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
Alabama Cultural Resource Survey
December 4, 2015
Flowers Hall Gymnasium
Lauderdale County; Florence AL; Education; Recreation; University of North Alabama
Flowers Hall first opened in 1972 and still continues to be used today. It is the home court for the volleyball team and the men’s and women’s basketball teams. It was named after Hubert A. “Eddie” Flowers, who was a long time head of the physical education and athletic programs. He was also the basketball program’s first coach. Flowers Hall was a great addition to the university because it gave them a great athletic facility costing approximately three million dollars. It has a seating capacity of 4,000 with both floor and upper level seating. The Flowers Hall Annex renovation added 17,800 square feet and cost one and a half million dollars. Flowers hall is a four level structure with the gym being on the third floor. It includes more than just a site for athletic events. It contains offices, class rooms, locker rooms, and special facilities for athletic training. It is also used for educational and recreational purposes. Flowers Hall is located on 615 North Pine Street in Florence, Alabama.
Jackson Newton, University of North Alabama
Greer, Tyler. “Gymnasium not just used for basketball”, University of North Alabama Archives. (Newspaper Clipping)
Florence State University Yearbook 1972, University of North Alabama Archives.
Thomas, Ronald. “Flowers fought long and hard for athletics”, University of North Alabama Archives. (Newspaper Clipping)
University of North Alabama Basketball Guide 1974-75, University of North Alabama Archives
.
Images:
University of North Alabama Archives and Special Collections
Alabama Cultural Resource Survey
December 4, 2015
Jason Isbell
Lauderdale County, Alabama; Greenhill, Alabama; Jason Isbell; Alabama Musicians
(Michael) Jason Isbell, who was born on February 1st, 1979, in Greenhill, Alabama (two miles from the Alabama-Tennessee state line) is an Alabama musician and songwriter whose work very much embodies a distinctive sense of place.
He grew up in rural Alabama, attended Rogers (a school that serves kindergarten through grade twelve), and the University of Memphis.
Family members taught him to play musical instruments and he was playing professionally at the age of fourteen. Many local musicians, including David Hood, served as mentors to Isbell and he got a publishing deal with FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals when he was twenty-one years old.
He joined the Drive-by Truckers at the age of twenty-two and worked on their next three albums -- "Decoration Day" (2003), "The Dirty South," (2004), and "Blessing and Curse" (2006). Isbell was fired by the Drive-by Truckers in 2007. (The band members have remained friendly.)
Isbell formed a band, Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit. made up of musicians (for the most part) from the Muscle Shoals area in 2009. They recorded and released two albums -- "Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit" (2009) and "Here We Rest" (2011).
"Southeastern," a solo album, was released in 2013 and was a critical success. Isbell won the 2014 Americana Music Awards for Album of the Year, Artist of the Year, and the song, "Cover Me," from the album was named song of the year.
"Something More Than Free," released on July 17, 2015 debuted at number one on Billboard Magazine's rock, folk, and country record charts.
Pam Kingsbury, University of North Alabama
Doyle, Patrick, "Jason Isbell's New Morning," Rolling Stone, August 7, 2015.
"Jason Isbell on Success after Excess," CBS "Sunday Morning," August 9th, 2015.
1979 to the present.
Pam Kingsbury, University of North Alabama
Mount Zion School
Lauderdale County, Alabama; Florence, Alabama; Rosenwald School; Mount Zion; African American History; Anita Cobb
Mount Zion was a Rosenwald school located in Florence, Alabama. The local community was provided a grant from Julius Rosenwald to build a school for the African American community. Like other Rosenwald schools the local community had to provide additional funds to buy the land for and funds for the school building. The school was a small one-room structure that served grades one through six. The classes were divided into two rooms separated by sliding doors. Each classroom had its own entrance. The building also had a cloakroom where the school children could hang their clothes and leave their lunches. There was also a small kitchen that provided heating for the school through the use of stoves. Two of the stoves were used to heat the building while the other one was used for cooking. The chimney also came down into the kitchen. The older girls at the school would cook all the food for the other children. They would arrive at school and begin cooking the food. Before lunch began, they would be dismissed from class early in order to finish cooking the food. The school was located off of Highway 189.
Sam Keiser, University of North Alabama
Cobb, Anita interview by Sam Keiser. Florence Alabama, November 18, 2015.
Alabama Cultural Resource Survey
November 30, 2015
Old Lexington Post Office
Lexington Alabama; Lauderdale County Alabama; Post Offices
The old Lexington Post Office (circa 1940) had fallen into dis-repair and disuse after the new post office was built. Several businesses attempted to make the space usable without major updates.
When Dr. Paul Corfman, who grew up in North Alabama, wanted to make an investment in his community, he and his wife, Nicole, renovated the building turning it into usable space.They incorporated the details of the post office - most notably the high ceilings - to turn the building into a comfortable and welcoming space for patients. Located on Highway 101 the building is now a model for a small, rural community hoping to attract new businesses.
Pam Kingsbury, University of North Alabama
Alabama Cultural Resource Survey
Pam Kingsbury, University of North Alabama
Photographs courtesy of Nicole Corfman
Still Image and Text
Old Lexington Alabama Post Office; Corfman Chiropractic
UNA Lions
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.
Alabama Cultural Resource Survey
November 24, 2015
Thimbleton
Historic Homes; Lauderdale County, Alabama; Florence, Alabama
The Thimbelton home is located on 221 West Tuscaloosa Street in Florence, Alabama. Originally built as a two-story frame home in 1830, Thimbleton was modified to a Second Empire style home in the late 1800s. The home now has a false mansard roof (viewed from behind the home the false front is visible) and exceptional iron roof cresting. It is also L shaped. Ferdinand Sannoner drew up the plans. The original owners are unknown but in 1839 Thomas Kirkman inherited it, then in 1881 Mr. William P. Campell got it and through his widow Mary Coffee O’Neal, the home was passed into the hands of Edward A. O’Neal, III. Mr. O’Neal was president of the American Farm Bureau Federation during the administration of FDR. The home still stands today in downtown Florence, Alabama.
Anna Hughes, University of North Alabama
Alabama’s Tapestry of Historic Places: an inventory: page 92
Historic Muscle Shoals: a guide to places of historical interest in Colbert and Lauderdale Counties, Alabama: Tennessee Valley Historical Society: page 40
Journal of Muscle Shoals History: Historic Muscle Shoals Buildings and Sites: page 125
Florence Times: House and Gardening Pilgrimage April 25, 1954: UNA Archives, Florence Collection. Buildings. Miscellaneous
Picture Source: UNA Archives, Photo Collection, File: Architecture. Domestic. Florence, Photo# AD: 25-11.
Alabama Cultural Resource Survey
November 24, 2015
The Communications Building, UNA
University of North Alabama; Education; Lauderdale County, Alabama; Florence, Alabama
The Communications building has been a part of the University of North Alabama since 1939. It is located on Pine Street. The building, designed by the Birmingham architecture firm Warren Knight and Davis, started off as a gymnasium that included a swimming pool in the basement. In 1972 the building was transformed into a media center that gradually became a Communications and Theater building. Today it is known only as the Communications Building. It cost $100,000 to construct the building.
Traci Adams, University of North Alabama
UNA School Journal (date unknown) and The Florence Times (November 22, 1938), University of North Alabama Archives
Alabama Cultural Resource Survey
November 24, 2015
Simpson House-Irvine Place-Coby Hall
Education; University of North Alabama; Historic Marker; Florence, AL; Lauderdale County, AL
Coby Hall is located on North Court Street in Florence, Alabama.
Funds for its purchase in 1990 were provided by Mr. David Brubaker. Brubaker purchased what was then Irvine place for $375,000. At a ceremony on December 7, 1990 Brubaker donated the house to the University of North Alabama under the new name, Coby Hall, in honor of his late wife, Coby Stockard Brubaker. After many years of heavy use and lack of maintenance funding, Coby Hall had fallen into disrepair. Dissatisfied with the condition of the house, Brubaker donated a sum of money for repairs which sparked a “Campaign for Coby” which set out to raise money for more repairs. At the end of the campaign enough money had been raised for a total rehabilitation. Many repairs took place at this time but the most significant were the addition of a full copper roof, gutters, charger, and downspouts. The same was done for the carriage house. The result was a fully restored Coby Hall, which now houses the University of North Alabama Office of Admissions.
There is a historic marker is located on Court, Florence, Alabama.
The text on the marker reads: "Built by John Simpson in 1843, on the site of his earlier home, this residence was occupied at various times by both armies during the Civil War. Purchased in 1867 by George W. Foster, builder of Courtview, for his daughter, Virginia, and her husband, James B. Irvine. Their daughter, Virginia, left the home to her great-niece Harriett Rogers King in 1939. Mrs. King and her husband, Madding restored Irvine Place in 1948. Acquired in 1990 by David Brubaker, and donated to the University of North Alabama in memory of his wife, Coby Stockard Brubaker. Listed: National Register of Historical Places."
David Brubaker, in presenting his gift to the University of North Alabama, stated:
"Coby Stockard Brubaker was a giver, a lady who lived her life the same way she faced her death- with humor, honesty, courage, and the devout conviction that her experience was part of God’s plan. I wanted an omnipresent reminder to her family and the community of the love I have for Coby. The building will be a living memorial where our son, Jay, can always come and experience the warmth of the community, which his mother loved so much. I want him to remember that a big part of his heart is in Florence, Alabama.” (Howard 50-60).
Dylan Tucker, University of North Alabama
Brian Peden, University of North Alabama
“Simpson House-Irvine Place-Colby Hall Marker”. Accessed 11/06/2015. http://www.lat34north.com/historicmarkersal/
Prelude, History of Simpson House-Irvine House-Coby Hall On the Campus of the University of North Alabama, Archieves/Special Collection, Collier Library,University of North Alabama, Florence, Alabama
Section Four, Coby Hall- 1990-2005, History of Simpson House-Irvine House-Coby Hall On the Campus of the University of North Alabama, Archieves/Special Collection, Collier Library, University of North Alabama, Florence, Alabama
Alabama Cultural Resource Survey
11/09/2015
Text