Nitrate Plant No. 2
Colbert County, Alabama; Muscle Shoals, Alabama; Tuscumbia, Alabama; Sheffield, Alabama; Nitrate
The Tennessee Valley is filled with minerals, including the materials needed to produce nitrates. Nitrates can be used for many things, most importantly for TVA to help add nutrients to fertilizer. This helped to increase crop production. Another use for a nitrate plant can be for producing nitric acid during times of war to create explosives. These two important factors helped lead the US government to initially start building the Wilson Dam in 1918 and susbequently in 1933 give the TVA control of one of the two nitrate plants in the area of the Shoals. During the early twentieth century, only a small amount of nitrate used in the US came from the country. Most was imported from South America.<br /><br />The top priority of the TVA was to improve soil and prevent erosion. By employing nitrogen from the plant, the TVA could improve farmland. Before the introduction of nitrogen back into the land by the TVA, farmers were exhausting the land and creating barren fallow fields of mud that eroded away into the river. With the plant came a village to house the many workers brought into the area by the Civilian Conservation Corps. This was called Village No. 2 and existed for 32 years. The plant was built by the American Cyanmid Company, with the overall goal of producing 40,000 tons of nitrogen. The plant and Wilson Dam, then referred to as Dam No. 2, were commissioned and built by the federal government, with the help of the state of Alabama. The plant was to produce ammonium nitrate by the cynamid process of nitrogen fixation. It cost about $12 million dollars to build.
Carrie Keener, University of North Alabama
'FDR, TVA, And CCC Federal Influence In The Shoals: The Journal Of Muscle Shoals History Volume XIX'. 2015. Florence. William Lindsey McDonald Collection. UNA Special Archives.
Gunther, John. 1953. 'The Story Of The TVA'. Book. Florence. William Lindsey McDonald Collection. UNA Special Archives.
'Sheffield History And Recollections: Journal Of Muscle Shoals History Volume XVIII'. 2011. Florence. William Lindsey McDonald Colleciton. UNA Special Archives.
Carle, J.F. 'US Nitrate Plant No. 2, Muscle Shoals, Alabama'. Paper. Florence. William Lindsey McDonald Collection. UNA Special Archives.
Young, Ronald. 1976. 'History Of US Facilities At Muscle Shoals, Alabama, And Origins Of The TVA'. Paper. Florence. William Lindsey McDonald Collection. UNA Special Archives.
Alabama Resource Survey
December 1, 2015
image, postcards
The First Muscle Shoals Canal
Muscle Shoals; Colbert County, Alabama;
The first canal built in the Muscle Shoals was built by the state of Alabama, assisted by the United States government, between 1831-1836. To fund the canal the US Congress gave the state 400,000 acres of public land to sell. The proceeds were used to fund the building of the canal. At the time, there was a need for four canals along the Tenneessee River in North Alabama, at Big Muscle Shoals, Elk River Shoals, Nancy Reef, and Little Muscle Shoals. Only at Big Muscle Shoals was a dam built. The need for the canals was due to the turbulent waters and widely varying depth of the river along the Shoals.<br /> Even with the addition of the canal to the river it barely made an impact on naviagtion. The canal was 14.5 miles long. Large barrages could not fit through the narrow canal and it took nearly eleven hours to travel fully making it impossible for much traffic to travel along the canal. The canal contained 17 locks, each 120 feet long by 32 feet, with a lift of five feet each. The way the canal was made also limited traffic to only come from up the river, not both ways. Today, the lower locks, 3-9, are submerged underwater due to the construction of the Wilson Dam.
Carrie Keener, University of North Alabama
'Muscle Shoals: Souvenir Of Inspection Trip By Officials And Citizens Of The Tri Cities'. 1919. Florence. Willism Lindsey McDonald Collection. UNA Special Archives.
Peyton, John Howe. 1916. 'America's Gibraltar Muscle Shoals'. Paper. Florence. William Lindsey McDonald Collection. UNA Special Archives.
'FDR, TVA, And CCC Federal Influence In The Shoals: The Journal Of Muscle Shoals History Volume XIX'. 2015. Florence. William Lindsey McDonald Collection. UNA Special Archives.
Alabama Cultural Resource Survey
December 1, 2015
image, postcard
The Powerhouse
Colbert, County; Muscle Shoals, Alabama; Wilson Dam; Wilson Lake; TVA
The powerhouse controls Wilson Dam. The building is connected parallel to the dam on the south side. It houses the generating machinery for producing electricity from the dammed water. It also controls the overflow water flowing out of Wilson lake. The powerhouse contains the penstocks to conduct water towards the turbines. <br />The top level is the main generator room. The building is built of reinforced concrete columns and girders supporting a slab roof by steel trusses.
Carrie Keener, University of North Alabama
'FDR, TVA, And CCC Federal Influence In The Shoals: The Journal Of Muscle Shoals History Volume XIX'. 2015. Florence. William Lindsey McDonald Collection. UNA Special Archives.
Peyton, John Howe. 1916. 'America's Gibraltar Muscle Shoals'. Paper. Florence. William Lindsey McDonald Collection. UNA Special Archives.
Alabama Cultural Resource Survey
November 30, 2015
image, postcard
Muscle Shoals Middle School
Muscle Shoals Middle School; Muscle Shoals School System; Muscle Shoals, Alabama; Colbert County, Alabama; Middle School; School; Education
At its opening in 1970, the current MSMS building housed grades nine through twelve. These grades remained in this building until 1999 when the new high school was built. Middle school students previously attended McBride Middle School (now McBride Elementary School). Muscle Shoals Middle School was created fall 1999 for grades six through eight. In 2008, a new ten room addition was added to house the sixth grade students.
Thomas Hale, University of North Alabama
“About the School: Facility”, Accessed on November 26, 2015, http://muscleshoals.al.msm.schoolinsites.com/?PageName=‘AboutTheSchool’
Alabama Cultural Resource Survey
November 30, 2015
Muscle Shoals Career Academy/ Muscle Shoals Center for Technology
Muscle Shoals Career Academy; Muscle Shoals Center for Technology; Vocational School; Muscle Shoals, Alabama; Colbert County, Alabama; School; Education
In 1975, The Muscle Shoals Board of Education conducted a needs assessment in conjunction with the Alabama State Department of Education to determine the business and industry employment needs in the Shoals area. As a result of the needs assessment survey the following occupational programs were initially implemented at the vocational school: Auto Body, Auto Mechanics, Business and Office Education, Carpentry, Distributive Education, Health Occupations, Horticulture, Industrial Electricity, Radio and TV repair, Trowel Trades, and Welding.
Since the original opening of the school in 1977, Cosmetology, Engineering Graphics, Electronics/Robotics, Principles of Technology, Technology Education, Family and Consumer Science, and Cisco Academy programs were approved by the Alabama Department of Education and implemented at the Muscle Shoals Area Vocational School. Due to economic shifts in the local economy Trowel Trades and Horticulture were eliminated from the vocational curriculum. The Industrial Electricity program was eliminated due to low student enrollment.
In 2000, the faculty and staff requested a school name change to reflect the curriculum changes that represented the technology and computer skills required for today's labor force. In October 2000, the name of the Muscle Shoals Area Vocational School changed to the Muscle Shoals Center for Technology.
Thomas Hale, University of North Alabama
“About the School: School History”, Accessed on November 26, 2015, http://muscleshoals.al.mst.schoolinsites.com/?PageName=‘AboutTheSchool’
Alabama Cultural Resource Survey
November 30, 2015
Howell & Graves Junior High School (Historical)
Howell & Graves Junior High School; Colbert County School System; Muscle Shoals, Alabama; Colbert County, Alabama; Muscle Shoals Board of Education; Junior High School; School; Education; Administration
The Howell & Graves Junior High School was designed by architect Harry J. Frahn and built in 1927 in the neoclassical style and the neo-Tudor Gothic tradition, symbolically associated with the Ivy League schools. Decorative brick work, which originally crowned the building, gave it a castle-like appearance. It was known as one of the finest buildings in the region and was often the scene of political rallies and other special events. The state-of-the-art auditorium, with a seating capacity of 500, had elevated floors and opera-style seating. The stage had hand-painted canvas backdrops and lighting. In 1959, for a sum of $300, this school was transferred from the Colbert County School System to the newly formed Muscle Shoals City Board of Education.
The building itself still exists, however, it is currently the Muscle Shoals Board of Education Building. The structure and historical marker are located on S. Wilson Dam Rd.
Thomas Hale, University of North Alabama
“Howell & Graves Junior High School” Historical Marker, Side 2; Erected 2006 by the City of Muscle Shoals and Colbert County Historical Landmarks Foundation Alabama Historical Association.
Alabama Cultural Resource Survey
November 30, 2015
Northwest-Shoals Community College
Northwest-Shoals Community College; Muscle Shoals, Alabama; Colbert County, Alabama; Two-Year College; Community College; Education
Northwest-Shoals Community College was formed in 1993 by the Alabama State Board of Education through the merger of Northwest Alabama Community College's Phil Campbell Campus and Shoals Community College. The merger was enacted in order to provide more effective and efficient educational services to residents of rural northwest Alabama and the Shoals area.
Northwest-Shoals Community College is a comprehensive two-year public institution of higher learning providing vocational, technical, academic and lifelong educational opportunities for the northwest Alabama Region. The College is part of the Alabama College System, a statewide system of post-secondary colleges, governed by the Alabama Board of Education. Northwest-Shoals derives its original charter from the Alabama legislature through the Alabama Trade School and Junior College Authority Act of 1963.
Thomas Hale, University of North Alabama
“NW-SCC History”, Accessed on November 29, 2015, http://www.nwscc.edu/history.shtml
Alabama Cultural Resource Survey
November 30, 2015
WLAY-AM
Colbert County, Alabama; Muscle Shoals, Alabama; WLAY-Radio; Muscle Shoals Sound
WLAY-AM (1450 -AM) was one of the first broadcast radio stations in the Shoals. Licensed in 1933 (as WNRA), the station stopped broadcasting in 2014.
The station's original broadcast was a variety format featuring gospel, country, and "race music" by African American artists.
Sam Phillips worked as a disc jockey at WLAY in the 1950s.
As the "Muscle Shoals Sound" developed in the 1960s, WLAY debuted many of the local recordings, many of which are now known worldwide.
Paul Kelly built the studio which is now housed at the Alabama Music Hall of Fame.
The Alabama Historical Society named the station a Historic Landmark in 2007.
The station was located on Second Street in Muscle Shoals during its heyday.
Pam Kingsbury, University of North Alabama
Alabama Cultural Resource Survey
Pam Kingsbury, University of North Alabama
Photographs courtesy of Kevin Self.
The photograph of the sign is from the 1950s.
The photographs of the buildings are from the 1990s.
The reproduction of the logo is circa 1970, courtesy of Kevin Self.
Still Image and Text
Jackson Cemetery
Colbert County, Alabama; Muscle Shoals, Alabama; Jackson Cemetery; Cemeteries
The Jackson Cemetery was established in 1918 by Alex Jackson as a burial place for his adoptive family. Vinson Perkins, the grandson of Jackson's adoptive parents, was caretaker of the cemetery from 1978 until his death in 2006.
To reach the cemetery from Woodward Avenue in Muscle Shoals, head east on 2nd Street, turn right onto Wilson Dam Road, and drive four blocks. Jackson Cemetery is on the right, past Rosedale Street.
Brian Corrigan, University of North Alabama
Joseph D. Bryant, "Old Cemetery Symbol of Family, History for Caretaker," <em>TimesDaily</em>, March 1, 2003.<br /><br />Obituary for Vinson Perkins, Sr., <em>TimesDaily</em>, April 11, 2006.
Alabama Cultural Resource Survey
November 26, 2015
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