools are accomplishing for boys”. The school/home was located on 529 Sayre Street Montgomery, AL.
http://preserveala.org/pdfs/AR/AR_Property_Listing_4_9_15.pdf http://www.awhf.org/booth.html
Jefferson County, Birmingham, Religion, Catholicism, Bishop Jeremiah O’Sullivan, Brother Charles Todd
Holy Rosary Catholic Church began as a mission church out of Saint Paul’s Cathedral. Mass was offered in the parishioner’s homes. Most of the parishioners worked in limestone quarries, iron ore mines, and iron manufacturing plants. In 1889, Maclin Ross, the president of Gate City Land Company, bought the original property of Holy Rosary for only one dollar. The land was then deeded to Bishop Jeremiah O’Sullivan who built a simple church with a hand carved altar to accommodate the eighty or so parishioners of the time. In 1955, Archbishop Toolen placed Holy Rosary under the sole care of Don Bosco thus making the church its own parish. In 1986, Brother Charles Todd arrived to the Salesian Oratory where the youth oratory began to grown and eventually developed into an after school program. He later organized a food pantry and clothes closet for the needy. In 2014, the remaining Salesian priests relocated to U.S. provincial headquarters. Holy Rosary Church, the Youth Oratory, food pantry, and clothes closet are now owned and operated by the Diocese of Birmingham.
Choctaw County, Lisman, Plantation, Slavery, Alabama Register of Landmarks & Heritage
In 1838, the Allen family arrived in Alabama in the area known as Lisman. The Allen family built one of the largest plantations in Choctaw County that continues to thrive to this day. Over the years the plantation expanded to over 8000 acres. The family also established the Allen general store, a school house, a mill, and the Allen Gin Company. The Allen plantation was also the first commercial hunting lodge in Alabama. Currently, the plantation is occupied and be carefully restored by the owner. The Allen Plantation is an example of a late 19th century plantation surviving to modern day in Choctaw County. The plantation has also been added to the Alabama Register of Landmarks & Heritage.
Green Pond Presbyterian Pond and Cemetery
Bibb County, Green Pound, Religion, Christianity, Church, Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage
In the community of Green Pond in Bibb County, a complex of 4.5 acres houses the Green Pond Presbyterian Church and Cemetery. The church dates back from 1884. Behind the church building is a cemetery dating from the time of the construction. Over 650 bodies are interred there. In the cemetery are notable markers from the Victorian period and the early -20th century. Historically, the congregation dates back to 1871 in Birmingham with the founding of the 5th Avenue Presbyterian Church. The present day Mountain Brook Presbyterian congregation was formed from this church. The Green Pond Church merged with the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America (PCUSA) in 1906. Green Pond Presbyterian Pond and Cemetery was added to the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage in 1999.
Wilcox County, Furman, Religion, Christianity, Church building, African-American, Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage
The Hope Well Church was established in 1864. The church was a foundation for the black community. Originally African-American and Caucasian-American congregants worshiped together in the time but over time African-Americans asked for a place to worship for themselves and Hope Well was established. The church was originally known as Hope Well AME Zion. During this time, the Hope Well Burial Ground and the Hope Well School were also established. Architecturally, the church has twin towers, an element typical of early twentieth-century rural black churches. Hope Well Church was added to the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage in 1999.
Wilcox County, Catherine, Cemetery, Cooper Cemetery, Plantation, Thomas Bevin Creagh, Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage
The Creagh Family Cemetery is believed to have been established in 1826 after the death of the patriarch’s fourth son. Over the years, many Creagh family members were interred at the cemetery including the patriarch, Thomas Bevin Creagh. Mr. Creagh contributed significantly to the early development of Alabama. Creagh was one of the eleven trustees who established the first chartered school in the state. In 1827, Creagh and his family moved to Wilcox County to the plantation where the Creagh Family Cemetery is located. The cemetery now contains 22 graves, monuments, and markers. The Creagh Family Cemetery was added to the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage in 1991.
Washington County, Wagarville, Religion, Christianity, Baptist, cemetery, Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage
The Washington Church was established in 1883; however, the present church building was not built until 1916. The building itself is a one room church, common in the rural south. The church is one of the few remaining that were built in the 19th century and then remodeled and modernized over time. However the church still does not have a steeple, water, heating, or air conditioning. Behind the church building is a cemetery that is over a hundred years old and holds over a hundred graves. Near the church entrance is a large maker that commemorated the five charter members of the church in 1883- Clem and Sarah Henson, Augustus Kirkland, Sally and Dr. Obadiah Lynes, the first pastor. The oldest death date on a headstone is 1901. The cemetery is still active as is the church. The church was added to the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage in 2010.
Baldwin County, Point Clear, Religion, Protestant, Church, St. Francis at the Point Church, Mrs. Ben Hamel, Traditional Protestant Episcopal Church, Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage
St. Luke’s church, commonly known as St. Francis at the Point Church, was constructed in 1898. The building was modeled in a vernacular interpretation of the late Gothic Revival style. St. Luke’s church was the first Episcopal Church on the eastern shore of Mobile bay. St. Luke’s congregation assembled in 1896, two years before the church was built. The church was active until 1947. The congregation had diminished during WWII so the church was vacant from 1947 to 1956. In 1957, Mrs. Ben Hamel bought the building and converted it into a gift shop. Eventually the Traditional Protestant Episcopal Church acquired the property and religious services resumed in 1984. St. Luke’s Church was added to the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage in 1997.
Bullock County, Cahauba, Religion, Christianity, Baptist, Church, Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage
The Sardis Baptist Church is one of the oldest Baptist church building still standing in Alabama. The church was constructed after Greek Revival architecture. Because of the buildings condition, the church is currently inactive. The church was organized in 1837. The church building is believed to have been constructed in 1841. In 1860 an additional two acres were acquired for the church cemetery. The original families who settled in the Sardis community and established the church were from Edgefield, South Carolina and were crucial to the county’s growth and development. Sardis Baptist Church was added to the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage in 1991.
Walker County, Oakman, Religion, Christianity, Tubbs Church of Christ, Daniel Tubbs, Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage in 1992
Tubbs Cemetery is adjacent to the Tubbs Church of Christ. The oldest markers date back to burials in the Tubbs family as early as 1842. The patriarch of the family, Daniel Tubbs, had enlisted in the war of 1812 and fought in the Battle of New Orleans. He moved his family to Walker County in 1835. Tubbs and his family donated a portion of their land for community use such as for religious and educational purposes. The family owned the property until 1953 when it was bought by the Tubbs Church of Christ. About 200 persons are interred at Tubbs Cemetery today. Tubbs Cemetery was added to the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage in
Barbour County, Midway, Religion, Baptist, Church, Solomon G. Burke, Francis T. Burke, American Civil War, Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage
The Ramah Baptist Church was constructed around 1840. The interior of the church is one large room with two columns in the pew area. In 1857 Solomon G. and Frances T. Burke gave the deed for the present building and cemetery. During the civil war, Ramah Church was the focal point for military roads, used by both the confederacy and the union, leading to Midway, Enon, Hartville, and Ft. Browder. In 1963, arrangements were made to preserve Ramah Church and the adjoining cemetery. The church is now under the care of the Ramah Church Memorial Association. Ramah Baptist Church was added to the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage in 2011.
Walker County, Jasper, Religion, Methodist, Church, American Civil War, Rev. L. J. Morris, Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage
The present building of the First United Methodist Church was built in 1914 although the congregation dates back almost a hundred years prior. The Methodist church is the oldest church in Jasper, Alabama with the first formal organization occurring in 1833. Around 1858, a frame building was built on the site of the present building. This frame building was burnt during the American Civil War by Union soldiers. In 1888 the congregants began to build a new church; however, plans changed and in 1912, Reverend J. L. Morris petitioned to build a new church. This church was finished and dedicated in 1921. The First United Methodist Church was added to the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage in 1983.
Jefferson County, Birmingham, Religion, Baptist, Civil Rights Movement, African American, National historic landmark, Ku Klux Klan
The Sixteenth Street Baptist Church, located in Birmingham, became a national symbol during the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960’s. Having been built in 1873, the church was the first Colored Baptist Church. In the early twentieth century, the church would become a fixture in the African American community and would host many notable figures including W. E. B. Dubois, Mary Mcleod Bethune, Paul Robeson, and Ralph Bunche. As the church moved on in to the twentieth century, it became a center for African American activism. Rallies and demonstrations were held frequently at the church to support integration and equal rights; however these rallies would also be responsible for increasing racial tension dramatically in the neighborhood. On September 5, 1963, the tension culminated in the bombing of the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church right before the 11 a.m. service. The blast killed four young girls and injured twenty-three other churchgoers. This incident would shock the nation and help propel landmark legislation like the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The FBI would investigate and find four men affiliated with the Ku Klux Klan responsible for the bombing; however, charges would not be filed until 1977 against one man, 1997 for the second, and 2002 for the third. The fourth would die in custody before charges could be filed. In 2006, the church became a national historical landmark. In 2013, the four girls who died were awarded the Congressional Gold Medal, the United States highest civilian honor.
Mascots; University of North Alabama; Florence, AL; Lauderdale County, AL
On October 7, 2002, University of North Alabama had the ribbon cutting and dedication ceremony for the brand new lion habitat. The habitat was named after a long time contributor to the university, George H. Carroll. After the death of the previous mascot Leo II, animal rights activists did not want UNA to have another mascot. There were concerns that having a lion on campus would drain money meant for academics. However, all money, labor and equipment needed to build habitat for the new mascots were donated by corporations and individuals. The 12,764 square foot habitat met USDA and the American Zoo and Aquarium standards. The habitat is located between Willingham Hall and the university president’s home on campus. It is equipped with a simulated waterfall and rock wall, separate climate controlled sleeping quarters for both of the lions, a quarantine area for when they get sick, a squeeze cage that allows veterinarians to work on the lions, and two visitor observation areas. The George H. Carroll Lion Habitat is currently the home of Leo III and Una.
Malik Emmett, University of North Alabama
“UNA to dedicate lion habitat, but without new cubs,” Birmingham News, Oct 6, 2002, Lion Habitat Collection, University of North Alabama Archives. “UNA’s Lion Habitat Finally A Reality,” Courier Journal, Oct 16, 2002, Lion Habitat Collection. University of North Alabama Archives.
2005.36.397: Mary K. Jones to her sister, 1860 April 26
1860; Mary K. Jones; Beaufort; South Carolina; Dr. Robert M. Young; Elizabeth Caroline Young; family conditions
Mary is writing to thank her sister for writing to confirm the arrival of Louisa.
P.M.B Young Collection, Bartow History Museum
2005.36.396: Sister Mary to Sister, Unknown April 3
P.M.B. Young Collection, Bartow History Museum
2005.36.121: Mary (Jones) Thompson to Louisa Young, Unknown March 29
Greenville; South Carolina; Uncle John; Butler; Colonel Harris; Gabe Kyne; Mr. Moon; Carrie Earle; Father (Robert M. Young Sr.); Mother (Caroline Jones) Young; Weather; Health; Courtship; Marriage; Criminal Activity; Family Visitation; Transcription
News on family health and well-being along with advice and encouragement on making courtship and marriage decisions. Requests that the family make a trip to SC for a visit. Includes a warning to Robert M. Young, Sr. to be watchful for a fugitive named Gabe Kyne, who may try to impose on the family. Original letter has 7 handwritten pages.
2005.36.166: Mary (Jones) Thompson to Pierce M.B. Young, 1857 May 13
1857; Greenville SC; West Point NY; United States Military Academy; Grandmother; John; Uncle Judge Butler; Miss Thompson; Flo; Advice; Encouragement; Illness; Matchmaking
A letter of encouragement from Aunt Mary to Pierce. She offered admonishment and advice to Pierce as he embarked on his commission to attend West Point. She shared news of Uncle Butler being very ill with mumps, and of Miss Thompson, a beautiful girl who spent a great deal of time with Aunt Mary. She enticed him to meet Miss Thompson. She asked Pierce to come to Greenville for a visit as soon as he could. 4 handwritten pages.
An oral history with Mary Kitts, a graduate student of Auburn University, concerning her participation in the Women's March on Washington that occurred on January 21, 2017, in Washington, D.C. Her testimony provides context for those women graduate students who traveled great distances to participate in the national march. She also expounds on her political ideology, including her lifelong admiration for Hillary Clinton, and how she came to espouse her liberal views as a resident of Florida.
Heather M. Haley, Ph.D. candidate, Department of History, Auburn University, in cooperation with the University Archives and Special Collections
All files are the property of the Auburn University Libraries and are intended for non-commercial use. Users of these materials are asked to acknowledge the Auburn University Libraries. For information about obtaining high-resolution copies of this and other items in this collection, please contact Auburn University Libraries Special Collections & Archives Department at archives@auburn.edu or (334) 844-1732.
2005.36.186: Mary Thompson to Caroline Young, Unknown November 18
1858; Mary Thompson; Caroline Young; Cartersville; Bartow County; Georgia; White Oak
2005.36.106: Mary to Elizabeth Caroline Young
Mary; Elizabeth Caroline Young; Memories; Childhood; Illness; Sickness; Visit; Sisters
Letter from Mary to her sister, Elizabeth Caroline Young. Mary inquires about Elizabeth's health, noted it as poor. Mary also mentions a proposed family visit, and reminisces about memories between the two sisters.
Guntersville; Marshall County, Alabama; Commercial Business
Located right next door to 2310 Taylor Street, 2312 Taylor Street is a one-story stucco façade building located in the heart of downtown Guntersville, Alabama. This building is more rectangular in shape on the façade, whereas, 2310 Taylor was distinctly squared. Underneath the stucco façade, the building has a masonry construction. The roof is flat and planed like 2310 Taylor Street. The usage of the building at 2312 Taylor Street is commercial. When the building is constructed in the early 1920s, the purpose for it was commercial as well. It has continued serving a commercial role in downtown Guntersville.
Matthew C. Fesmire, The University of North Alabama
Text: Alabama Historical Commission, David B. Schneider Photo: Alabama Historical Commission, David B. Schneider
Guntersville; Marshall County Alabama; Commercial Business
A commercial building located in downtown Guntersville, Alabama, 2316 Taylor Street is a brick building with two stories and a flat roof. The original construction of the building dates to the mid-1930s as a one-story commercial building. The addition of a second floor occurred between the mid-1930s and late 1940s according to a Sanborn map created in 1948. The building was remodeled around 1985 into what it looks like today. Currently, the building is the Sand Mountain Bureau office for local north Alabama TV affiliate WAFF-48 TV.
A two-story brick building located in downtown Guntersville, Alabama that was utilized as a retail establishment, but now looks unused. The building is the largest located on Taylor Street. The construction of the building dates to the early 1930s for commercial purposes. The 1948 Sanborn map also shows that the building housed a single retail establishment. The building was remodeled in the mid-1980s. The building is privately owned and is currently not used. The façade of the building has several windows scattered throughout the masonry. Each of the windows are 9:6 replacement windows, with four on the second level and two on the first level. There are two doors for entry in the front as well. The roof, like all the other Taylor Street buildings, is flat. On the back of the building are concrete blocks.
Compared to the other buildings located on Taylor Street in downtown Guntersville, Alabama, this is a relatively new building. Constructed in the early 1950s with brick and concrete blocks, the building is easily twenty to thirty years newer than the other Taylor Street commercial buildings. It is built in the similar city block style as the other Taylor Street buildings. The roof is flat and planed like the other Taylor Street buildings and the façade of the building is a light colored brick. When originally constructed, the building just had the two windows and center entryway. In an addition added in the early 1960s, a two-bay construction of a window and entryway was built. The building was also remodeled in the mid-1970s.
Before the city of Florence, Alabama gained renown for its world famous Florence Wagon Works, the wagon company operated in the area of Atlanta, Georgia. One reason why the company moved to Florence was the infrastructure of industry within the Muscle Shoals region, with about sixty different plants and businesses located in the city of Florence. Dr. Alfred David Bellamy, a New York native and owner of the Atlanta Wagon Company, moved the company to Florence in 1889 when the new buildings for the new Florence Wagon Company were completed in 1888/1889. At the height of the Florence Wagon Works’ production the company manufactured enough wagons to be second in North America behind the Canadian wagon company Studebaker. In February of 1890, the Florence Wagon Works employed about seventy-five laborers. By October of 1890, the number of employees expanded to 125, then to 160 by 1897. There is a discrepancy in different sources as to how many people Florence Wagon Works employed at its apex, one source says 175 , whereas another says 250. Regardless of the exact numbers, Florence Wagon Works had a serious impact on employment in the Florence area. Production of the “Light Running” Florence Wagons increased yearly from 1889 into the early twentieth century, to the point where the factory would turn out twenty to twenty-five wagons per day, a very high number for a custom wagon in the pre-assembly line era. At their peak, Florence Wagon Works used an average of two million feet of hardwood per year to produce between ten to fifteen thousand “Light Running” Florence Wagons per year. The “Light Running” Florence Wagon was a casualty to its era. With the invention of the automobile, including the utilitarian pick-up truck, and the advancement in tractor machinery, the “Light Running” Florence Wagon began to meet its demise in the early twentieth century. The diminished necessity of horse-drawn transportation sent the wagon into decline. The greatest decline in business for the Florence Wagon Works was in the 1920s and 1930s when people were able to buy affordable gasoline powered vehicles in the 1920s and the Great Depression of the 1930s. Florence Wagon Works tried to survive the declining demand for horse-drawn vehicles by turning to building lawn furniture in the 1930s. But the company could not survive and was sold in 1941 to a company from Chattanooga called Trenholm & Starr, Inc. who continued the Florence operation for a short period. Eventually, the new ownership moved all operations to Hickory, North Carolina in 1941, leaving open warehouses at the Florence Wagon Works that were used for the storage of cotton, and thus was the end of Florence Wagon Works in North Alabama. There was hope the deserted factory would be used in World War II for defense purposes, but that never materialized.
Matthew C. Fesmire, University of North Alabama
Text Sources: Florence/Lauderdale Public Library. Vertical History File. Local History & Genealogy. Freeman, Lee. “A Brief History of the Florence Wagon Factory.” Florence, Lauderdale County, AL. Florence Wagon Works 2-2. Florence/Lauderdale Public Library. Vertical History File. Local History & Genealogy. Freeman, Lee. “A Tribute to the Men and Women of the Florence Wagon Works.” Florence, Lauderdale County, AL. Florence Wagon Works 2-2. McDonald, William L. "Remembering Sweetwater: The Mansions, The Mills, The People." Killen, Ala., Bluewater Publications, 2001. Picture Source: UNA Archives & Special Collections. William B. McDonald Collection. “Florence Wagons.” c. 1938, Florence, AL.
Late Nineteenth Century-Early Twentieth Century
Bellamy Planning Mill Company/Acme Lumber Company
The Bellamy Planning Mills of the East Florence area of Sweetwater was incorporated on May 1st, 1901. The founders chose to situate Bellamy Planning Mills near Sweetwater Creek on present day Veterans Drive. The founders of the Bellamy Planning Mill were President, A.D. Bellamy (also the founder of Florence Wagon Works); Secretary, W.M. Richardson (who would own his own lumberyard in Florence eventually); and Attorney, John T. Ashcraft, who was one of several founders of the Ashcraft Cotton Mill. By 1903, the Bellamy Planning Mill was doing about seventy-five thousand dollars’ worth of business per year while using about three million feet of lumber per year and employing a force of thirty men. Bellamy’s mill did business across the South and Midwest selling building materials for framing, ceilings, porch columns, and balusters to name a few. They also sold Sherwin Williams Paints and Acme Cement Plaster in addition to the wood products. Eventually, Bellamy sold the planning mill to a partnership of Lewellen and Robbins. When A.M. Lewellen and Robbins bought the Bellamy Planning Mill, they renamed it Acme Lumber Company. Acme Lumber Company had an important, albeit tragic, role in Florence during the 1918 Spanish influenza outbreak that occurred while Wilson Dam was under construction. Because of the influenza outbreak, Acme ran three full shifts a day to build enough coffins for the countless numbers of deceased workers since the lumberyard was located across the river from the camps of the workers building Wilson Dam. The majority of the deceased were immigrant Cuban workers buried in common graves, and most had no known immediate relatives or survivors. After the end of the Spanish influenza, not much information can be found on Acme Lumber Company on the fate of the lumber company itself.
Text Sources: "Florence As She Is." The Florence Times. 1903. McDonald, William Lindsey. "Sweetwater: The Story of East Florence." Florence, Ala.: Florence Historical Board, 1989. McDonald, William Lindsey. "Remembering Sweetwater: The Mansions, The Mills, The People." photos by L.D. Staggs, Jr. Killen, Bluewater Publications, 2002. Garrett, Jill Knight. "A History of Lauderdale County, Alabama." Columbia, Tenn., Privately Published, 1968. Picture Source: UNA Archives & Special Collection. William L. McDonald Collection. “Bellamy Planning Mill/Acme Lumber Company.” Florence, Alabama. Box 12: Florence Industry, 12-32.