A photograph of S. L. Toomer's Account page with a description of the original business focus.
Shel Toomer, in bow tie, posed with employees of Toomer Drugstore in 1907, the year after he bought the building. The soda fountain attendant appears to be F. R. "Crow" Wright, and at right is Rufus Lee Jenkins, a longtime employee who retired in 1940. The other employee behind Toomer and Jenkins is unidentified.
Auburn, a Pictorial History of the Loveliest Village
Carolyn Jenkins Jones and Auburn University Archives
Churches; Town Creek, AL; Lawrence County, AL
The Town Creek Church of Christ is located at the intersection of Hwy 20 and Church Street in Town Creek. While the Church of Christ congregation did not formally organize until 1893, records indicate that members of the Town Creek community had gathered together for worship beginning in the 1860s. In the 1880s, Church of Christ minister T.B. Larimore of Florence traveled to Town Creek to baptize residents. The connection to Larimore, who had founded the Mars Hill Academy, may have influenced the community’s decision to follow the Church of Christ faith. J. H. Lemay donated the lot on which the congregation constructed the church. J. R. Armstrong and W. V. Prueitt ordered the lumber through their firm, Porter and Foster. Armstrong rode horseback to Landersville, Alabama to borrow enough money to pay the bill for the church. Today the Town Creek Church of Christ is located at 324 Church Street.
Dylan Tucker, University of North Alabama
"The Heritage of Lawrence County, Alabama." Heritage Publishing Consultants, Inc. 1998. http://www.towncreekcoc.com/
Historic Markers; Killen, AL; Lauderdale County, AL
This historic marker is located on J.C. Mauldin Highway west of Poplar Street, Killen, Alabama. The text on side one of the marker reads: "The area known as Killen in Lauderdale County, was settled in the early 1800s. In 1826, Joseph Mason was appointed the first postmaster of the new community called Masonville, later to become Killen. The post office existed until 1866. In the 1830s the construction of the Alabama Canal brought growth to the area. The canal was built to solve the navigation problems created by the shoals in the Tennessee River. Construction on the new canal began in 1875 and the 14 1/2 - mile canal, with nine locks with a lift of 85 feet, opened November 10, 1890. The canal was renamed the Muscle Shoals Canal. Lock six served as the headquarters and was located just 1/2- mile south of Killen. The canal system had a major economic impact on the development of Killen. Many of the citizens were employed on the canal and others supplied raw materials and food for the operation." The text on side two reads:"In 1885, 200 men were employed by the Corps of Engineers. Many of these men built homes near their work. In 1895, Mr. James Sharp Killen built a general store and applied for a post office. He sent in three possible names with the application and Killen was chosen. The post office opened on August 22, 1896 and the Town of Killen was founded. Killen was incorporated and established a police department in 1957. A fire department was started in 1962 and a town park was added in 1976. The town library was established in 1985. Killen has grown because of the good citizens of this community and the moral fortitude established by our local churches. The Killen Lions Club was chartered in 1957 and is a major community asset. Other sources of pride for the Killen area are Brooks Elementary, dating to 1908, and Brooks High School which opened in 1968."
“Town of Killen Marker”. Accessed 11/10/2015. http://www.lat34north.com/historicmarkersal/
Trails; Valhermoso Springs, AL; Morgan County, AL
Located on 7281 Hwy. 36 in Valhermoso Springs, AL, the Trail of Scriptures is a serene path for people to hike and enjoy. The trail contains multiple crosses and scripture for people to read. The trail is open from dawn to dusk with a picnic pavilion available.
“Trail of Scripture.” Accessed July 14, 2015. http://www.northalabama.org/
Trail of Tears; Waterloo, Alabama; Lauderdale County, AL
During the forced removal of the indigenous people from the eastern United States to Oklahoma, Waterloo was a stop for the Cherokees who came by boat, from Tuscumbia, after having walked from the homelands in the Appalachians in the winter of 1838/39. Approximately 17,000 people were removed. Though a few managed to escape, there were over 4,000 deaths.
Pam Kingsbury, University of North Alabama
Trail of Tears Marker, Waterloo, Alabama
Photograph of Waterloo, Alabama, c. 1900, courtesy of the Archives at Collier Library, University of North Alabama, Florence, Alabama.
Historic Markers; Waterloo, AL; Lauderdale County, AL
This historic marker is located on Main Street, Waterloo, Alabama. The text on the marker reads: "Thousands of Cherokee Indians passed through Waterloo in the 1830s when they were forced by the U.S. government to move West on the "Trail of Tears". Most came by boat from Tuscumbia and camped here to await transfer to larger steamboats. During the encampment several births, deaths, and escapes occurred. One party of 1,070 Cherokees traveled overland from Ross Landing in Tennessee due to low water in the upper river. Following the general route of U.S. Hwy. 72 to Florence, they arrived here July 10, 1838, in miserable condition after a 23~ day journey. About 17,000 Cherokees were driven from their homeland in the southern Appalachian Mtns. Most traveled by land thought Tennessee and on to Oklahoma. Great suffering and about 4,000 deaths occurred along the trail, especially during the winter of 1838-39."
“Trail of Tears Marker”. Accessed 11/11/2015. http://www.lat34north.com/historicmarkersal/
Colbert County, Alabama; Tuscumbia, Alabama; Trenholm High School; African-American History
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 by the Trenholm Alumni Association and the Colbert County Historical Landmarks Foundation led to the placement of a historical marker on the last location of the school which was a center of culture in the African-American Community. The inscriptions on the brick walkway leading to the historical marker include memorials, descriptions of student activities, and commemorate the accomplishments of members of the student body after graduation. The Trenholm Reunion is held every Labor Day Weekend.
Colbert County, Alabama; Tuscumbia, Alabama; Trenholm High School; George Washington Trenholm; African American History
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 school was named after a beloved teacher and principal George Washington Trenholm. While the school was segregated, it offered a wide range of educational activities for students. Some of these activities included clubs, contests, and plays. Trenholm High School had an active athletics program for students to participate in, including basketball, football, and track teams for its students. The black community in the area also heavily supported Trenholm High School. The school also became a space for community activities. The school began being used as a meeting site for various organizations and speakers. The building also provided entertainment for the community through various concerts and movies as well as prominent lecturers and speakers. Church congregations also used the school as a meeting place. Trenholm no longer stands today. A small memorial next to the school can be found with a list of every principal the school had prior to its removal.
Arthur Graves, interview by Sam Keiser, November 11, 2015 Colbert County Heritage Book Committee (Colbert County, Ala.). 1999. The Heritage of Colbert County, Alabama. Clanton, AL: Heritage Pub. Consultants. 64-65
Cemeteries; Florence, AL; Lauderdale County, AL
The Tri-Cities Cemetery was established in 1954. The cemetery is located off Highway 72 close to Deibert Park. The cemetery contains over 8,000 burials. It has a combination of ground burials, mausoleums, and a columbarium. For a full description of graves visit this link: http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~allauder/cem-tricities1.htm
"About Tri-Cities Memorial Gardens." Burial Planning. http://www.burialplanning.com/cemeteries/tri-cities-memorial-gardens/cemetery-about/. Accessed April 12, 2015. Torbert, Robert E. "Tri-Cities Memorial Gardens, Garden No. 1." Rootsweb. August 2000. http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~allauder/cem-tricities1.htm. Accessed April 11, 2015.
The Episcopalian movement in America began in the late 1700’s and spread into northwest Alabama during the 1800s. The oldest Episcopalian parish in the area is Trinity Episcopal Church in Florence, Alabama. In the 1820s the early congregation met at school houses, hotels, and private homes. It was not until the arrival of South Carolina Reverend Thomas Cook in the Shoals did a plan for constructing a church building emerge. Cook helped raise nearly fifteen thousand dollars for the construction of a building. As a result, the first church structure was completed in 1838. This edifice was located on a lot donated by local resident James Jackson, and sat on the corner of College and Cedar Streets in Florence. Seven years later in 1845, the first Bishop of Alabama, Reverend Hamner Cobbs, concentrated Trinity Episcopal Church. Trinity Episcopal Church closed during the Civil War. In fact, all Episcopal churches in the state of Alabama closed during the war by Federal authorities because the ministers were ordered to omit prayer for the President Abraham Lincoln. Nearly thirty years after reopening its doors to the public, in 1893 a fire caused for the church to burn down. One of the few items salvaged was the church’s bell, which is in the present day church’s belfry. Following the fire, Florence resident Mrs. William Hardin gave the congregation a lot of land on the corner of Pine and Tuscaloosa Street downtown Florence. On this land, a new brick structure was completed in 1894. Five years later, Bishop Richard Wilmer consecrated the new church building on June 12, 1898. The brick structure is one of the finest examples of Gothic architecture in Lauderdale County. The building consist of a carved wood altar, chancel furnishings, and beautiful stained glass windows. Some of the renovations include the Parish House’s construction in 1929 and the additions of an education building and a Mullen Hall in 1967.
Jesse Brock, University of North Alabama
Text: Oscar D. Lewis, “Trinity Episcopal is One of City’s First,” in folder McDonald Collection: Church Information Collection-Vol. 8: Other Denominations-Episcopal, Churches 8.2,” Bill McDonald Collection, Archives/Special Collections, Collier Library, University of North Alabama, Florence, Alabama. Jill Knight Garrett, A History of Lauderdale County, Alabama, 145-146.
Historic Markers; Florence, AL; Lauderdale County, AL
This historic marker is located on N. Pine Street at E Tuscaloosa St, Florence, Alabama. The text on the marker reads: "Episcopal services in Florence began in 1824. Rev. Thomas Armstrong Cook organized Trinity Episcopal Church in 1836. The original building, on the northwest corner of College and Cedar Streets, was consecrated Feb. 23, 1845, by Bishop Nicholas Hamner Cobbs. It burned in 1893, and this building was constructed in 1894, using the tower bell from the old church. Services have been held here since Easter Day, 1895. Building Consecrated by Bishop Richard Hooker Wilmer June 12, 1898. Parish Hall added in 1929. Education building and Mullen Hall erected 1967."
“Trinity Episcopal Church 1894 Marker”. Accessed 11/11/2015. http://www.lat34north.com/historicmarkersal/
Education; Lee County, AL; Trinity Male High School; Trinity Female High School; Browneville, AL; Salem, AL; Marshall's Hill, AL; McGreen, James
One of Lee County’s first academic institutions opened in the now-defunct community of Browneville in 1837. The school lay four miles south of the modern-day unincorporated community of Salem, AL, near Marshall’s Hill. James McGreen founded the schools and served as principal.
Text Source: The Heritage of Lee County Book Committee, The Heritage of Lee County, Alabama (Clanton, AL: Heritage Publishing Consultants, 2000), 36.
Limestone County, Alabama; Athens, Alabama; Trinity School; African-American Education
The Trinity School Cistern, which is located on Market Street near the railroad track in Athens, Alabama, is the last remnant of the Trinity School. Trinity School, which was in operation from 1865 to 1997, was a school for the children of slaves. Miss Mary Frances Wells who served as the school's principal and advocate was largely responsible for establishing the school on the old Richardson family property.
Locally Owned Businesses; Foodways; Florence, AL; Lauderdale County, AL
Trowbridge’s Ice Cream and Sandwich Shop (nee Bar), located at 316 North Court Street, is a truly a Florence, Alabama landmark. Opened in 1918, Trowbridge’s is the oldest business still operating in its original location in Florence. Still owned by the Trowbridge family (third generation, Paul’s grandson, Don), the shop seats fifty, and the menu features sandwiches, chili, ice cream, milkshakes, and Wednesdays are bean day. An unassuming building and restaurant with large windows that face Court Street, the eight stools at the food counter allow customers to watch their sandwiches being assembled or their ice cream being dipped. Booths line the wall on the left and various artworks (photographs, newspaper clippings, and a few original pieces by local artists) are hung around the restaurant giving the customer an impromptu history of place; both Florence’s and Trowbridge’s. Locals of a certain age will recognize the waitresses of yesteryear in the oil painting on the back wall. Several small tables are scattered between the booths and the counter. The green vinyl padding on the stools and the chairs, alongside the 1950s style formica tables, give the place a completely unassuming retro feel. According to the Official Travel Site of Alabama, in 1917 Paul Trowbridge, who was on his way to a dairy convention in North Carolina, stopped in Florence and liked the area so much that he returned to Texas, packed his family and moved to Florence. A year later, he opened the Trowbridge Creamery where he developed the recipe for orange pineapple ice cream. He added hot dogs and chili to the menu in the 1940s. Trowbridge’s has long ceased making all ice cream by hand but the recipe for orange pineapple ice cream has become a Southern classic. It was named by Travel and Leisure magazine as one of “50 Reasons to Love the U.S.A. Now,” is included in the cookbook Alabama’s Historic Restaurants and Their Recipes (by Gay N. Martin, 2004), and is discussed and reviewed on websites as prosiac as Yelp, Trip Advisor, and Facebook; as Southern as Deep Fried Kudzu; and as commercial as Remax and Alabama Chanin’s Journal. Trowbridge’s, which has never been pretentious or had any aspirations to go more upscale, is a tradition for locals and a delight for visitors.
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
During the 1960s and 1970s the music industry in the Shoals earned national recognition through the success of FAME Recording Studio and Muscle Shoals Sound Studio. Musicians such as Bob Dylan, The Rolling Stones, Aretha Franklin, and Percy Sledge have all recorded hit songs at a Shoals recording studio. However, neither studio was the first official studio nor the first recording company in the Shoals. In fact, the first recording company in the Shoals, Tune Records, operated out of the back room of a bus station in Florence, Alabama. James Joiner, whose dad started a Florence-based charter bus company in 1939, wanted to expose the rich musical talent in the Shoals. So, with Kelson Hurtson, Walter Stovall, and Marvin Wilson, Joiner formed Tune Records and Publishing Company during the 1950s. Tune Records was the “first full-fledged record company in Alabama.” Using local radio stations, such as WLAY, to record songs, the company’s first regional hit, “A Fallen Star,” came in 1957. Joiner wrote “A Fallen Star” after watching a shooting star across the night sky, and relied on Bobby Denton’s vocals to do bring the song to life. As a result of the song’s success, musicians across the north region of Alabama traveled to Florence in order to sing for Tune Records. One teenager who cut songs with Joiner’s company was Rick Hall, who would later become Alabama’s most successful music producer at FAME Recording Studios. Due to the inability to produce another regionally successful hit, Tune Records closed down by 1960.
Text: Greg Carmalier, Muscle Shoals: The Incredible True Story of a Small Town with a Big Sound, DVD, Magnolia Home Entertainment, 2014. Christopher S. Fuqua, Music Fell on Alabama (Huntsville: Honeysuckle Imprint, 1991), 8.
Tuscumbia Female Academy; Tuscumbia, Alabama; Colbert County, Alabama; School; Education; Historical
The Tuscumbia Female Academy was also known as the Tuscumbia Female Seminary. It was established around 1825-26, as a means of education for women. The Academy was destroyed by arson between 2 and 3 a.m. on the morning of September 13, 1868. It was burned due to civil turmoil during Reconstruction by members of the Loyal League of Tuscumbia, after being aroused by an agitator from Memphis.
Thomas Hale, University of North Alabama
Richard C. Sheridan, Deshler Female Institute: An Example of Female Education In Alabama 1874-1918 (Birmingham: Birmingham Printing and Publishing Co., 1986), 7. Nina Leftwich, Two Hundred Years at Muscle Shoals (Tuscumbia, 1935), 118-123.
Colbert County, Alabama; Tuscumbia, Alabama; Tuscumbia Historic District; Architecture; National Register of Historic Places; Historic American Buildings Survey
The Tuscumbia Historic District encompasses a substantial portion of the city's 1817 street plan, including Spring Park, the North Commons, and the entirety of the Colbert County Courthouse Square Historic District, which is itself listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The district and the city have served as the seat of Colbert County governance since the county's creation in February 1867 (excluding the two-year period between November 1867 and December 1869 when the county was abolished by the State Constitutional Convention). Significant political figures associated with the district include Scottish-born Alabama governor Robert Burns Lindsay and U.S. representative Edward B. Almon, the latter known for his role in establishing the Federal Highway System and the Tennessee Valley Authority. In all, 461 of the district's 639 properties contribute to its historic character and significance. These include several examples of Tidewater cottages dating from the 1820s and 1830s, along with homes built in the Greek Revival, Queen Anne, Tudor and Bungalow styles. Most of the district's commercial properties, meanwhile, reflect architectural trends of the late Victorian period, with the Palace Drugstore being a particularly noteworthy example.
Brian Corrigan, University of North Alabama
National Register of Historic Places, Tuscumbia Historic District, Tuscumbia, Colbert County, Alabama, National Register #85001158. Historic American Buildings Survey, HABS AL-360, http://loc.gov/pictures/item/al0087 (accessed November 12, 2015).
Colbert County, Alabama; Tuscumbia, Alabama; Tuscumbia Landing; Native American History
During Indian Removal, Tuscumbia’s Landing served as the point of disembarkation for the water route used to move Native Americans west of the Mississippi. The train to Tuscumbia brought the Cherokee Nation to Spring Park, where they were held before being shipped on boats along the Tennessee River. Tuscumbia Landing still holds significance to the descendants of the Native Americans. Every year during the Oka Kapassa festival Native Americans make the two-mile journey from Spring Park to Tuscumbia Landing to signify the road their ancestors traveled during the Trail of Tears.
Gail King, Historic Document Research, Geophysical Survey, Mapping, and Archaeological Inventory at Tuscumbia Landing, A Trail of Tears National Historic Trail site in Colbert County, Alabama (Aug 2011) pg. 101-143
Tuscumbia Railroad and Transportation Museum
Tuscumbia, Colbert County; Alabama; Historic Railroad Depot; Museums; Railroad Museum; Frontier Railroad Town
The Tuscumbia Railroad Historic Depot, located at 204 W. 5th St. in downtown Tuscumbia is a fully restored museum based on how it was when it was built in 1888. The museum displays train memorabilia, interactive train simulators, telegraph demonstrations and information about Tuscumbia's history. Its hours of operation are Tuesday – Friday 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Jacob Grandstaff, University of North Alabama
“Muscle Shoals National Heritage Area,” Accessed November 17, 2015, http://msnha.una.edu/plan-a-visit/?a=28. “Historic Tuscumbia Railroad Depot,” Sweet Home Alabama: The Official Travel Site of Alabama, Accessed November 21, 2015, http://alabama.travel/places-to-go/historic-tuscumbia-railway-depot.
Colbert County Alabama; Tuscumbia Alabama; church; African American Church; African American History; Tuscumbia Shed Church
This church was located close to what is now downtown Tuscumbia. The original buildings were cotton gins sheds. It has been said that these cotton gin sheds were used as a church as far back as the year 1870. The church served as a place of worship for African Americans of all Christian denominations. This was in part due African American parishioners not having churches to call their own. The location of the church was originallyon a hill that now serves as the Basden Bus Company parking lot.
Arthur Graves interview by Sam Keiser. November 11, 2015 McWilliams, John L. Tuscumbia. Charleston, S.C., South Carolina: Arcadia Pub. 2012. 35
Colbert County, Alabama; Tuscumbia, Alabama; Railroad; Native American History; Trail of Tears.
The Tuscumbia-Courtland & Decatur railroad was established by a group of investors led by Benjamin Sherrod in 1841. Originally a two-train car, the railroad was established to allow ships to bypass the shoals of the Tennessee River. In 1843, the railroad line expanded to other towns including Courtland, Jonesboro, Leighton, and Decatur. After the completion of the railroad it would be eventually put to use during the Trail of Tears. The train played a prominent role during the forced relocation of the Native American tribes in Georgia. The train provided the means to transport a large number of Native Americans quickly to Tuscumbia Landing where they would then be shipped off to land allocated for their use west of the Mississippi. The primary tribe to be relocated on this train were the Cherokee Nation. The Creek Nation in Georgia had largely been moved out prior to the use of the train. The Cherokee Nation would travel to Decatur where they would board the train heading for Tuscumbia Landing.
Gail King, Historic Document Research, Geophysical Survey, Mapping, and Archaeological Inventory at Tuscumbia Landing, A Trail of Tears National Historic Trail site in Colbert County, Alabama (Aug 2011) pg. 109-143
Tuskegee Students March on Montgomery, March 10, 1965
Colbert County, Alabama; Muscle Shoals, Alabama; Hiking; Pet Friendly
The TVA Nature Loop is a 2.5 mile loop trail on TVA protected land. Overall, there are roughly 11 miles of footpaths in the area. The loop is around a section of the TVA reservation. The path is well paved and taken care of. People with disabilities should be able to navigate along the path. The park is pet friendly. One of the most interesting features of the trail is the old railroad bridge. The bridge once crossed the expanse of the river from Muscle Shoals to Florence. The bridge originally had an upper and lower deck. People, carriages, and animals could travel along the bottom deck while trains crossed across the top. Now only a portion of the bridge still exists and has been renovated for the walking trail. The bridge is a popular spot for pictures in the area.
Carrie Keener, University of North Alabama
Americantrails.org,. 2015. 'Trail Details: National Recreation Trail Database'. http://www.americantrails.org/NRTDatabase/trailDetail.php?recordID=3. Gunther, John. 1953. 'The Story Of The TVA'. Book. Florence. William Lindsey McDonald Collection. UNA Special Archives. AllTrails.com,. 2015. 'TVA Nature Loop'. http://alltrails.com/trail/us/alabama/tva-nature-loop?ref=search.
Festival; Arts; Culture; University of North Alabama; Florence, AL
One of the world’s oldest spoken art form is storytelling and the Communication Department at the University of North Alabama acknowledges this. Beginning in 2011, UNA communications professor Dr. Bill Huddleston started to offer the course COM 480/580, which focuses on storytelling. Also beginning in 2011, the University of North Alabama and the Alabama Humanities Foundation, a state program of the National Endowment for the Humanities, co-sponsored an annual event known as Front Porch Storytelling Festival. The festival takes place in May on the University of North Alabama’s campus and various places in the city of Florence, such as Wilson Park and McFarland Park. During the festival, national, state, and local orators and musicians provide entertainment. In 2015, the first “Story Slam” took place. The Story Slam is an open competition to high school and middle school students, who share a five minute personal stories from their lives based on a themed subject. The winner of the Story Slam competition receives a five hundred dollar award.
Text: “A Class Act,” in folder “University Events: Front Porch Storytelling Festival,” University Collection, Archives/Special Collections, Collier Library, University of North Alabama, Florence, Alabama. Terry Pace, “Front Porch Storytelling Festival,” The Quad-Cities Daily, May 13, 2013. University of North Alabama, “Story Slam,” UNA Front Porch Storytelling Festival, www.una.edu/storytelling.student-competition-html (accessed May 1, 2015). Images: folder “University Events: Front Porch Storytelling Festival,” University Collection, Archives/Special Collections, Collier Library, University of North Alabama, Florence, Alabama.
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.
Mascots; University of North Alabama; Florence, Alabama; Lauderdale County, Alabama
Description: Leo was born April 14, 1974 in Knoxville, Tennessee. He came to UNA on July 22, 1973. Dr. Robert M. Guillot established a new tradition by making UNA the only school in the country to have a live lion mascot living on campus. In addition to being UNA’s mascot, Leo was also a tourist attraction. Leo died January 20, 1988 and Leo II took his place in July of 1988. He was brought to UNA with the help of the Shoals community. UNA now has a system where all funds associated with the care and feeding of Leo III and UNA, the operation of their habitat, and the conduct of a related educational program are funded exclusively by charitable contributions. Leo II died in February of 2000 and he was replaced by the lion that currently is the king of the jungle at UNA, Leo III. He and his sister Una were brought into UNA in the year 2002.
Damion Johnson, University of North Alabama
“Leo: the story of Leo the lion, mascot of the University of North Alabama,” printed in 1977, Bill McDonald collection, University of North Alabama archives “Leo and Leo II- a living tradition at north Alabama,” UNA’s Lions, printed 1995, Bill McDonald collection, University of North Alabama Archives "University of North Alabama." RSS. Accessed November 13, 2015. http://www.roarlions.com/sports/2015/4/2/GEN_0402151225.aspx. "Lion Mascots Featured on Campus." Flor-Ala. Accessed November 13, 2015. http://www.florala.net/news/lion-mascots-featured-on-campus/article_cb611cda-eb4c-11e3-ae91-0017a43b2370.html.
Union Grove Cemetery is located in Opelika south of Creekstone Drive and west of South Uniroyal Road. Coordinates: 32.6287456, -85.3374448
Education; Lee County, AL; Union Grove School; Chewacla, AL; Private Academies; Antebellum Era; Mitchell, William M.; Methodist Church
Formerly the lone educational institution in the community of Chewacla, this tiny log cabin Christian school was built around 1840 run for two years by the Reverend William M. Mitchell. The one-room facility was located near the Methodist church on Lee County Road 391.
Union Gunboat Raid on the Florence Docks
Civil War; Union Gunboat Raid; Florence Docks; USS Conestoga; USS Tyler; USS Lexington; Captain Fowler; Commander Andrew H. Foote; CSS Sam Kirkman; CSS Julius Smith; CSS Time; CSS Dunbar; Lieutenant Phelps; Lauderdale County, AL
The Union Gunboat raid on Florence, by vessels under the command of Commander Andrew H. Foote began on February 7, 1862. The USS Conestoga, Tyler, and Lexington had steamed up the river on February 6, in pursuit of Confederate steamers. The CSS Dunbar arrived at the Florence docks around 8:00 the night of February 7. Captain Fowler of the Dunbar warned the local commander of the approaching Union gunboats and organized the offloading of his vessels cargo for transport by rail to Tuscumbia. Later that night the CSS Sam Kirkman, Julius Smith, and Time arrived in Florence. At 8:30 on the morning of February 8, a message arrived in Florence from Confederate General Albert Sydney Johnston. General Johnston ordered that the rail bridge across the Tennessee River at Florence be taken down in order to allow the fleeing steamers to pass the shoals. The citizens of Florence protested the orders to local commanders and would not allow the bridge to be destroyed. Having finished unloading, the Dunbar steamed out of the Florence port and into Cypress Creek to hide until the Union boats withdrew. About 2:00 on the afternoon of February 8, the crews of the confederate steamers set their vessels ablaze after the Union gunboats had been spotted on the river. When Lexington and Conestoga under command of Lieutenant Phelps came into view of the docks, riflemen on the bank opened fire on them. Meanwhile, the crew of the Smith set her adrift full throttle toward the Union gunboats. The Conestoga opened fire on the riflemen on the bank, forcing them to abandon the field, but the Lexington had to maneuver out of the way of the drifting Smith. The Conestoga docked, and Lieutenant Phelps ordered a boarding party to save the burning boats. Although the boats were already unsalvageable, the boarding parties were able to confiscate Confederate government items valued at $100,000. Lieutenant Phelps then sent men to inspect the local warehouses where they discovered iron bars and plating that was on its way to outfit the nearly complete Confederate gunboat Eastport, which Commander Foote’s forces had captured early that week. While exploiting the warehouses, a contingent of citizens from the town met with Phelps to express concerns for the safety of the citizenry, bridge, and property. The lieutenant assured the group that the people, bridge, and property of the town would not be damaged. Phelps was good as his word and left the town and bridge untouched, only taking or destroying the Confederate supplies at the docks. The bridge would survive for another month, when Confederate forces would burn it to cover their retreat.
Michael Williams, University of North Alabama
Tucker, Spencer C. 2009. "Myron J. Smith, Jr. The Timberclads in the Civil War: The Lexington, Conestoga and Tyler on the Western Waters. Jefferson, NC: McFarland." North & South: The Official Magazine Of The Civil War Society 11, no. 4: 79. America: History and Life with Full Text, EBSCOhost (accessed April 30, 2015).
Photo from following websites: http://www.civilwarphotos.net/files/naval_officers.htm Photo from following websites: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:USS_Conestoga_h55321.jpg#/media/File:USS_Conestoga_h55321.jpg
Cemeteries; Civil War; Lauderdale County, AL
David L. Montgomery visited this grave an stated: "An individual who lives in the immediate area of this grave informed me about this Union soldier’s final resting place. He has hunted the surrounding woods almost all of his life and has known of its location for many years. According to this person, there was an attempt to excavate the grave by a person/persons probably looking for Civil War relics. The person/persons digging in the earth, dug down about four or five feet deep. By most grave standards, the headstone is always placed to the west of the gravesite. It appears that they didn’t know on which side of the headstone to dig. There has been no evidence or rumors of anything being found since it is believed they dug on the wrong side." The gravesite is located approximately 2 miles north northeast of Cloverdale, Alabama. It is located on private property and deep in the woods. The headstone was removed from the gravesite in the 1980’s and was gone for about two years. It was returned and placed in the exact spot with the lettering to facing the west. According to the inscription on the stone, Meadows was attached to Company “G” of the 2nd Tennessee Infantry. But he is listed in the Company “D” roster, of the 2nd Tennessee Infantry, also a Union Army unit. He enlisted at Savannah, Tennessee on January 15, 1864. He was drafted in February 1, 1864 at Nashville, Tennessee.
Montgomery, David L. "Union Soldier's Grave." Cemeteries Only. http://cemeteriesonly.com/UnionSoldiersGrave.htm. Accessed April 3, 2015.
Aerial photograph of Union Terminal in Cincinnati, Ohio. Date and creator unknown. From the Metro Cincinnati description: "The now-demolished concourse is shown at the upper right, and is now the site of an intermodal rail yard. A new concourse for commuter, regional, and high-speed rail service is proposed for the location. The taxi, bus, and streetcar ramps are seen on either side of the central rotunda. - See more at: http://metro-cincinnati.org/?page_id=138#sthash.3ZToTBtG.dpuf"
Metro Cincinnati
Black and white photograph of the Women's Lounge in the Union Terminal in Cincinnati, Ohio. Date and creator unknown. From the Cincinnati Museum Center description: "Union Terminal opened in March of 1933, nine months ahead of schedule. Described as a "Temple to Transportation" by the local and national press, Union Terminal was in many ways a dream come true for Cincinnati. For 50 years, various plans had been put forward for a unified rail station in Cincinnati. Finally it had arrived, and it was undoubtedly one of the finest stations ever built." About this image: "The Women’s Lounge featured hand cut wall paper and hand cut, hand painted linoleum murals by Pierre Bourdelle."
http://www.cincymuseum.org/union-terminal/train-station
Cincinnati Museum Center
Temple to Transportation, 1933-1972
Opelika, AL; Lee County, AL; Industry; Manufacturing; Tires
After opening in 1963, this plant produced automobile tires for the BF Goodrich company. The business was forced to close in 2009 after shifting workforce to non-unionized labor. It was located at 1800 Crawford Rd., Opelika, AL.
Image: http://blog.al.com/businessnews/2009/12/group_seeks_use_for_closed_tir.html
The landscape photograph is of the summer time construction at the United States Nitrate Plant Number Two. The photograph shows several facilities under construction at the time and each are marked on the photograph. The history of the nitrate plant's construction was twofold: first, the plant was constructed to produce large amounts of fertilizer, and second, the plant was to produce the ammonium nitrate necessary for explosives at the end of World War I. However, World War I ended before the plant could produce for that purpose. Another reason why the plant was constructed dealt with independence from the nation of Chile and their grip on nitrate production globally.
M.C. Fesmire, The University of North Alabama
Text: History of Muscle Shoals with Views of Wilson Dam by W.R. McKerall The Muscle Shoals Project by State Normal School (The University of North Alabama) Souvenir of Inspection Trip by Officials and Citizens of The Tri Cities Wednesday March 12, 1919 by United States Nitrate Plant No. 2 Photo: UNA Archives and Special Collections
Status Unknown May be protected by the U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.). Distribution or reproduction beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the copyright owners. Responsibility for obtaining permissions, and for any use rests exclusively with the user.
Shelby; Education; Montevallo, University of; Alabama Girls' Industrial School; Alabama State College for Women
In October of 1896, the Alabama Girls’ Industrial School opened its doors to some 150 young women from all parts of the state. They had come to participate in a great experiment, in an innovation in education for Alabama. They had come to be trained as teachers, bookkeepers, artists, musicians, dressmakers, telegraphers and milliners. In other words, at last, there was a school in Alabama whose purpose was to educate women to be self-supporting; at last, here was an opportunity to escape from the drudgery of field work, mill work, or from the ignominy of depending on a father or brother for lifelong support if there was no husband. At last, here was an opportunity for young women to expand their minds and dreams in a state, poverty-stricken by economic circumstances, that could provide little public education for its citizens. In 1911 AGIS became Alabama Girls’ Technical Institute. The phrase “and College for Women” was added in 1919. In 1923, the school became Alabama College, State College for Women, a degree-granting institution. Two men enrolled in January of 1956, and with 33 more arriving by September, a new era had begun for the school. In 1969, in order to reflect this changing atmosphere, the school changed its name to University of Montevallo, and its four distinct colleges (Arts and Sciences, Education, Business, and Fine Arts) were established. Today, UM holds fast to the principles that we were founded upon and the mission that we’ve always upheld. As Alabama’s only public liberal arts university, we take pride in knowing that our curriculum is both challenging and affordable. And while we offer degree programs in more than 70 academic disciplines, our student-to-faculty ratio is a mere 16-to-1, so you’ll know that you’re getting a tailor-made education. It’s no surprise that we’re continuing to ascend the ranks of U.S. News & World Report’s list of America’s Best Colleges when it comes to overall education and lack of student loan debt. Information above from History of Montevallo University
Liz Clayton, Shelby County Historical Society
African American History; Desegregation; Florence, AL; Lauderdale County, AL; University of North Alabama
University of North Alabama was established in 1830 and for much of its history was an all-white institution. However, the University, then Florence State College, officially desegregated when Wendell Wilkie Gunn attended classes in 1963. The transition to an integrated system at the University of North Alabama was quiet and nonviolent. Some sources attribute this to the cosmopolitan population of Florence, Alabama due to the presence of the Tennessee Valley Authority and other international corporations.
Ashley Pentecost, University of North Alabama
University of North Alabama Archives; Times Daily
University of North Alabama Archives and Special Collections
The University of North Alabama’s Archives and Special Collections is located on the second floor of Collier Library on UNA’s campus. The archives’ primary goal is the collection and preservation of records regarding the University of North Alabama. The secondary goal of the archives is the preservation of materials concerning Florence, Sheffield, Muscle Shoals, and Tuscumbia. Lauderdale and Colbert County historical materials are also housed at the archives, as well as the university’s collection of rare books. The UNA Archives also houses “special collections” of documents and memorabilia. The William Lindsey McDonald Collection is an invaluable tool for researchers interested in local history. McDonald was the official Florence historian for many years, and wrote several books, newspaper articles, and journal articles during his lifetime. His collection features books, research materials, pictures, and copies of newspaper articles and documents on Muscle Shoals history. The Sallie Independence Foster Collection features photographs of the Foster family as well as letters and two Civil War era diaries. The George Lindsey Collection includes movie scripts, pictures, and memorabilia associated with the UNA alumni’s acting career. Other collections housed by the archives include the T.S. Stribling Collection, W.C. Handy Collection, and TVA Collection.
Kayla Scott, University of North Alabama
http://libguides.una.edu/unaarchives http://libguides.una.edu/unaarchives/archivescollections Images courtesy of Kayla Scott
University of North Alabama, President's Home
Education; WPA; Great Depression; University of North Alabama; Lauderdale County, Alabama; Florence, Alabama
The President’s Home is located on the University of North Alabama campus. Ground was broken for this building in August 1939 when the university was under the name Florence State Teachers College. The Works Progress Administration completed the building in 1940. The original location was on Seminary Street and Morrison Street, facing Seminary. The home, a two-story brick building, was meant to correspond and compliment the surrounding campus architecture. In Shoals Magazine the interior of the house is described: “The front door enters into a central hall with a high ceiling, hardwood floors and a staircase with a U-shaped landing leading to the more private rooms. Branching from the hall are the dining room on the left and living room on the right-one complimenting the other […]” (Allen). The original pastel paint used for the walls was mixed by Mrs. Keller, the wife of President J.A. Keller. The university president, President J. A. Keller, stated that ‘it will be modest, but modern”. Though the internal décor has been changed and modified throughout the years that same concept has been kept. Once the building was complete, the university president and his family occupied the residence. This tradition has been continued by most university presidents since. The President’s Home has also gained a great deal of attention throughout its many years of being a gracious host to many social functions. The first great event held by the house was in May 1940, as documented in a news paper article. It stated that the home was opened to the graduating sophomores and faculty of Florence State Teachers College. This Sophomore Tea lead the way for all the many parties and social gathering the house holds today.
Katherine Rickard, University of North Alabama
Allen, Sherhonda, "Stately Oasis of Color," Archives and Special Collections, Collier Library, University of North Alabama, Florence, Alabama "Handsome New President’s Home at STC Thrown Open to Faculty and Students", Flor-Ala, Archives and Special Collections, Collier Library, University of North Alabama, Florence, Alabama New Building at STC Ready for Fall Term, Flor-Ala, Archives and Special Collections, Collier Library, University of North Alabama, Florence, Alabama "Presidents’ Home Open to Students, Faculty, Campus Social Events", Archives and Special Collection, Collier Library, University of North Alabama, Florence, Alabama Shoals Magazine 2006, Archives/Special Collection, Collier Library, University of North Alabama, Florence, Alabama
Unpublished Manuscript -- Stanley Rosenbaum
Stanley Rosenbaum, who was a Florence, Alabama businessman, philanthropist, Civil Rights advocate, member of the University of North Alabama's English Department, and original owner of the Stanley Rosenbaum Frank Lloyd Wright House, was interested in and encouraged creative writing. An unpublished one act play, titled "When I Am Thirty," is housed in the archives of the Florence-Lauderdale Public Library. The play has three characters, one setting, and has detailed stage directions. Stanley Rosenbaum and his father gave the funds to establish the library and Stanley Rosenbaum served in various positions as a volunteer for over thirty years.
Florence-Lauderdale Public Library, archives, file 3-2 in the local history room.
US Census, Enumeration Map, Selma, Alabama, 1940
Architectural drawings; Watercolors; Houses; Dwellings; Doors & doorways; Windows; Shutters; Porches; Columns; Balconies; Hand railings; Ironwork; Roofs; Towers; Moldings; Vases; Women; Trees; Landscapes (Representations)
This image is a watercolor painting of the Varner-Alexander House (also known as Grey Columns) in Tuskegee, Alabama done by an unknown student sometime between 1917 and 1942. The painting shows the front exterior of the house with its doors, windows, shutters, two story columned porch, steps, balcony, iron hand railing, decorative ironwork, sloped roof, and tower room rising from the roof surrounded by trees and landscaping. There is a woman in period dress on the porch. The house is placed within framing art showing its architectural features including the molding under the roof and above the windows, the columns, the iron railing from the balcony, the decorative ironwork on the side of the house, the decorative windows framing the door, various scales, and stone vases. In the lower right corner, there is an Alabama Polytechnic Institute School of Architecture stamp. Above the stamp there is a handwritten inscription "1st Medal." The painting is in fair condition with a minor hole in the top left corner, and is encapsulated.
Unknown (rendering); Varner, William (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/al0335/ ; Alabama Department of Archives and History (Varner-Alexander family photos): http://digital.archives.alabama.gov/cdm/search/collection/photo/searchterm/varner-alexander%20tuskegee/field/all/mode/all/conn/and/cosuppress/
Tuskegee -- Macon County -- Alabama ; Old Montgomery Road (Institute Road), Tuskegee, Macon County, AL (Tuskegee Institute National Historic Site)
Marched and was injured during Bloody Sunday. She was one of many marchers treated at Good Samaritan Hospital.
Colbert County, Alabama; Sheffield, Alabama; Montgomery Avenue, Sheffield, Alabama; Veteran's Memorials; Bird Sanctuaries
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 to local residents who have died while serving their country. The park is also home to a bird sanctuary.
Helped drive the health mobile from MS to Selma according to 1965 MCHR newsletter. Albert Einstein College of Medicine student.
This historic marker is located behind the Florence/Lauderdale Veterans Memorial on veterans Park Dr, Florence, AL. The text on the marker reads: "The following men from Lauderdale County made the supreme sacrifice for our Nation during the War with Vietnam: Jimmy Rex Ball • Chadwick McFall Barber • Howard Wayne Bramlett, Jr. • Paul O'Neal Brown • Edward Lee Brock • Roger Jerrell Bryant • Virgil L. Castle • Phillip Don Childers • Samuel Earl Coker • Thomas Cotten • Charles Edward Cox • James Larry Evans • Joel Wayne Forrester • Richard J. Glenn • Jerry Dewayne Hill • James Dale Hodges • Alfred W. Hubbard • Jerry Reed Johnson • Albert J. Jones • Felix D. King, Jr. • Robert Burton LeCates • Larry Luster • George Thomas Mangrum • Robert Lee McCaig • Danny Albert McGee • James Daniel McKelvey • William Newton McMurtery • Don Leslie Michael • Donald Lee Montgomery • John Runyon Neary, II • Charles Terry • Jimmy Lee Thompson • Gary Frank Wallace."
“Vietnam War Memorial Marker”. Accessed 11/11/2015. http://www.lat34north.com/historicmarkersal/
Photograph that shows the landscape of Auburn in the late 19th century
Viking Longship Sea Stallion Arrives in Dublin
Viking ships were marine vessels of particular designs used and built by the Vikings during the Viking Age. The boat-types were quite varied, depending on what the ship was intended for, but they were generally characterized as being slender and flexible boats, with symmetrical ends with true keel. They were clinker built, which is the overlapping of planks riveted together. Some might have had a dragon's head or other circular object protruding from the bow and stern, for design, although this is only inferred from historical sources. They ranged in the Baltic Sea and far from the Scandinavian homelands, to Iceland, the Faroe Islands, Greenland, Newfoundland, the Mediterranean, the Black Sea and Africa. For more info: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viking_ships
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Viking Ship