The film produced by Katie Rogers and Brandon McCray tells the story of how jazz was cultivated and popularized in Ensley, centered around what is now known as the Nixon Building, located at the junction of two streetcar lines. During the 1920s and 1930s, the nightclub on this corner was a vibrant social hub and dance venue. Admission required tuxedos and proper evening attire, a standard that gave rise to the club’s legendary name: Tuxedo Junction.
This era also marked the emergence of some of Birmingham’s most influential jazz musicians, many of whom were trained by renowned band director Fess Whatley at Parker Industrial School. At the time, Parker Industrial was the only Black high school in Alabama, and its students honed their musical skills by performing at Tuxedo Junction, helping to shape a distinctive jazz tradition that would resonate far beyond Birmingham. The song Tuxedo Junction performed there and written by Erskine Hawkins cemented its place in history.
Parker Industrial High School in SmithfieldThe Nixon Building a/k/a Tuxedo Junction
The good news is that the documentary Tuxedo Junction will air on PBS on February 19. Those who attended the special screening on Sunday can attest that it is well worth the wait—don’t miss it! Sunday’s event also featured a book signing by Burgin Mathews, author of Magic City: How the Birmingham Jazz Tradition Shaped the Sound of America, his 10 year passion project that further highlights the city’s enduring impact on American music. Jazz music by Birmingham legends, Bo Berry and Jose Carr, created the magic that continues to captivate music lovers everywhere.
Tuxedo Junction documentaryAuthor Burgin Mathews, Katie Rogers, and jazz greats Bo Berry and Jose Carr at Virginia Samford TheaterBHS President Wayne Hester, and documentary co-producer, Katie RogersJohn Nixon, who owns his father’s dental office-the tuxedo junction building, is posed with a photo of his father who acted opposite Virginia Samford many years agoProducers Brandon McCray and Katie Rogers with the owner of the Tuxedo Junction Building, John NixonKatie Rogers, Bo Berry, Jose Carr, and Brandon McCray
Tuxedo Junction by Erskine Hawkins with lyrics by Buddy Feyne
Feelin' low Rockin' slow I want to go Right back where I belong Way down south in Birmingham I mean south in Alabam' There's an old place where people go To dance the night away They all drive or walk for miles To get jive that southern style It's an old jive that makes you want To dance till break of day It's a junction where the town folks meet At each function in a tux they greet you Come on down, forget your care Come on down, you'll find me there So long town, I'm heading for Tuxedo Junction now [Instrumental] Feelin' low Rockin' slow I want to go Right back where I belong Way down south in Birmingham I mean south in Alabam' There's an old place where people go To dance the night away They all drive or walk for miles To get jive that southern style It's an old jive that makes you want To dance till break of day It's a junction where the town folks meet At each function in a tux they greet you Come on down, forget your care Come on down, you'll find me there So long town, I'm heading for Tuxedo Junction now Tuxedo Junction now
What’s Your Birmingham IQ? with Birmingham boosters Tom Cosby and Stewart Dansby
Cosby and Dansby are former public relations and marketing officers of the Birmingham Regional Chamber of Commerce and leaders in our city and in the saving and conserving of its landmarks, notably Vulcan, Rickwood Field, and the Lyric
And featuring Birmingham Historical Society’s annual cake contest with this year’s theme: Cakes with a Past
Do you remember some old fashioned favorites like angel food cake, pineapple upside down cake, icebox cake, or chocolate mayonnaise cake? Do they bring back memories of baking or sharing with family members? Do you have other baking memories of 50~plus years ago? Then please enter your cake in this annual contest! Judging will be at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens Auditorium between 3:30 and 4:00PM on Monday, February 23rd, 2026 . A tasting and announcement of the winners will follow the annual meeting at 7:00PM during which the latest publication, BIRMINGHAMby theBOOK, will be introduced.
So search those recipe boxes! We can’t wait to see what you create along with its memorable story!
“See what we did in 2025. Be part of what we do in 2026! Maybe our best publication yet, BIRMINGHAM by the BOOK–a five-year LABOR of love for those who put it together–has gone to press. It lays to rest forever that “there’s nothing much to see in Birmingham”.
Membership gets you this book. Membership also makes you a part of an organization whose members are excited about the intricacies, the turns, the truths of history. Membership fees and book sales support our general operations. The endowment fund and the publishing fund promise us a future. Keep us going however you can.”
Carolanne Roberts
Look what we did in 2025. Be part of what we do in 2026!
Do you think you know this city? Or are you a visitor, and you would like to know more? This guide is for YOU! Heavily illustrated with maps, tours, and descriptions of everything Birmingham, this is the culmination of 50 years of research and detailed publications by Birmingham Historical Society. This highly readable guide is unlikely to become outdated, so don’t miss out. It’s a valuable resource for every resident and visitor to our Magic City!
The guide is to be released at the Annual Meeting of the Birmingham Historical Society on February 23rd at 7:00 PM at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens auditorium. This event is FREE and open to the public, and guides will be available for purchase.
Two-night “Winds of Change” tribute and BYJE Alumni Concert honor visionary trumpeter, educator, Broadway musician, and cultural catalyst Jothan McKinley Callins at the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame
Friday, February 20, 2026 at 7:00 PM CST and
Sunday, February 22, 2026 at 5:00 PM CST
Jothan CallinsCalvin Sexton
Founder: BYJE was founded in 1994 by Jothan Callins, a musician, educator, and co-founder of the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame.
Purpose: The ensemble toured internationally and mentored hundreds of students, providing an opportunity for young musicians to learn and perform.
Alumni Reunion: The original ensemble operated from 1994–2005, and an alumni reunion is planned to celebrate Callins’ legacy and the music he created.
Reunion Events: The reunion will include a meet-and-greet, a banquet, a tribute concert called “Winds of Change,” and a BYJE Alumni Concert.
Date and Location: The celebration takes place from February 19–22, 2026, at the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame in Birmingham, AL.
Alumni: Alumni are encouraged to sign up and participate in the reunion events, including rehearsals starting in January 2026.
Led by trombonist, bandleader, and former BYJE member Calvin Sexton—a Birmingham native, New York City–based artist, educator, and South Arts Jazz Road awardee—the project gathers past BYJE musicians, Callins’ family, and a new generation of artists to honor a man whose work changed the sound—and the future—of young Black musicians in Birmingham
Friends and former students describe Callins as “unforgettable,” “a man we can call great,” and “the epitome of a jazz legend for the Magic City.” The project is part of a grant from South Arts Jazz Roads Residency Award, which Calvin Sexton is an Awardee for $40,000.
Did you know that the aggregate mass–stone, slag, gravel, and sand–of our highway system (in 1961) was the ‘equivalent of constructing 23 great pyramids each calendar week?’ – B.A. Monaghan, President Vulcan Materials Company
Or that a woman was instrumental in organizing the American Cast Iron Pipe Company in 1905?
Or that Thomas Martin, as President of Alabama Power, was also responsible for building Southern Research Institute, and organizing the Alabama State Chamber of Commerce? And that the first electric plant in Birmingham was at Elyton Land Company in 1886?
Or that Birmingham’s greatest development began with the purchase of Birmingham’s Pratt Coal & Iron in December of 1886 by Tennessee Coal & Railroad Company? And that the sale included 76,000 acres of coal lands, and about 13,000 acres of land including 7 ½ miles on Red Mountain’s iron ore seam?
Explore the history of one of America’s most influential companies with Robert Gregg’s illuminating study of the Tennessee Coal Iron and Railroad Company. Gregg delves into the origins of the company, tracing its growth and development throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries. With insightful analysis and detailed research, this book is an indispensable resource for anyone interested in American business history.
These fascinating stories and much more are from Birmingham Historical Society’s 2025 publication entitled Building Birmingham’s Industrial Base: Newcomen Monographs. It features the words of four Birmingham leaders of industry: Robert Gregg, William David Moore, Thomas W. Martin, and B.A. Monaghan as they tell the ‘back stories’ of Birmingham’s industrial giants.
With much thanks to Birmingham Historical Society Trustee, John C. (Jay) Draper IV, who shared his collection of the Newcomen Society of America’s (Alabama Chapter) annual volumes for reprint.
What is the Newcomen Society? It was founded in 1920 in England centering around the study and promotion of the history of engineering and technology. The American Society was founded in 1923 focusing on American business leadership and industrial progress. The American Society closed in 2007 after publishing over 1600 monographs now preserved in Philadelphia’s National Musueum of Industrial History.
Brian Rushing, enthusiastic naturalist and Director of Economic Initiatives at University of Alabama, will dress up as 18th century environmentalist William Bartram as he shares the highlights of Bartram’s journey through the South in 1775. His talk on Sunday, November 16th, 2 PM, will be followed by a reception at Birmingham Historical Society.
Bartram’s journal entries over 250 years ago about Alabama are filled with enthusiastic praise for its beautiful topography, vibrant plants, diverse animals, and the rich cultures of its indigenous people. He marvels at its ‘majestic rivers’ and ‘delightful regions’ . Rushing shares Bartram’s fervor for Alabama’s natural wonders and is eager to share this passion in his talk on Sunday. Please plan to attend.
Members may also pick up 2025 publication – Building Birmingham’s Industrial Base.
This past weekend, neighborhood Highland Park residents, Annie Leardine and Elizabeth Sanfelippo as community liaisons and co-chairs, assembled various property owners willing to share their houses, and garnered the support of local realtors as sponsors. Along with Friends of Highland Park – the neighborhood 501c3, the group successfully created a walking tour and porch visits entitled “It’s Nice to have you in Highland Park“.
Don’t miss the two videos below by Jacob delaRosa! Click on images for links
Video produced by Jacob delaRosa. Check out more of his work at www.jacobdelarosa.com or reach out about collaborations or inquiries at jacob.delarosa.letschat@gmail.comListen to neighborhood advocates talk of their appreciation for Highland Park. Video produced by Jacob delaRosa.
Historical costumes from the period were encouraged and one of the event sponsors, Priscilla LeBerte and her husband Adam, were among those wearing period clothing. In the photos below, Elizabeth is wearing a costume originally made for Mrs. George Ward, but is representing Florence Jordan – the widow of Mortimer Jordan, who built the Jordan house after his death. This 2nd annual event with live music and refreshments highlighted the warmth and charm of this historic neighborhood while inviting guests to explore its architectural treasures.
BHS Director Marjorie WhiteStanding in front of the Mortimer Jordan House on Highland AvenueBHS President Wayne Hester withTrustee Linda NelsonOn the right is Elizabeth Sanfelippo as Mrs. Mortimer Jordan, the builder of the Jordan houseHeritage Hunt participantsPriscilla (one of event sponsors) & Adam LeBerte stand next to event co-chair, Elizabeth SanfelippoTrustees Barbara Shores and Dan Weathers with refreshments at BHS officesBHS Trustees Katie Tipton, Gerry Waters, and VP Carol SlaughterAll photos courtesy of Jacob delaRosa, http://www.jacobdelarosa.com
Developer Bob McKenna generously opened his doors to showcase the restoration work currently in progress at the historic Warner House, one of the soon to be restored “Three Sisters“. Additionally, tours were offered at the celebrated Brown House, known today as the Clubhouse on Highland, providing insight into the neighborhood’s rich heritage and architectural diversity.
The event saw an impressive turnout, with approximately 350 participants. Sixty-six individuals and groups enthusiastically completed their scavenger hunt known as Highland Heritage Hunts. Each of these participants was rewarded for their efforts with a copy of Birmingham Homes: A Guide to Architectural Styles, which serves as a resource for those interested in the historical and architectural significance of the houses in the area.
The success of this event would not have been possible without the hard work and dedication of its organizers, as well as the enthusiastic participation of all those who turned out. Many thanks to everyone involved for making this such a memorable occasion!
Co-chair Annie Chester Leardine and her familyAn exhibit of architectural styles was displayed at BHS offices (behind Joseph Bostany and Sheila Chaffin)Birmingham Homes: A Guide to Architectural Styles was the scavenger hunt prize, displayed hereExhibition of houses in Highland Park as they looked at the turn of the century was displayed at BHS offices on Highland AvenueAll photos by Jacob delaRosa
Join us in person for a fun afternoon with the Birmingham Historical Society for a special screening of this award-winning documentary that captures the amazing musical history that came out of Ensley in the 1920s through the 1950s. Local filmmakers Katie Rogers and Brandon McCray will be in attendance for a special Q&A after the film, and Burgin Mathews will be signing and selling his book on the subject. Stay for drinks in the courtyard with live jazz by Jose Carr and Bo Berry and friends, who are also featured in the film. *Runtime: 52min
Meet our Birmingham Historical Society Highland Park neighbors! Live music, refreshments, historical scavenger hunt! See you Sunday afternoon, October 19th, 3-5pm with after party at ROJO. Click image above for detailed information.
Start at Birmingham Historical Society offices (H on the map below) to pick up a Highland Heritage Hunt, a scavenger hunt in which you’ll search for hidden artifacts while visiting the participating homes. Turn your completed hunt back into BHS for the chance to win a prize!
BHS will also have a new exhibit on display of house types that parallels their book Birmingham Homes: A Guide to Architectural Styles. Tour this non-profit responsible for researching, publishing, and promoting the history and heritage of HP. You can also learn how to research a home’s or apartment’s history and how to get a Jefferson County marker or purchase one of their books on Birmingham, including It’s Nice to Live in Birmingham, a reprint of the 1963 classic that launched our city’s motto.
This beautiful but heavily forested and neglected overlook at the crest of the mountain in Redmont Park needed attention to preserve its beauty and longevity. So neighbors and parkgoers alike called upon landscape architect and long-time Birmingham Historical Society Trustee, Birgit Kibelka, to develop a Master Plan. Watercolors by local artist Adrienne Retief illustrate the goals they commissioned. Read about its history and follow along on their website as they execute their plan!
Mark your calendars for the Heritage Hunt and Open Houses featuring Porch and Garden Parties, a Birmingham Homes Exhibit, advice on how to get an historical marker, and opportunities to buy books about Birmingham. This popular 2nd annual event is lots of fun and a great opportunity to meet your Southside neighbors and tour some historic properties.
When: Sunday, October 19th, 3-5 PM
Where: Birmingham Historical Society, 2827 Highland Avenue South
Pay close attention to some of the architectural details in this neighborhood. Those completing the Heritage Hunt form distributed on Sunday at Birmingham Historical Society can claim a prize of the popular book, A Guide to Architectural Styles Featuring Birmingham Homes. Hope to see you Sunday!
October 19, 3-5 p.m., It’s Nice to Have You in Highland Park, at 2827 Highland Avenue
November 16, 2 p.m., A Traveler’s Tales: William Bartram’s 1775 Journey…through the Southern British Colonies and the future state of Alabama, as told by Brian Rushing, naturalist and Bartram admirer, at 2827 Highland Avenue AND:
Celebrating the release of Building Birmingham’s IndustrialBase, our 2025 Members Book, at 2827 Highland Avenue
January 18 or 25, 2 p.m., Tuxedo Junction documentary at the Virginia Samford Theater.
February 23, 5: 30 p.m., BHS Trustees Supper and Annual Meeting, celebrating the release of Birmingham By the Book
March 15 or 22, 2 p.m. 1776, at the Virginia Samford Theater.
The Birmingham chapter of the American Institute of Architects is holding its first everResidential Architecture Symposium. The goal? To give curious homeowners an opportunity to learn more about how the design of where they live can have a significant impact on how they live. A summary of the event follows.
Keynote: “The Art & Science of Place Planning”
Speaker: Ryan Frederick, bestselling author (Right Place, Right Time) and Stanford Center on Longevity advisor. Ryan is a friend and an engaging, informative and thoughtful speaker. More about him and his work can be found here . And his book is included in the ticket price!
Big Idea: We spend more time planning vacations than planning where we’ll live at different life stages. We need a plan for the important life transitions too.
What You’ll Learn: How your home and neighborhood directly impact your health, happiness, and longevity
Takeaway: Practical tools for making housing decisions that support your life goals—whether you’re renovating, relocating, or aging in place.
The right place elevates personal well-being. It can help promote purpose, facilitate human connection, catalyze physical activity, support financial health, and inspire community engagement.
Conversely, the wrong place can be detrimental to health. In Right Place, Right Time, Ryan Frederick argues that where you live matters enormously—especially during the second half of your life.
Panel: “Why Residential Architects Matter”
Real Stories: Local architects share how they’ve helped families solve complex design challenges
Behind the Scenes: Learn how architects guide homeowners through big and small construction decisions
Your Future Projects: Discover how architects create homes that are beautiful, sustainable, and designed to work for every life stage
Why This Matters to You:
Perfect for anyone thinking about home improvements, life transitions, or helping aging parents
Opportunity to learn from experts in the field – whether that’s thinking about aging in place or designing a new addition for your family.
Rare chance to network with residential architects and vendors who can answer questions about how they work to design custom homes.
Are you familiar with the three homes built around 1905 on Highland Avenue that once belonged to three sisters? While one has been fully restored, two of them have been abandoned for many years. But the good news is that the restoration of the other two will soon follow! Even better, the neighborhood will have some involvement. Take a look at these videos! And follow the progress on Facebook using this hashtag: #sisterhouserenovation.
As we approach the 250th birthday of our nation, it’s hard to imagine what was going through the minds of those who will sign the Declaration of Independence. See their images, read their biographies, and try to visualize what their struggles were as they navigated loyalty to their homeland versus independence in their chosen new country. (click image below). For more ideas regarding our upcoming historic celebration, please refer to the sidebar.
Birmingham Historical Society is often asked if we’d like old family photos, artifacts, or local memorabilia. As much as we would like to archive and even permanently exhibit these historic collections, we do not currently have the space or resources to adequately catalog and preserve them. While we appreciate their importance, we are primarily a research and educational organization. Rather, we encourage individuals to consider donating their items to larger institutions that have the capability to properly care for and display such collections.
There are two places that we recommend: The Southern History Department at the Birmingham Public Library focuses on items regarding Birmingham and Jefferson County. Open to the public by appointment only, the downtown location also maintains a digital library available on demand.
City directories, local newspapers on microfilm, and state and local histories are the Southern History Department’s most used items. Research class projects, books and articles, and the histories of local houses and buildings are also popular searches.
The Alabama Department of Archives and History In Montgomery is about all things Alabama. “Founded in 1901, the Alabama Department of Archives & History is the state’s government-records repository, a special-collections library and research facility, and home to the self-guided Museum of Alabama, the state history museum.” Their vast digital collection features genealogy and family histories, maps & architectural drawings, photos, video, posters and much more.
The Alabama State Museum, as part of the Department of Archives and History, was first housed in the State Capitol. Thanks to the efforts of Thomas & Marie Owen, the current Archives and History building was opened in 1940 and the final wing was completed in 2005. Visit the beautiful building virtually HERE or plan a visit to Montgomery. To donate a personal collection to the state archives, please submit a donation form HERE, or if you have a very specific item, consider one of these history museums.
And thank you for your interest in donating historic materials!
New interest in the preservation of the historic Prince Hall Masonic Temple brings the importance of Robert R. Taylor‘s contribution to Birmingham to the forefront. As the first accredited African American architect, together with his partner Louis H. Persley, he brought planning concepts he adopted as the first black MIT graduate to the campus at Tuskegee Institute.
1st accredited African American Architect
1st African American enrolled at Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Established 1st black architectural firm in the nation, Taylor & Persley
Great Grandfather of Valerie Jarrett, senior advisor to former president Barack Obama
Architect of Prince Hall Masonic Temple in Birmingham, Alabama
Primary architect at Tuskegee Institute
His likeness is on a U.S. postage stamp
His father was a freed slave
Developed & planned the industrial curriculum at Tuskegee Institute with Booker T. Washington
But his importance to Birmingham is in the historic, 100 year old Prince Hall Masonic Temple, designed by Taylor & Persley. While it is currently in disrepair, a recent dialogue between national preservation leaders Brent Leggs and Irvin Henderson is starting the process toward protecting the building from further deterioration by raising support, and advocating to include it as part of the Civil Rights National Monument fundraising.
The building opened in 1924, and with an auditorium that could accommodate 2000, it often featured Duke Ellington’s orchestra and Count Basie’s big bands, along with dances, meetings, and special events. The offices of notable black businesses were located in the upper floors. The cost of construction was funded entirely with contributions.
Kweisi Daniels, Ph.D, School of Architecture and Construction Science at Tuskegee University, emphasized that every historic building tells a story. The Masonic Temple stands as a “towering reminder of black ingenuity, entrpreneurship, and civic pride“, as he further states,
“There’s something profound about standing in a space designed by the first African American architects. you’re not just preserving structures, you’re preserving legacies.”
At last month’s summit meeting, Leggs and Henderson left the audience with a challenge.
“We are stewards of this history, not just spectators,” said Henderson. “And we must work hand in hand with developers, preservationists, city officials, and, most importantly, community members to preserve the past in a way that empowers our future.”
The following is a heartfelt remembrance from Birmingham Historical Society Director, Marjorie White, about Dr. Linn’s numerous contributions during his career as well as his importance to the society ~ quietly serving while editing over 20 annual publications, over 100 newsletters, and numerous event invitations. Above is a picture of Dr. Linn with editor and BHS Trustee, Katie Tipton.
My acquaintance with Julius began in 2003. Ehney and Pat Camp and I called upon him in his home on Thornhill Road to discuss an idea for a book. (Julius lived in the home his parents built c.1927 surrounded by family furnishings, books, and art lovingly handed down over the generations. )
Over the next 22 years, I relished walking in Julius’s living archive and being wrapped in its–and his–warm embrace. Julius not only gave us the funds to publish our book but also introduced us to the legacy of his favorite aunt, Carrie Hill (1875-1957), who exhibited nationally and internationally in the 1920s and 1930s and worked tirelessly to support the arts in our city.
Julius had gone on plein air “painting picnics” with her as a child. Nearly all of Hill’s paintings were held by family members at this time; her oeuvre was all but forgotten. Publishing Art of theNew South: Women Artists of Birmingham in 2004 became the first step of many steps in Julius’ quest to memorialize Hill’s legacy.
When in 2006 Graham Boettcher came to Birmingham as the curator of American Art at the Birmingham Museum of Art, we invited him to lunch and shared stories of our “great” local painters. Boettcher’s initial skepticism receded as he learned more, and he too came to join Julius and champion Carrie Hill’s legacy.
In the early 2000s, Julius was a passionate patron and supporter of the Birmingham Museum of Art and of the Birmingham Opera, but soon his professional talent as Director of Medical Publications at UAB led him to serve as a wise and sensible editor of Birmingham Historical Society publications. He became a patron, trustee, and officer of the Society as a member of its Executive Committee. He refused to accept the presidency of the Society; he wanted to serve quietly.
At the end of each year, following the publication of our annual book, he would say, “I guess I will stay tuned”… red pen in hand…for the more than 20 of our annual publications,100 newsletters, and many more invitations to events. Julius’ finely tuned sensibility to design issues and his eagle’s eye for things that needed fixing were invaluable. His comments, corrections, and suggestions were proffered in the most gentlemanly fashion.
Our favorite outing with Julius was a trip to Auburn to petition the head of the Alabama Cooperative Extension System (ACES) to permit their fragile Depression-era murals on the History of Alabama Agriculture to travel to Birmingham for an exhibit. As always, Julius made us look credible. ACES not only loaned the murals, but later restored them, and transferred them to the Auburn museum for long term conservation. Julius had indeed made us look credible.
Julius helped Katie Tipton and me work out the concept and format for Birmingham by the Book: A Guide to the Magic City (coming Winter 2026). He told me how to organize the UAB chapter and thankfully approved of the resulting text and layout. He read and edited the first draft of the book and this summer was serving as a final reader. Ten days ago, he returned his page proofs of a major chapter with this hand-written note:
“Marjorie, Wonderful, descriptive book of Birmingham’s development, the central areas & more. It should become a classic for newcomers, for businesses, for recruitment of companies & workers. It is well organized with beautiful photography and more. Congratulations to everyone who worked on and organized this project. ” – Julius E. Linn
I hope Julius knew how much we valued his counsel and his friendship.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Opera Birmingham, the Birmingham Historical Society Publication Fund, the Birmingham Museum of Art, or First United Methodist Church of Birmingham.
The National Historic Landmarks Program protects our American cultural heritage by bringing attention to worthy landmarks and guiding the process to nominate them. In Birmingham, there are currently only 3 listed landmarks: 16th Street Baptist Church, Sloss Furnaces, and Bethel Baptist Church as well as the Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument (which includes multiple sites).
There are over 2,600 National Landmarks in the U.S. today including buildings, sites, structures, objects, and districts. To be considered, the landmark must be nationally important and contributing to an understanding of our nation’s heritage. Sloss Furnaces is a monument to our nation’s industrial heritage and was considered to have “perhaps the greatest potential of any area in the country for developing a comprehensive museum to the industry.”
While they are not on the National Parks Historic Landmarks list, there are many other historic properties worth noting in Birmingham listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Bhamwiki lists them HERE.
And although the National Register of Historic Landmarks and the National Register of Historic Places are both administered by the National Park Service, the landmarks represent places of exceptional national significance.
Certainly, Sloss Furnaces is worthy of this special recognition!
Just a taste of some of Birmingham’s fine historic architecture that will also be featured in the Historical Society’s upcoming guide to Birmingham to be released in February 2026 at the annual meeting (free and open to the public). Thank you Bham Now for sharing the wonderful photography in this quick reel below.
#City Federal Building #Massey Building #John Hand Building #McAdory Building
In the July issue of Birmingham Lifestyle Magazine celebrating exploration, Birmingham natives are reminded that there is much to explore in their own hometown. The monthly magazine “is a community-focused magazine that aims to connect the residents to the people, places and things that make our city special…highlighting the most positive aspects of living here.” BHS is delighted that they often choose to include Birmingham’s history as well.
Birmingham Historical Society will soon release a guidebook with not only visitor landmarks, but also the history behind each one, and the significant forces that led to their establishment. To be titled ‘Birmingham by the Book”, it’s scheduled to be released on February 23, 2026 at the annual meeting, open to the public, at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens. Stay tuned for more information.
Margot Gayle obtained almost a cult like status in New York City for her work as a preservationist, activist, journalist, newspaper columnist, tour guide, and community organizer, with a passion for Victorian cast iron architecture. Born in Kansas City in 1908, she moved frequently before heading to Atlanta, and attending Agnes Scott and Emory University. After a brief stint in social work, she soon became immersed in the political injustices of the pre civil war antebellum South which would influence her throughout her life.
She advocated against the pole tax in Georgia, was Secretary of the League of Voters in the 1930s – and was devoted to the cause of political education along with other suffragette women of that era who described Gayle as someone with remarkable public relation skills,
“who with a velvet glove, could sell a battleship to a Quaker in New York…with a soft cadence…and expressions like nifty, gosh darned, and goodness knows”
Upon moving to New York, she soon turned her attention to architectural preservation, forming a committee to save the Jefferson Market Courthouse in Greenwich Village built in 1876, going against the recommendations of NYC’s revered AIA. She noted that,
“if one forms a committee, gets a name and prints a letterhead, you have a certain power that you didn’t have just 10 minutes before…”
She is largely responsible for the preservation of the cast iron district of SOHO in New York, which was then declared a historic district by the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission. She was known to carry a pocket magnet to test buildings and determine if they contained cast iron, as many builders and owners tried to disguise the use of the material by mimicking the more popular stone facades of the era. It was said that Margot’s ‘good-humored fanaticism’ saved many cast iron buildings as a result.
Well into her 90s, Gayle continued advocating for causes about which she was passionate through small volunteer organizations. Her energy and commitment, her organizational and scholarly educational work, and largely self-funded projects, led to formidable connections and significant results. She died at the age of 100 in 2008 and was such a distinctive personality that NY Mayor Ed Koch called her the queen of New York. Hers is a legacy worth celebrating!
Birmingham Historical Society Director, Marjorie White, has dedicated her life to recording and preserving Birmingham’s history with over 70 publications, countless volunteer organizations, self-funded projects, and unflappable enthusiasm. I cannot end this post without mentioning her selfless passion for historic preservation which rivals that of Margot Gayle!
President and longtime Trustee and Honorary Trustee of Birmingham Historical Society, among his many other leadership roles, Sam Frazier died May 12th and was honored May 31 with a service at Grace Episcopal Church and a reception at The Club.
President and longtime Trustee and Honorary Trustee of Birmingham Historical Society, among his many other leadership roles, Sam Frazier died May 12th and was honored May 31 with a service at Grace Episcopal Church and a reception at The Club.
Sam Frazier, then a young attorney with a specialty in tax law and a passion for preservation of country estates, came to Birmingham in the early 1970s. Over the next 50 years, his corporate practice and civic service would include municipal law, public finance, real estate, counsel to four mayors, and innovative strategies for financing and preserving Birmingham’s special places and neighborhoods. Sam played key roles in both private and City and state preservation as components of a broader urban planning strategy.
Upon buying a home in Forest Park, he led the charge for researching the neighborhood’s history and nominating it for federal recognition. In 1980, Forest Park became the first Birmingham neighborhood to be placed on the National Register of Historic Places (the nation’s list of properties worthy of preservation), thereby thwarting a planned US highway that would have obliterated the neighborhood. The next year, Birmingham Historical Society joined in dedicating an historical marker to commemorate this preservation victory. Continuing to lead neighborhood revitalization over several decades, Sam served as the South Avondale-Forest Park neighborhood president and chaired its design review committee to maintain the historic fabric of its early 20th century homes. Forest Park was the first neighborhood to become a Local Historic District and institute the design review process.
Closed in 1972, Sloss Furnaces reopened following initial preservation in 1983 with Sam Frazier as president of the City of Birmingham Board and a dynamic director whom Frazier had recruited to set the vision for the open-air museum (then the only industrial site under preservation in the world). Sam was also President of Birmingham Historical Society and in 1985 recruited the Society to move to the site and move and restore an historic house there. He drafted the many contracts between Sloss, the City, and the Society and located and supervised the craftsmen to make possible our home for the next 37 years.
Also in 1985, Frazier spearheaded the renovation of the pigeon-infested and deteriorated Peter Zinszer’s Mammoth Furniture Store. Recasting cast-iron columns and capitals, the heavily corroded and sign covered storefront was restored and its interior rebuilt. Frazier’s law firm, Spain Gillion, took up residence on Second Avenue North. Participants in Society’s Downtown Discovery Tour enjoyed a special welcome in the Zinszer Building atrium. Many Society committees met in the second floor conference room. The Society’s initial Endowment policy was drafted here.
In the 1980s, the City of Birmingham instituted new commercial revitalization programs, offering rebates for façade fix-ups. In 1987, The City instituted design review to ensure appropriate treatment and protect the character and historic significance of these and other designated areas. Sam Frazier drafted the ordinance creating the City’s Design Review program and for the next 40 years served as chairman of the Design Review Committee that oversaw work in downtown and Five Points South. Both historic renovations and new construction came before the committee. Frazier’s understanding of the urban fabric, memory, and command were legendary. And he had no qualms in eloquently expressing his opinion, even to the internationally admired architect I. M. Pei who appeared with early designs for the Kirklin Clinic before the committee.
Sam continued to advocate for city and state tax incentives to equalize investment opportunities in historic properties with those that had long favored new construction. In the 1990s, he pioneered the use of façade easements (that preserve historic structures by restricting changes to the exteriors or facades of the buildings) to help provide favorable incentives to renovate large residential and commercial projects. The easements are legally binding and enforced by the agency holding the easement. Thanks to Sam, Birmingham Historical Society received 11 easements and gifts of funds to monitor the conservation of these properties in perpetuity. Funds received formed the initial corpus of the Society’s endowment.
Also in the 1990s, Sam led the five-year long Mayor’s Committee for the Preservation of Vulcan whose members were Society Trustees. With the 120,000 ton cast-iron statue disintegrating and the Mayor and business community reluctant to commit funds, the committee explored methods to fix and pay for the project. The committee brought the conservator of large statues for the National Park Service in Washington came to appraise the situation, worked with Robinson Iron (the firm that had recast the iron on the Zinszer Building who with the conservator would later lead the dismantling, conservation, and reassembly of the statute), created the framework for public-private management of the site (that became today’s Vulcan Park Foundation that operates the site for the City), and pioneered the highly successful offering of educational opportunities at the park and along the mineral railroad during the Olympic summer of 1996. When the committee disbanded, the Society continued the public relations campaign to save the City’s symbol.
Sam also provided leadership to St. Andrews Episcopal Church on Southside and to Grace Episcopal Church in Woodlawn.
While stationed with the army in England following his college years, this Southern gentleman from Decatur, Alabama, learned of the Irish Georgian Society, Ireland’s agency for promoting and protecting this nation’s heritage, historic gardens, and decorative arts. Carol McCroarty, his future wife, was working for the Society. These Irish associations nurtured his passion for preserving Birmingham heritage.
Sam loved to collect, preferably antiques of Georgian provenance. He also loved to entertain and was the consummate host at his homes in Forest Park and later at “Woodside,” his home in Belle Mina, Alabama. In his living rooms, a silver galley tray remained set with Irish crystal and Irish whiskeys, a ready welcome for family and friends. True leaders serve others, and Sam was ever ready to serve not only at home, but in his community. And he did.
~ Marjorie White, Director, Birmingham Historical Society
As we remember the courageous veterans who served our country, graveside flowers have become one important token of our respect and gratitude. Beginning on May 30, 1868, the first flowers were placed on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, D.C. Soon, Memorial Day also became known as Decoration Day as Americans began the tradition of gathering every May to tend to the grave sites and honor those who died serving the country during the Civil War.
After World War I, the tradition evolved to commemorate ALL those who died in wars. Poppies in particular became a symbol of respect, gratitude, and remembrance, with the vibrant red color representing the blood that was shed.
If you grew up in the South, or have family members buried in the South, you may have attended Decoration Day. May has become a month for not only commemorating our veterans and their families, but also for remembering our own family members who have died. By gathering and placing flowers at grave sites, telling stories, and making photographs, memories are preserved in order to be passed on to the youngest family members.
The safekeeping of many of these older cemeteries has become increasingly important as landscape development converts old farms and homesteads. The Alabama Historical Commission encourages documentation of these sites, and has created the Alabama Historic Cemetery Register, the only official listing of historic cemeteries. Many of these cemeteries have no official owners or caretakers. So it has become the responsibility of family members and volunteers to record and maintain these sacred places.
Today is a day of Remembrance, of those who served, and of those we’ve loved. Let’s not forget them.
It’s often after the fact that the public regrets the demolition of an historic building. At this last lecture of Birmingham’s Historic Preservation Month, David Fleming discusses easements and how they can protect historic buildings.
The Alabama Historical Commission has prepared a worksheet for property owners HERE who are interested in safeguarding their private property and/or receiving appropriate tax incentives.
Generally, a building or site must possess historical, architectural, archaeological, or cultural significance to the state or its locale in order to qualify. However, if it’s contributing to an existing historic district, it may also qualify. Detailed maps HERE show historic districts in Birmingham.
The National Park Service provides more information about tax incentives HERE. But for more information or with questions for David Fleming, the lecture is at NOON at Sloss Furnace, West Room on Thursday, May 29th.
The event that sparked America’s independence from the British started with an historic ride to warn colonists. Celebrate this event exactly 250 years later with two lights in your window on APRIL 18TH! Let’s see these beacons SHINE to remind us of the price of liberty, equality, and freedom!
May is Historic Preservation Month, and Birmingham has a lot of events planned throughout the month to celebrate! Mark your calendars NOW so you won’t miss a thing!
Join a Walking Tour of Collegeville: Ground Zero for Civil Rights-Saturday, May 10th at 10:00AM
Meet at the Four Spirits Statue, Kelly Ingram Park to honor nonviolent protestors-Friday, May 23, at noon
Attend a talk on Birmingham’s Historic Preservation Program-Thursday, May 1st, at noon in City Council Chambers, 3rd Floor, City Hall
Attend a talk on Best Practices for preservation projects by Chloe Mercer, Federal Tax Credits and Alabama AdValorem Coordinator, Alabama Historical Commission-Tuesday, May 6th, at noon
Attend a talk on neighborhood preservation by Paula Stanton of Titusville Historical Marker Committee and Walladean Streeter of Bush Hills Neighborhood Association at Sloss Furnaces Visitor Center-Tuesday, May 13th, at noon
Making Iron at Sloss Furnace-Thursday, May 22nd at noon
Learn about Birmingham’s Modern Architecture by Dr. Caroline Swope, Historic Preservation Specialist, City of Decatur at Sloss Furnaces Visitor Center-Tuesday, May 20th, at noon
When is a property considered ‘historic’ and what this means for the seller and buyer by Birmingham Association of Realtors at 3501 Independence Drive, Homewood-Tuesday, May 27th, at noon
What are historic easements and what are the pros and cons by David Fleming, President and CEO of REV Birmingham at Sloss Furnaces Visitor Center-Thursday, May 29th, at noon
Family friendly event will take place this Saturday, April 19th at 11:00AM and 1:00PM at American Village in Montevallo. Want to see what happened in 1775 when ‘a shot was heard ’round the world’? See how ordinary people changed history!
The event will also celebrate the courage and dedication of the men and women of the National Guard. All members of Alabama’s National Guard are encouraged to attend and be recognized!
The highly anticipated annual event for the 2025 Heritage Society Gathering was at the residence built for Herbert Clark and Virginia Stockham in 1924 by Miller & Martin Architects. Atop Red Mountain on Argyle Road, the Tudor-styled home was called ‘Cragmoor’ in reference to the stone cottages and mists of the English Lake Country.
Herbert’s father, William Stockham, purchased the ‘Cragmoor’-lot 24 of Milner Heights-in 1919 and gave it to his oldest son Herbert Clark several years later. Herbert then immediately married Virginia Cannon, and began construction on the home (2930 Argyle Road) where he raised his children, Virginia Lee and Herbert Cannon, for the next 30 years.
A greatly-respected business industrialist, Herbert Clark Stockham proceeded to lead Stockham Pipe founded by his father in 1903 to national and international success. Herbert Clark Stockham died in 1958, and his wife Virginia in 1964, and the home was purchased by Martha & Marion Brodnax.
Improvements to the front entrance, kitchen, porch area, and garage were added in 1984 by new homeowners Virginia & Richard Scruggs, who sold it to Doug Click and Gregg MCormick in 2023, our generous hosts for this event. They recently added a pool/activity area and are landscaping the forested ridge.
Our Heritage Society Hosts: Doug Click, Gregg McCormick, and Virginia Scruggs
Party Planners; Virginia Markstein, Jay Draper, Mark Thompson
In the meantime, Herbert Clark’s father, William, had purchased another 200 acres on Red Mountain’s crest and southern slope in 1922 for $250,000, the city’s largest real estate transaction at the time. William Stockham subdivided 50 acres at the crest for his 10-acre personal residence at 2950 Argyle Road, and set aside lots for his two younger sons, Douglass and Richard. His two younger sons never built on their property and sold it in the mid-1950’s.
Herbert Clark’s son, Herbert Cannon Stockham, married Peggy Roundtree in 1954 and built a home on portions of Lot 24 adjacent to his parent’s home at 2940 Argyle Road This home remained in the Stockham family until 2021. Read the complete history here.
Happy 250th Birthday, America!! Help our nation begin the celebration on April 18th, 2025 by joining in a unique remembrance of American history. Do you recall Paul Revere’s midnight ride, famous for this line – “one if by land, two if by sea”? Or “the British are coming, the British are coming”?
The “Two Lights for Tomorrow” event celebrates America’s fight for liberty and independence based on Paul Revere’s famous ride. Read the poem below, and follow along for more information as well as upcoming events on these 3 websites.
Households: Light two candles or lanterns in your windows on the evening of April 18th, symbolizing the two lanterns hung in the church steeple. Share your participation on social media with #TwoLightsForTomorrow.
Businesses: Display two lights prominently at your establishment to foster a sense of community and historical pride. Engage customers with stories of the American Revolution, perhaps through window displays or special events.
Government Offices: Encourage the use of symbolic lighting in public buildings, alongside educational programs or public readings of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s “Paul Revere’s Ride.”
Paul Revere’s Ride
By Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
LISTEN, my children, and you shall hear Of the midnight ride of Paul Revere, On the eighteenth of April, in Seventy-five; Hardly a man is now alive Who remembers that famous day and year.
He said to his friend, “If the British march By land or sea from the town to-night, Hang a lantern aloft in the belfry arch Of the North Church tower as a signal light, — One, if by land, and two, if by sea; And I on the opposite shore will be, Ready to ride and spread the alarm Through every Middlesex village and farm, For the country folk to be up and to arm.”
Then he said, “Good night!” and with muffled oar Silently rowed to the Charlestown shore, Just as the moon rose over the bay, Where swinging wide at her moorings lay The Somerset, British man-of-war; A phantom ship, with each mast and spar Across the moon like a prison bar, And a huge black hulk, that was magnified By its own reflection in the tide.
Meanwhile, his friend, through alley and street, Wanders and watches with eager ears, Till in the silence around him he hears The muster of men at the barrack door, The sound of arms, and the tramp of feet, And the measured tread of the grenadiers, Marching down to their boats on the shore.
Then he climbed the tower of the Old North Church, By the wooden stairs, with stealthy tread, To the belfry-chamber overhead, And startled the pigeons from their perch On the sombre rafters, that round him made Masses and moving shapes of shade, — By the trembling ladder, steep and tall, To the highest window in the wall, Where he paused to listen and look down A moment on the roofs of the town, And the moonlight flowing over all.
Beneath, in the churchyard, lay the dead, In their night-encampment on the hill, Wrapped in silence so deep and still That he could hear, like a sentinel’s tread, The watchful night-wind, as it went Creeping along from tent to tent, And seeming to whisper, “All is well!” A moment only he feels the spell Of the place and the hour, and the secret dread Of the lonely belfry and the dead; For suddenly all his thoughts are bent On a shadowy something far away, Where the river widens to meet the bay, — A line of black that bends and floats On the rising tide, like a bridge of boats.
Meanwhile, impatient to mount and ride, Booted and spurred, with a heavy stride On the opposite shore walked Paul Revere. Now he patted his horse’s side, Now gazed at the landscape far and near, Then, impetuous, stamped the earth, And turned and tightened his saddle-girth; But mostly he watched with eager search The belfry-tower of the Old North Church, As it rose above the graves on the hill, Lonely and spectral and sombre and still. And lo! as he looks, on the belfry’s height A glimmer, and then a gleam of light! He springs to the saddle, the bridle he turns, But lingers and gazes, till full on his sight A second lamp in the belfry burns!
A hurry of hoofs in a village street, A shape in the moonlight, a bulk in the dark, And beneath, from the pebbles, in passing, a spark Struck out by a steed flying fearless and fleet: That was all! And yet, through the gloom and the light, The fate of a nation was riding that night; And the spark struck out by that steed, in his flight, Kindled the land into flame with its heat.
He has left the village and mounted the steep, And beneath him, tranquil and broad and deep, Is the Mystic, meeting the ocean tides; And under the alders that skirt its edge, Now soft on the sand, now loud on the ledge, Is heard the tramp of his steed as he rides.
It was twelve by the village clock, When he crossed the bridge into Medford town. He heard the crowing of the cock, And the barking of the farmer’s dog, And felt the damp of the river fog, That rises after the sun goes down.
It was one by the village clock, When he galloped into Lexington. He saw the gilded weathercock Swim in the moonlight as he passed, And the meeting-house windows, blank and bare, Gaze at him with a spectral glare, As if they already stood aghast At the bloody work they would look upon.
It was two by the village clock, When he came to the bridge in Concord town. He heard the bleating of the flock, And the twitter of birds among the trees, And felt the breath of the morning breeze Blowing over the meadows brown. And one was safe and asleep in his bed Who at the bridge would be first to fall, Who that day would be lying dead, Pierced by a British musket-ball.
You know the rest. In the books you have read, How the British Regulars fired and fled, — How the farmers gave them ball for ball, From behind each fence and farm-yard wall, Chasing the red-coats down the lane, Then crossing the fields to emerge again Under the trees at the turn of the road, And only pausing to fire and load.
So through the night rode Paul Revere; And so through the night went his cry of alarm To every Middlesex village and farm, — A cry of defiance and not of fear, A voice in the darkness, a knock at the door, And a word that shall echo forevermore! For, borne on the night-wind of the Past, Through all our history, to the last, In the hour of darkness and peril and need, The people will waken and listen to hear The hurrying hoof-beats of that steed, And the midnight message of Paul Revere.
From The Complete Poetical Works of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, 1903
Friend of Rickwood left to right: Mike Newton, Coke Mathews, Sam Fisher, Ben Cook, Lamar Smith, and Gerald Watkins. Not pictured but in attendance, Tom Cosby
But before that 1993 certification, Tom Cosby, Terry Slaughter, and Coke Mathews recognized the importance of the ballpark, and led fundraising efforts which ultimately led to Birmingham Historical Society’s involvement in the HABS documentation. It’s a preservation success story that put Birmingham on the map, bringing its first Major League Baseball game to Rickwood in 2024. (View all the drawings and documentation at the Library of Congress HERE at HABS AL-897)
Gerald Watkins shared not only his enthusiasm for the sport, and the struggles in maintaining the park, but also the ongoing support that will be necessary to sustain it. Want to help? Attend an event! Or contribute to its support HERE
photos by Louise McPhillips
Friends of RickwoodHABS AL-897 posterBooks available about Rickwood FieldCarolanne Roberts, with winners of Chocolate Cake contestGerald Watkins, Director of Friends of RickwoodTom Cosby, early supporter of fundraising to preserve Rickwoood fieldWayne Hester, President Birmingham Historical SocietyMarjorie White, Director Birmingham Historical SocietyTrustees Carol Slaughter and Kaydee Erdreich
Thank you to all those who participated! Lots of hard choices every year, but lots of fun this year tasting all the chocolate creations! Thank you once again to Trustee Carolanne Roberts for organizing this popular event. And a special thank you to this year’s judges:
Susan Swagler – Food Writer
Pam Lolley – Former Southern Living Test Kitchen (and both members of the prestigious Les Dames d’Escoffier
17-year old Robert White – aspiring chef and enthusiastic taste tester!
Award Winners
Aunt Irene’s Devil’s Food cake by Olivia AllisonChocolate Ice Box Cake by Susan HaskellBarefoot Contessa Cake by Marjorie Lee White
Flourless Orange Chocolate Cake by Lane FranklinJolly Roger Rum Cake by Patrici SpragueVery Good Chocolate Cake by Anne LedvinaFlourless Chocolate Cake with Raspberry Drizzle by Grace WhiteGerman Chocolate Cake by Elizabeth HesterCzech Kefir Cake by Anne LedvinaThank you to our Judges! Susan Swagler – food journalist, Pam Lolley – former Southern Living Test Kitchen, and Robert White, 17 year old aspiring chef!
Best Visual Presentation: Aunt Irene’s Devil’s Food Cake by Olivia Allison.
Judges’ comment: “Beautiful presentation: hearts and flowers.”
Best Flavor Profile: Chocolate Ice Box Cake by Susan Haskell
Judges’ comment:“ “Loved the combination of lady fingers with the airy light icing.”
Baker’s comment: “It was served for special occasions when I was growing up. The recipe was my grandmother’s. I do not make it often.“
Most Pleasing Texture: Barefoot Contessa’s Chocolate Cake by Marjorie Lee White
Judges’ comment: “Lovely texture and very professional looking”
Most Chocolatey Cake Creation: Flourless Orange Chocolate Cake by Lane Franklin
Judges’ comment: “Very rich with deep chocolate flavor and a hint of orange.”
Baker’s comment: “This elegant flourless chocolate cake is topped with a Grand Marnier whipped cream. Hints of citrus and clove-perfect for the holidays with family and friends! Recipe from Tricia Stuedman. I make it often for the holidays.”
Best Memory Statement: Jolly Roger Rum Cake by Patricia Sprague
Judges’ comment:“ “Loved the mix of pirates and church ladies, made us laugh.”
Baker’s comment: “It is a favorite of Caribbean Pirates and Southern Church Ladies., Just the thing for a little morning nip with tea” The recipe is Ann Best’s. I make it as often as needed.”
Best Overall Cake: Very Good Chocolate Cake by Anne Ledvina
Judges’ comment: “Definitely lived up to its name. wonderful!!!”
Baker’s comment: “This is a recipe from Edna Lewis and James Peacock, two Southern cooks. I make it often.”
Kudos to The Flourless Chocolate Cake with Raspberry Drizzle by Grace White
Baker’s comment: “My grandmother used to make it all the time when I was younger. It has been one of my favorites for years. It is my grandmother’s recipe. I do not make it as much as I would like to.”
Kudos to the German Chocolate Cake by Elizabeth Hester
Baker’s comment: “This cake was made by my mother every year for my birthday as a child. It’s still one of my favorite cakes although I rarely make it. Recipe from the New York Times. I do not make it often; it takes too long to make!’
Other cakes presented:
Czech Kefir Cake by Annie Ledvina.
Baker’s comment: “This is a classic chocolate cake of the Czech people. All Czechs cook it for birthdays and other occasions. It is my father’s recipe. Yes! I make it often.”
Mimi’s Chocolate Cake with Aunt Cam’s Frosting by Carolanne Roberts
Baker’s comment: “We ate it at every function, but I’d never tried making it until yesterday. A challenge! Both women died in the 1960s — hope they’d be proud of me! The recipe is by Eleanor Bishop and Cam Bishop.”
Chocolate Applesauce Cake, Chocolate Apple Cake, and Mint Chocolate Ice Box Cake (made with Girl Scout Thin Mint cookies) , the latter cakes iced with a Ganache by Marjorie White.
Baker’s comment: “Profiled on Instagram, these cakes sounded good and were said to be quick to make and bake. They were neither quick nor easy to make and bake, but three loads of the full dishwasher later, they were quite tasty.”
Czech Kefir Cake by Anne LedvinaChocolate Cake with Raspberry Drizzle by Grace WhiteFlourless Orange Chocolate Cake by Lane FranklinGerman Chocolate Cake by Elizabeth HesterMint Chocolate Icebox Cake by Marjorie WhiteBarefoot Contessa Cake by Marjorie Lee WhiteChocolate Chip Pound Cake by Carolanne RobertsVery Good Chocolate Cake by Anne Ledvina
A much anticipated part of Birmingham Historical Society’s annual meeting is the cake and/or pie contest featuring members’ historic recipes. Cakes are judged and prizes are awarded each year based on creativity, taste, memories, and presentation.
This year’s contest was all about chocolate! Conceived each year by BHS Trustee Carolanne Roberts, this year’s theme was “The Great Chocolate Cake Contest” – the richer and more decadent, the better! Lots of participants meant that there were not enough prizes so new awards were invented to properly acknowledge all the hard work of this year’s bakers!
Do you know the compelling history of America’s oldest ball field? Last night at Birmingham Historical Society’s annual meeting, baseball enthusiast and Friends of Rickwood Director, Gerald Watkins, powerfully recounted the legendary games played on this iconic ground. He also recounted many of the famous players that began their careers on this historic ball field including Willie Mays, Babe Ruth, and Reggie Jackson.
He acknowledged the important part the Society contributed to Rickwood in documenting the age, historical significance, and in verifying the anecdotal stories that the Friends of Rickwood had been using to raise funds for its restoration. Upon the completion of the research, Rickwood was officially confirmed to be the oldest ball park in the nation, and national leagues began to take interest, resulting in Alabama’s first Major League Baseball game in 2024.
Friends of Rickwood Director Gerald Watkins with Birmingham Historical Society Director Marjorie White hold a poster documenting the process of establishing Rickwood’s significance through the National Park Service’s Historic America Buidlings Survey (HABS)
Watkins recounted the struggles the Friends endured in preparing the field for the Major Leagues as well as the fundraising necessary for maintaining the standards required to sustain the relationship. And he acknowledged the Friends who were in the audience including Tom Cosby who along with Terry Slaughter and Coke Mathews led the early promotional efforts.
Erected in 1910, Rickwood Field stands as a monument not just to thrilling baseball moments, but also to the profound social and cultural evolution of the sport. The Birmingham Black Barons began playing in 1920 in the Negro Leagues, and Rickwood served as a gathering place for Birmingham’s black community attracting large crowds until integration caused the Black Barons to dissolve in 1963 and Rickwood shut down for several years.
Several books have been written about Rickwood’s history which were available at the meeting including this tribute book above. Watkins shared that while the Friends hoped that Birmingham native Willie Mays would be at Rickwood’s first Major League game in 2024, he passed that same day, memorializing him forever in Rickwood’s memories.
These three books, companions to one another, celebrate Rickwood Field, the primary ball park of Birmingham professional baseball teams from 1910 to 1987. Each book is a building block in a trilogy on the history of the legendary ball park. Each book stands alone, complete within itself, but together they form a structure larger than its parts: a trilogy.
The three books tell the story of people, places, and events of the early twentieth century and make you feel a part of history, not an observer of it. The books explore world events, American history, and the game of baseball when it was — and perhaps still is — this country’s most culturally relevant sport.
.For more information or to arrange a behinds the scenes tour of the historic ball field, please visit Rickwood Field or visit the park for a self-guided tour M-F 9AM to 4PM.
To commemorate their involvement, the Birmingham Historical Society created a poster (illustrated below) documenting the Society’s role in helping launch the Rickwood Revival of the 1990s.
The Society brought Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS), a federal program that documents historic architecture in the United States, to Birmingham to conduct the field work necessary to establish the national significance of the ball park, not only architecturally but also as the home of the Black Barons launching baseball stars including Mules Suttles, Satchel Paige, and Willie Mays.
Up until then, the newly formed Friends of Rickwood assumed that they were the oldest park without documentation, despite other contenders, because Comiskey Park in Chicago had just been demolished.
The Friends took the HABS drawings and made them into promotional renderings to kick off their long-term campaign to preserve and enliven the park. It’s a remarkable success story…about which we will hear more at the Annual Meeting February 24th at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens. It’s FREE and open to the public. Please join us!
What is HABS?
Purpose:
To create a public archive of American architecture
To establish standard practices for surveying and listing historic sites
To help restore and rehabilitate historic properties
To inform new designs based on historical precedents
History:
Established in 1933 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt
Originally a make-work program for unemployed architects, draftsmen, and photographers
Became a permanent program of the National Park Service in 1934
Formally authorized by Congress in 1935
Documentation: Measured drawings, Large-format black and white photographs, Written histories, and Supplemental materials.
Significance:
HABS documentation is part of the Prints and Photographs Division of the Library of Congress.
HABS is the nation’s oldest federal preservation program
HABS documentation is often a key part of preservation efforts
Want to celebrate Birmingham’s history for Valentine’s Day this year? Take a look at the Redmont Hotel, the oldest hotel in Birmingham still in use. Opened in 1925 on the corner of 5th Avenue North and 21st Street, it was designed by renowned architect G. Lloyd Preacher from Atlanta, Georgia, as an example of the Chicago School of Architecture which was popular at that time.
Named after Birmingham’s iconic Red Mountain, the hotel featured some remarkable amenities for its time, including private baths and ceiling fans in every room—a rarity in the 1920s. The Redmont catered to influential travelers and locals alike including a group of men who frequented the Rainbow Room Lounge and became known as the “Knothole Gang”.
Over the decades, the hotel experienced various ownership changes and periods of decline, reflecting the city’s own economic fluctuations. However, its historical significance was recognized when it received Alabama State Historic Tax Credits in October 2013, alongside $400,000 in tax incentives from the City of Birmingham aimed at revitalizing it. Local contractor Stewart Perry undertook extensive renovations, with assistance from interior designer Natalie Toy, to restore the hotel to its former glory while incorporating modern amenities for the contemporary traveler.
After significant renovations, the Redmont Hotel reopened in 2016 as part of the Hilton Curio Collection, combining its storied past with modern hospitality. Its reopening marked a new chapter for the historical landmark that once again serves both locals and visitors.
The hotel’s importance was underscored by its addition to the National Register of Historic Places on January 27, 1983. This recognition not only highlights its architectural and historical significance but also reinforces its status as a cherished landmark within the community.
Whether you’re planning a romantic getaway for Valentine’s Day or simply exploring the history of Birmingham, the Redmont Hotel stands as a perfect gateway. Happy Valentine’s Day!
So very proud of Birmingham Historical Society Trustee Barbara Shores who continues to share the story of her life on Dynamite Hill. As the daughter of civil rights activist Arthur Shores, she has preserved her family’s involvement in Birmingham’s civil right’s history in the book, “Birmingham’s Dynamite Hill”, and in the videos below.
During this Black History Month, we encourage reflection on the acts of violence that necessitated struggles against racial barriers in the pursuit of a more equitable Birmingham.
Alabama Public Television Presents is available to stream on pbs.org and the free PBS App, available on iPhone, Apple TV, Android TV, Android smartphones, Amazon Fire TV, Amazon Fire Tablet, Roku, Samsung Smart TV, and Vizio.
ALL ARE WELCOME at the 83rd Annual Meeting of the Birmingham Historical Society at 7PM on Monday, February 24th at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens.
The meeting will feature guest speaker, Gerald Watkins, Director of the Friends of Rickwood, and a lifetime baseball enthusiast! His talk, Rickwood: Then & Now, will tell the story of America’s oldest grandstand and ballpark. The Friends’ fundraising campaign, spearheaded by Terry Slaughter, Tom Cosby, and Coke Mathews, enabled the park to be restored, expanded, and subsequently brought Alabama’s first Major League Baseball game to Birmingham. Books about Rickwood will be available for sale, and chocolate cake entries from the annual cake contest will be judged and available after the meeting for sampling!
Baseball fans, society supporters and members, and Alabama historians, don’t miss this meeting!
The 83rd Annual Meeting of the Birmingham Historical Society is at 7PM on Monday, February 24th at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens and will feature guest speaker Gerald Watkins, Director of the Friends of Rickwood Field.
CALLING ALL CAKES
For The Great Chocolate Cake Contest
THE RULES: Bake your cake and bring the form above,
along with the recipe, and your cake for judging, to the
Birmingham BotanicalGardens Auditorium
between 3:30 and 4:00 p.m. on February 24.
JUDGING CATEGORIES: Most Chocolatey Cake Creation + Best
Overall Cake + Best Visual Presentation + Best Flavor Profile +
As Birmingham deals with the demolition of historic homes and structures including Quinlan Castle, Birmingham Terminal Station, the Art Deco Regions Bank in Five Points South, a Glen Iris home, etc. it’s important to consider what really makes a building worth saving as well as remembering those we’ve lost.
Click image above for story.
A building is considered worth saving when its inherent value, including historical significance, architectural merit, potential for adaptive reuse, community connection, and long-term cost-effectiveness outweighs the cost of restoration or preservation, making it more beneficial to maintain and renovate rather than demolish and rebuild.
Historical Significance:Buildings with a rich historical past or association with important events often hold significant cultural value and are worth preserving.
Architectural Merit:Buildings with unique design elements, innovative construction techniques, or aesthetically pleasing features are considered architecturally valuable.
Community Connection:Buildings that serve as a central gathering place or hold sentimental value for the community are often worth preserving.
Adaptive Reuse Potential:Buildings that can be repurposed for new uses, like converting an old warehouse into apartments, can be cost-effective to maintain and provide valuable community space.
Structural Integrity:A building with a strong structural foundation and good overall condition is more likely to be worth saving as renovation costs will be lower.
Environmental Impact:Demolition and new construction often generate significant waste and carbon emissions, making preservation a more sustainable option.
But perhaps the most important factor is how a building connects with the community. If a place is loved by the locals—maybe because it looks great or holds some shared memories—it’s likely to get more support for preservation. These buildings become part of the neighborhood’s identity, and people take pride in them. Developers and city councils alike respond to community support for a building. Note the “Little Villa” story in Birmingham’s Southside below.
Click image above for story.
Birmingham Historical Society can help with providing zoning regulations, historic preservation ordinances, property values, historical and architectural significance, current building standards, etc. but cannot stop the demolition of a building without strong community involvement.
Ultimately, deciding whether to keep or demolish a building isn’t straightforward. It involves considering history, architecture, community sentiment, and even economic factors. Many of Birmingham’s historic downtown buildings have been saved, as documented by Rev Birmingham HERE and in BHS’s Cinderella Stories. But as Birmingham continues to weigh which buildings to save, it’s important to hear what everyone thinks and take a close look at how these choices shape the city’s future and maintain its unique character.
Birmingham’s Terminal Station was demolished in 1969. from AL.com “The great shame is that Birmingham lost one of its most glorious landmarks to an ill-conceived proposition. It’s certainly the most unpopular razing of any structure in the city’s history, and although it probably took another ten or fifteen years after we lost the Terminal Station, we now seem to put a great deal more thought into what a particular building or landmark means to the fabric of the community. There’s no more just knocking things down,” former Mayor Seibels concluded. (Click image above for story.) Updated: Feb. 19, 2020, 7:15 p.m. Published: Oct. 17, 2018, 5:00 a.m. By Jeremy Gray | jgray@al.com
Just a Friendly Reminder that Trustee Service Forms are due by February 14, 2025 to indicate your willingness to serve as a 2025-2026 Trustee. Download the Trustee Form HERE.
Birmingham Historical Society is excited to be assembling a vibrant photographic collection of all of the historic homes that were constructed along Highland Avenue South. Director Marjorie White highlights the neighborhood’s significance to Birmingham’s rich history in the attached CBS 42 video. Wishing everyone a Happy New Year as we celebrate another year in our historic Highland Avenue neighborhood!
Birmingham Historical Society’s offices are in the historic Altamont Apartments and ninety-four years ago, there was a New Year’s Party in the ‘ballroom’. Some of the columns in our offices evoke an elegance that suggest a ballroom might have been in our location.
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Perhaps it was a party to create interest in the recently constructed 1924 building. Or since it was sold around this time, maybe the new owner had grandiose plans prior to the Great Depression. Rumor has it that portions of a ballroom are still there but not in use off the main lobby to the south. Our curiosity is piqued! If anyone has any additional information about the location of the ballroom, we’d love to know and will update! Happy New Year!
Did you know we have a namesake in the United Kingdom, also known as the UK’s second city? It was established by Lord Mayor Peter de Birmingham, who was allowed to hold the first market on his property by King Henry II in 1166. By 1538, in Birmingham, England, there were 1,500 people in 200 houses selling goods, and the town was developing a reputation as a metalworking center. It’s now famous for being the first manufacturing town in the world with a population of 2.5 million.
Hundreds of years later, in 1871, Birmingham, Alabama, was chartered. As it had vast deposits of iron ore and coal, founders envisioned an industrial future similar to Birmingham, England, so the name Birmingham was proposed.
A recent example was an offer of this impressive inherited collection of special editions of the Birmingham Mail newspaper. Anyone from Birmingham, England interested? Let us know and we’ll put you in touch!
Then you will enjoy reading the new book by Richard Neil detailing a significant train wreck of the Crescent with the Southerner on November 25, 1951 in Woodstock, GA.
The author’s father was fireman of the Crescent during this event, and Richard Neil includes transcripts of wreck survivors as they tell the story of that fateful day.
On December 14, 9AM to 3PM, Richard Neil will have a book signing and discussion of his book, All the Livelong Day: The Thanksgiving Wreck at Woodstock at the Heart of Dixie Railroad Museum in Calera.
It will also be a great time to visit the museum, view exhibits, ride the trains…
and even visit the North Pole! A Christmas Tradition, the train travels in the dark to Santa’s workshop. For more information or to buy tickets, click here!
“All the Livelong Day is a creative nonfiction narrative by Richard Neil detailing theThanksgiving Wreck at Woodstock, on November 25, 1951. The true account is narrated by the son of the fireman on Southern Railway’s Second 47, The Crescent, southbound from Birmingham to Meridian, Mississippi to New Orleans. The story details the train wreck and the characters involved, The Greatest Generation of post-World War II. The author is a forester and describes the southern flora as well as the Klamath National Forest mountains of Northern California. The book begins with the author being stationed in Eddy Gulch Fire Tower in summer of 2021, a summer of intense wildfire. He returns home to Red Mountain in Birmingham, Alabama, on a perch below Vulcan, a cast iron statue of the god of forge and metalworking. The story is told from there, beginning on morning of the wreck. In fine detail, the narrative tells of the fireman’s ride to Birmingham Terminal Station and of the train ride south, a ride onboard engine, until the trains meet head-on in Woodstock. The fireman’s wife and brothers drive from Woodlawn, a community in Birmingham, to Woodstock on night of the wreck to try to find out who’s alive and who isn’t. National Transportation Safety Board transcripts allow the participants to tell their story in their own words using their actual testimony.” – Amazon
Thanks to The National Trust for Historic Preservation for bringing this holiday movie to our attention. (But note that although a listing on the National Register brings attention to the historical significance of a site, it does not prevent a building from being demolished.) Happy Holidays to all the historians and preservationists out there!
“A Vintage Christmas (Great American Family) revolves around Tessa, a historian and preservationist who seeks to protect the historic post office building in her hometown by getting it listed on the National Register of Historic Places. However, her plans are complicated when Noah, a business developer, arrives in town. Noah wants to tear down the historic post office and replace it with a modern office building. As Christmas approaches, the two attempt to work together to reach a compromise.“
To laugh often and much; To win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; To earn the appreciation of honest critics… To appreciate beauty, to find the best in others; To leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child,… or a redeemed social condition; To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded. — Author Unknown, Research shows inspired by Ralph Waldo Emerson
Dr. Cleve Kinney was an enthusiastic Trustee of Birmingham Historical Society for over 20 years despite his busy schedule as a much-lauded psychiatrist and professor at UAB. While he was often unable to attend Trustee meetings, he rarely missed an event, and supported BHS in numerous significant ways. He was our friend and advisor, an avid historian, and a cheerleader for Birmingham, its community, and the numerous students he mentored in addition to the hundreds of geriatric patients he treated over his career.
A Vietnam war veteran, his was a life of exemplary service during which he received many notable awards including the Arnold P. Gold Humanism in Medicine Award. Read his full obituary here. Thank you Cleve, for your support of Birmingham Historical Society. We will miss you.
The collection at the newly opened Dennis C. Pappas Gallery at UAB’s Lister Hill Library features important scientific and medical items related to vision and hearing loss.
Notably, it includes the original handwritten notes (above) of Joseph Henry Johnson, M.D., the founder of the Alabama Institute for the Deaf and Blind, dating back to 1855. The gallery also displays original instruments and highlights the lasting impact of Helen Keller, encouraging visitors to learn more about these significant topics.
While Dr. Johnson was inspired by his deaf brother, the idea for the Institute emerged as a direct result of Talladega native Reuben Ashbury’s harrowing experience of imprisonment in darkness during the Civil War. He returned to his community, profoundly changed and determined to dedicate his life to assisting those who lived with blindness.
The UAB Library celebrates this legacy by creating a gallery that is open to the public. It features a fascinating medical display that showcases the innovations in care and support for people with visual and hearing challenges, including rare books, medical equipment, touchscreen technology, and 3D objects.
Lots of stories from those who lived or worked on Red Mountain, as well as from scholars who have studied the area’s history, will soon be available on your phone, offering both historical & personal insights. These narratives will bring to life the daily struggles and triumphs of individuals who shaped the community, providing a personal connection to the past. Four key mining sites will be discussed: each site carries its own unique story, revealing the complexities of mining operations, the lives of the miners, and the impact of this industry on the surrounding environment and local culture.
Sites on tour include: Mine No. 13, the Smythe Mining Camp excavation site, Mine No. 10, and the park’s Wenonah entrance on Venice Road.
“Red Mountain Park is hosting “Go Tell It On Red Mountain” – An Oral History Presentation on Sunday, November 17th at 2 PM. The program will feature a panel discussion with the project’s scholars and UAB collaborators facilitated by Laura Anderson from the Alabama Humanities Alliance. Together, they will share stories from Birmingham’s mining era and discuss the project’s development. Afterward, attendees will be encouraged to take a self-guided audio tour on their phones to a few key historical sites.”
Lots of interest in our Highland Park neighborhood, at an event in which Birmingham Historical Society displayed photographs of nearly all the original homes constructed along Highland Avenue (many courtesy of historian and neighbor Randy Merritt). Our Open House included not only our extensive exhibit, but also tours of the offices of our new neighbor, Alabama Audubon, The Greenbriar lobby in the historic Altamont building, and the front porches of several neighboring historic homes. The tour ended with music at Rojo.
Photos by Katie Tipton
Note that the BHS book, A Guide to Architectural Styles, provides context and recognition tips as to the style of many of the homes in Southside. And our latest book, a reprint of the 1962 book published by The Birmingham News, It’s Nice to Live in Birmingham, is now available for $20 via link above and will not be sold on Amazon.
Thank you to all who attended and we hope to see you again soon!
We’re having an OPEN HOUSE Sunday, October 13th 3-5, celebrating our new/old reprint from the Birmingham News 1963 publication, “It’s Nice to Live in Birmingham”. Come join us, see an extensive exhibit of historic Highland Park homes in our offices, and visit our new neighbor, Alabama Audubon. Step inside the historic grand lobby and courtyard of The Greenbriar at Altamont, visit with neighbors on the front porches of several historic homes, and end the afternoon at Rojo with live music. 1920’s attire is welcomed!
The inaugural exhibit at the newly opened Pappas Gallery features rare books, medical equipment, and touchscreen technology and 3D objects, exploring scientific effort to counter vision and hearing loss.
The Dennis G. Pappas Historical Collections Gallery is on theSecond Floor, UAB’s Lister Hill Library of the Health Sciences, at 1700 University Boulevard
Sunday, November 3, 3 pm
Free Parking at 9th Avenue Parking Deck1602 9th Avenue S, just across University Blvd. from the library.(Sign boards will direct you to the pedestrian bridge thatleads across University Blvd. that leads to the library gallery.)Drop-offs on University at the front of the library are also possible.
Are you aware of all the information on our website? Could you find what you needed when doing a search? Here’s a short list below with links in green. Scroll away and share with your friends!
Last evening’s well-attended and highly deserved tribute to Margaret Livingston featured guest speakers Paul Zahl, the former deacon of The Cathedral Church of the Advent and Margaret’s pastor, and Gail Andrews, the former Director of the Birmingham Museum of Art.
Both speakers emphasized Margaret’s remarkable energy, unwavering enthusiasm, keen intelligence, genuine warmth, and fervent dedication to the museum. Gail highlighted her significant contributions to increasing attendance, enhancing educational programs, and enriching the museum’s collections.
Birmingham Historical Society Director, Marjorie White, points out features relevant to Margaret Livingston’s life that the artist Larry Rivers included in the painting commissioned by the museum.
Margaret Gresham Livingston by Larry Rivers, 1987. Oil on canvas mounted on foamcore, 97 x 60 x 5.5 in the Collection of the Birmingham Museum of Art; Museum purchase 1987.32,
Audio recording of BHS Director Marjorie White’s remarks on the Larry Rivers painting (recorded by Margaret Meadows Livingston)
Paul Zahl with Marjorie White
Paul Zahl led the evening with a “Bidding Prayer” which he explained, rather than a euology, summarizes aspects of the person’s life, excerpted below:
“We give thanks to Thee for Margaret’s brilliant intelligence married to warmth, sincere openness, and also determination. We thank Thee for her generous and open heart. I thank Thee for her interior life, her unity even now with Thee….in Thy everlasting arms forever.”
-Reverend Paul Zahl
Audio recording of Paul Zahl, former Dean of the Cathedral Church of the Advent, paying tribute to Margaret Gresham Livingston (recorded by Mary Meadows Livingston)
While the evening was originally planned to celebrate her 100th birthday, sadly she didn’t live to receive the accolades that she received.
The evening began with cocktails in the sculpture garden of the Birmingham Museum of Art, followed by a seated dinner. Margaret’s family was in attendance, along with museum benefactors, friends, and BHS Heritage Society members.
Margaret’s children & grandchildren in attendance with her portrait by Larry Rivers. (Left to right, Paul Weiner, Mary Margaret Livingston Hindman, Dr. Elizabeth Livingston, Kathy Livingston Rutledge, Katie Nelson, Dr. Sarah Weiner, Jim Livingston, Jr.)
The museum’s commissioned choice of artist Larry Rivers reflected Margaret’s wish that the museum expand its collection of traditional art to include popular contemporary and ‘pop art’ among other styles.
Bottom left, former Birmimgham Museum of Art Director, Gail Andrews (photos by BHS volunteer, Katie Tipton)Audio Recording of former Birmingham Museum of Art Director, Gail Andrews on Margaret Livingston’s contribution to the museum (recorded by Margaret Meadows Livingston)The evening started with cocktails in the sculpture garden of the Birmingham Museum of Art followed by a seated dinner in the main lobby area.
Thank you Margaret Gresham Livingston for your life, your passion, your legacy, and your contribution to a better quality of life in Birmingham.
THE IMPORTANCE OF MEMBERSHIP DUES We are extremely grateful for the contributions made through membership dues, which currently sustain the general operating budget—including the new office, meetings, newsletters, exhibits, lectures, book signings, and minimal part-time staff as necessary—however, long-term sustainability will ultimately rely on The Annual Fund.
MEMBER VRS NON MEMBER GIFTS We encourage all members to consider contributions to the Annual Fund; however, please note that membership is not a prerequisite for those who wish to support solely the enduring sustainability of the Birmingham Historical Society.
ANNUAL FUND The Annual Fund is intended to bolster our long-term objectives, which, in the coming years, will facilitate the establishment of a paid director’s position (currently held by a volunteer), in addition to creating a dedicated fund for publishing. Our current campaign goal is $3.2 million (to endow the position of a future director) for which we have received contributions over the years totaling $2.4 million as of July 2024.
PUBLICATION FUND To date, foundation funding has served as the primary source of support for our publications, supplemented by bulk sales to corporate entities and groups. The Society has released over 70 publications since 1977 many of which are available HERE and some are available FREE as downloads for educational purposes. A dedicated fund will assure that the Society can continue to release future publications.
Donations may be specifically designated for the Publication Endowment or The Annual Fund. While any contribution is appreciated, we graciously suggest a gift ranging from $25 to $100. The most typical gift to the endowment is $100. Thank you for your support.
This weekend, the Birmingham Historical Society will host its annual Heritage Society gathering at the Birmingham Museum of Art, honoring the legacy of Margaret Livingston. As a staunch advocate for the enhancement of the museum’s collections and its art education initiatives, she exemplified dedication and vision, playing a pivotal role in the museum’s growth and accomplishments. Her extensive knowledge, fervent enthusiasm, and steadfast advocacy were profoundly valued by six directors (three while she was chairman of the board) who served over the course of 70 years, all while she refrained from seeking recognition for her efforts. Consequently, this tribute serves to highlight the significant contributions she rightfully deserves.
The portrait by Larry Rivers displayed above was commissioned by the Museum for its contemporary collection. Although the artwork was created in his New York studio, Rivers requested photographs depicting scenes from Birmingham, images of Margaret’s family, and elements from the museum’s collection to incorporate into the background. The result is a contemporary montage that encapsulates her life.
To join the Heritage Society and receive invitations to future events, please view more information here.
For fifteen years, Sallie Lee guided the Birmingham Historical Society in the creation of an early 20th century demonstration garden at Sloss Quarters. She was an invaluable resource in identifying plant materials that might have been planted next to a shotgun house of that era as well as providing soil amendment advice and even labor. Over the years, the master gardener volunteers and BHS Director Marjorie White enjoyed her friendship as well as her tutelage in creating Grandmother’s Garden.
Sallie was featured on WBRC’s Good Day Alabama as a gardening expert and had many friends among Alabama gardeners as well as among the staff at Birmingham Botanical Gardens where she maintained an office and often lectured. Sallie retired in 2020 after serving Alabama Extension for over 22 years. She successfully held several positions beginning with 7 years as an Agent Assistant, before moving up to a County Extension Agent in 2005, and in 2009 an Urban Regional Extension Agent with the Home Grounds, Gardens, and Home Pests team.
Although she retired early to care for family members, she was making plans to move back to Alabama. Our BHS gardening group was really looking forward to reconnecting with her. Sadly, she died August 2nd. She will be greatly missed.
Sunday afternoon, the Birmingham Historical Society hosted a going away reception for a much appreciated member and BHS Trustee who is moving to Tampa, Florida; Birgit Kibelka. A gifted landscape architect, Birgit was responsible for a massive amount of work for BHS as well as for the community which was displayed throughout the BHS offices.
Birgit researched and documented historic sites with BHS during 14 years from 2010 until 2024. Together with BHS Director Marjorie White, they explored, mapped and documented early residential developments, parks, trails, culverts, railroad cuts and creeks.
During the reception, Marjorie White acknowledged Birgit’s dedication and highlighted her impressive contributions to the Society. Birgit then spoke, sharing her insights and passion for the historical value of traditional paper maps, and explaining their importance in today’s time of continually updated online maps. She explained that maps are important for historic documentation in that historic sites are otherwise not found. She later provided the example below of Brock’s Gap.
The history of the gap is well described in the 1992 book “A History of Hoover, Alabama and Its People” by Marilyn Davis Barefield. Nevertheless, the historic marker was located facing the second railroad cut and not the original one and no one – except for Sam Curren – knew where the site was. A map would have prevented such a general loss of knowledge.
Good luck, Birgit, in your new home. You will be greatly missed!
cookies by BHS President Wayne Hester’s daughter, Georgeann@baked.by.georgiePhotos by Louise McPhillips and Rebecca Moody
The Birmingham Historical Society relocated their offices in November of 2022 to a 1924 apartment building in the historic Southside neighborhood, following 37 years at Sloss Quarters. Extensive research into the history of the new location has been a delight and has acquainted the Society with Highland Avenue’s dedicated historian, Randy Merritt. He has amassed a wealth of information and postcards of the area over the years and is situated nearby in the impressive Mortimer Jordan house. It is thanks to his efforts that the Society’s offices are adorned with images and histories of every home ever constructed on Highland Avenue, along with documentation of the original homes that still stand today.
“Historic Highland Avenue: Exploring an Iconic Street” is a featured article in Birmingham Lifestyle’s July 2024 issue, which includes these images and postcards, as well as the addresses of the remaining homes. Strolling along the street offers a journey through Birmingham’s architectural history and serves as a poignant reminder of those who made significant contributions to the city’s beginnings. For further reading on Highland Avenue, its parks, and the Southside area, additional posts can be found here.
(Note: Clicking on cover image will open entire digital magazine issue, best opened on large screen. Other images can be enlarged “as is” on smaller screens.)
The next step is to include it in the Forever Wild Land Trust ensuring its permanent preservation for undeveloped public use. Friends of Shades Mountain have successfully nominated the property for consideration at a hearing on May 2nd at Jacksonville State University. Marjorie White, Director of the Birmingham Historical Society, has drafted the following document to make the case for its inclusion. Please consider attending the meeting or adding your support via a letter to the board members below of the Forever Wild Land Trust of Alabama or to the President of Friends of Shades Mountain.
Dr. James B. McClintock Endowed Professor, Department of Biology University of Alabama at Birmingham Department of Biology Campbell Hall 368 Birmingham, AL 35294
Mr. Jack Darnall 4007 Old Leeds Ridge Birmingham, AL 35213
Mr. Jimmy Parnell President, Alabama Farmers Federation President and CEO, Alfa Insurance Companies P.O.Box 11000 Montgomery, Alabama 36191
Dr. Brian R. Keener The University of West Alabama Dept. of Biological and Environmental Sciences Station #7 Livingston, AL 35470
Friends of Shades Mountain
Larry Rodick, President Friends of Shades Mountain P. O. Box 59651 Birmingham, AL 35259 205-823-7367 friendsofshadesmountain@gmail.com
Not familiar with the Forever Wild Land Trust? This organization was established in 1992 and has secured more than 284,000 acres of land in Alabama for public use. The FWLT’s acquisitions have also created more than 363 miles of recreational trails within 23 new recreation areas and nature preserves, while providing additions to 9 State Parks and 20 Wildlife Management Areas. Forever Wild has helped acquire lands for conservation at Ruffner Mountain Nature Preserve, Tannehill State Historic Park, and the Cahaba River Park among others.
Q: How is land acquired by the Forever Wild Land Trust?
A: Individuals can nominate particular tracts of land for purchase; after a review process, the Forever Wild Land Trust Board of Trustees may then make an offer to buy that tract at the appraised fair market value. For each tract the Board acquires, 15% of the appraised value is also deposited into the program’s stewardship account to cover future land management needs. Payment is NOT funded by taxpayers but rather is generated by interest earned from offshore natural gas royalties deposited into the Alabama Trust Fund.
Early inspiration for residential developments, parks, urban streetscapes, and innovation are captured in these fascinating promotional pieces by developer Robert Jemison, Jr. More than 200 period photographs and drawings are included in each of these entertaining histories of Birmingham’s growth. There was so much vision, much of which came to pass! “Build it and they will come!”
“This book is all about the optimism of the time,” says Marjorie White, Director of the Birmingham Historical Society. “They believed that they were creating a world-class industrial region. There was so much building, so much progress. It’s the Golden Era in many ways–and what they created paved the way for the Birmingham we know today.”
Who were some of the original merchants? Where was the all-electric house? What was the 1909 plan for Fairfield? These and lots of other questions are answered in these captivating volumes! Birmingham Historical Society meticulously gathered all the information from the original Jemison & Company magazine articles at the Birmingham Public Library archives, then digitized and reprinted them to form these easy to read publications. They are available for purchase via the links below.
It’s ironic that the title of this Birmingham Historical Society book, Hand Down Unharmed, featured the important contribution of the first major donor to Birmingham Southern, M.P. Phillips. He believed so strongly in the legacy of Birmingham Southern that he gave his large lumber fortune to the college in a secret trust agreement, along with the M. Paul Phillips Library. A true visionary, how disappointed he would be in its May 2024 permanent closure. Have we handed down his legacy, unharmed? What have we lost?
from BHS newsletter dated February 2008
Phillips also celebrated green spaces and parks and brought attention to the Olmsted Brothers by funding the publication of their park plan for Birmingham. Birmingham Historical Society has published several books on the importance of this far-sightedness.
Only recently, in 2022, Birmingham Southern hosted a showing of the PBS special on Olmsted, entitled “Frederick Law Olmsted: Designing America”. Our quality of life in Birmingham owes a great debt to the vision of these men. It is our ongoing responsibility to use this legacy wisely. Thank you M.P. Phillips. Everyone who benefitted from Birmingham Southern College will remember your commitment and celebrate your legacy, even if the college cannot remain open.
The tradition of Birmingham Southern College spans over a remarkable 168 years, a legacy that will soon come to an end as the institution prepares to permanently close its doors on May 31st, 2024. Since its establishment in 1859, this esteemed private college has been a cornerstone of education, initially opening with a modest enrollment of only 52 students. Over the decades, it has played a pivotal role in shaping the lives of tens of thousands of individuals, who have gone on to become integral contributors to the vibrant community of Birmingham. The impact of Birmingham Southern College extends far beyond its campus, as its alumni have made significant contributions to the city’s overall quality of life, enriching the local fabric with their knowledge, skills, and dedication to progress.
The campus covers 192 acres and has important buildings like Munger Hall. Munger Hall was built in 1928 to replace Owen Hall, which was built in 1898 but later demolished. Each building has its own story and adds to the history of the institution. The architecture and history of these buildings connect us to the past and show how the campus has changed over the years. These buildings are a reminder of the institution’s strength and the values of those who shaped it.
Owen Hall, 1906
Birmingham-Southern College is the result of a merger of Southern University, founded in Greensboro, Alabama, in 1856, with Birmingham College, opened in 1898 in Birmingham, Alabama. These two institutions were consolidated on May 30, 1918 under the name of Birmingham-Southern College.
The Birmingham Southern institution is a significant part of history, with a rich legacy in education, government, medicine, and commerce. As a historical society committed to preserving such important contributions, we are deeply saddened by the closure of this esteemed establishment. The impact of Birmingham Southern’s closure will continue to resonate within our hearts as we recognize its profound influence on our history.
These areas highlighted in blue on the interactive map below on Birmingham’s Southside have all been designated historic districts by the Alabama Historical Commission. This can be of benefit to owners who want to own or renovate an historic building or home.
The Alabama Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credit is a 25% refundable tax credit available for private homeowners and owners of commercial properties who substantially rehabilitate historic properties that are listed in or eligible for the National Register of Historic Places and are 60 years old or older.
Please mark your calendars for this book signing and talk about the history of Birmingham’s largest employer and one of the nation’s largest transplant programs. Based on the book by Dr. Arnold Diethelm, cardiovasular surgeon Dr. William Holman will recount the leadership of visionary doctors at UAB medical center.
About our speaker: Dr. Bill Holman Following training at Cornell and Duke Universities, the cardiovascular surgeon joined the UAB faculty in 1987.
Currently Emeritus Professor in Surgery, Dr. Holman championed the editing and publishing of Order from Chaos, his father-in-law’s unpublished manuscript.
Director Marjorie White, greeting Ehney Camp. Tim Pennyciat, UAB Archivist on leftPeggy Balliet showing Dr. bill Holman a photo of the first fundraising gala for the Kidney Foundation.BHS Volunteer, Katie TiptonSpeaker, Dr. Bill HolmanBHS Director, Marjorie WhiteFirst fund raising gala for the Kidney Foundation.Peggy Balliet organized the first fund raising gala for the Kidney Foundation. She, Joe Farley and Marie Ingalls are in the photo along with UAB faculty.Tim Pennyciat, UAB Archivist with Dr. Bill Holman
At the 82nd Annual Birmingham Historical Society meeting featuring a talk by Guest Speaker Dr. William Deutsch, President Wayne Hester reminded the audience of the importance of $50 gift memberships, particularly for interested young people. The non-profit society depends upon the generosity of donors and members to provide free events and support its mission and research. Its volunteer organization relies upon the time and talent of its members. We encourage you to join us or give a gift! Thank you to all those who attended for your continuing support.
Left to right: BHS President Wayne Hester, Guest Speaker Dr. William Deutsch, BHS Director Marjorie White. Photo by Louise McPhillips
The 82nd Annual Meeting of the Birmingham Historical Society featured an array of ‘Fruity Wonders‘ cakes from participants as young as 14, as well as entries by four different members of the same family who love to bake. Yum! Thank you to all who participated. Winners in multiple categories were announced at the meeting.
Always a popular annual event, this year’s entries included one cake which gave a nod to the speaker’s topic on Ancient Life in Alabama and was crawling with dinosaurs instead of fruit. The young baker explained that the dinosaurs were eating the fruit layer because it came into being during the age of dinosaurs! A special thanks to Trustee Carolanne Roberts who organized this event.
Did you know that Alabama has a state fossil? (Although it looks like a dinosaur to the untrained eye, it’s a whale/mammal and dinosaurs are reptiles.) It was famously immortalized in Herman Melville’s, “Moby Dick” in 1851.
“But by far the most wonderful of all Cetacen relics was the almost complete vast skeleton of an extinct monster, found in the year 1842, on the plantation of Judge Creagh, in Alabama.
The Alabama doctors declared it a huge reptile…but some specimen bones of it being taken across the sea to Owen, the English Anatomist, it turned out that this alleged reptile was a whale, though of a departed species…”
A replica of the Eocen whale is currently suspended at the Alabama Museum of Natural History in Tuscaloosa, as presented by aquatic biologist and amateur paleontologist, Dr. William Deutsch, at Monday night’s packed 82nd annual meeting of the Birmingham Historical Society.
Photo by Louise McPhillipsPhoto by Louise McPhillipsPhoto by Louise McPhillips
His talk showed how and why Alabama is rich in fossils with “the highest fossil diversity of any state east of the Mississippi River”. He acknowledges the contributions of the many who’ve unearthed its history. And he tells why an understanding of our ‘deep time’ is important today.
Deutsch illustrated his talk, “A Walk Through Deep Time: 500 Million Years of Alabama History,” with a rope curled and stretched across the large auditorium to replicate time since the Big Bang. The indiscernible, minute, end point of the rope represented our modern times, causing him to end the presentation with a theological thought he ponders often on the age of the fossils he studies.
“The next time you see a fossil along a creek, roadside, or on display, stop ponder, and preferably hold it in your hand. The lowly fossil speaks a clear nonverbal message:
I am real. I am very old. I lived long before you–long before your species. If you allow, I will guide you to think deeply about time, life, death, and meaning. It’s in your hands. “
Here is a concrete example of how the Birmingham Historical Society contributes to the quality of life in Birmingham based on the goals listed below. Trustee Birgit Kibelka and Director Marjorie White worked with the City of Hoover planning team to include historic sites in their comprehensive Park & Public Spaces Plan 2023, bringing multiple sites to their attention with well-documented research, part of which was used on pages 44-47 of the Master Plan. (For the entire Parks Public Spaces + Recreation Plan, see the link below) Thank you Birgit & Marjorie for your dedication and input!
Please join us on Monday, February 26 at 7 p.m. in the Auditorium of the Birmingham Botanical Gardens for the 82nd Annual Meeting of the Birmingham Historical Society. President Wayne Hester will preside.
Recorded history is said to have begun with the drafting of the Sumerian cuneiform tablets, approximately 5,000 years ago. Beginning in the 19th century, the study of fossils has evolved to tell a significantly longer span of earth’s history: 500 million years, i.e. “Deep Time.” Per our speaker Bill Deutsch: “Alabama has been part of this unfolding story since the modern science of Paleontology began, and fossil richness will keep it center stage.”
Deutsch will take us on a mesmerizing“Walk Through Deep Time”, unfurling Alabama’s rich fossil legacy and its connections to our history, geology, and world-class biodiversity. (Add to your FB calendar HERE)
Following Dr. Deutsch’s talk, Carolanne Roberts will announce the winners of the Fruity Wonders Cake Competition, praising our members’ creations and sharing comments from our esteemed judges.
Then, we invite you to get a copy of Ancient Life in Alabama, to chat with Bill Deutsch, sample cake, and pay 2024 Society dues. Copies of Deutsch’s book will be available for sale for $30 cash, check, or charge.
About the Author
Dr. William (“Bill”) Deutsch is a Research Fellow Emeritus in the Auburn University School of Fisheries, Agriculture, and Aquatic Sciences. The New York native holds degrees in Biology, Anthropology and Zoology, and Aquatic Ecology, the later a PhD from Auburn. During his 26 years as an aquatic ecologist in Alabama, With a longstanding interest in fossils, Deutsch participated in fossils hunting expeditions across the nation He has taught, lectured, and written widely about the natural wonders of our state, especially its rivers and its fossilsand what they can tell us about the present and times long past.
“Since moving to Alabama nearly 40 years ago, I’ve learned about its rich variety of fossils. Rock outcrops are fanned out in a relatively discernible pattern, with bands of fossils representing each geological era. The story of more than 500 million years of life is here, just under our feet. Tropical seas teemed with sharks, mosasaurs, and reef life. Coal-forming swamps ringed coastlines with huge dragonflies and millipedes, slithering amphibians, and towering horsetail plants. Dinosaurs of several types were here along with toothed birds, legged whales, rhinoceroses, mastodons, and giant sloths—the highest fossil diversity of any state east of the Mississippi River! In Alabama? Who knew? How and when did this happen?”
–-Bill Deutsch, “Preface,” Ancient Life in Alabama : The Fossils, The Finders & Why It Matters, July 2022.
“Fruit came with the flowering plants in the Mesozoic age [145 to 66 million years ago]. Late dinosaurs probably imbibed.” Bill Deutsch.
THE RULES: Bake your cake and bring the form and your cake for judging to the Birmingham Botanical Gardens Auditorium between 3:30 and 4:00 p.m. on February 26.
JUDGING CATEGORIES: Most Colorful + Best Creative Use of Fruit + Best Visual Presentation +Best Flavor Profiles + Best Memory Statement + Best Overall
You’re invited to join BHS Trustee, Barbara Shores, on February 8th at 7:00PM as Alabama Public Television shares the story of her father, Arthur Shores, who served an instrumental part in Birmingham’s civil rights history.
From left: Autherine Lucy, Thurgood Marshall, and Arthur Shores exit the federal courthouse in Birmingham, Alabama, in February 1956, following Lucy’s reinstatement as the first black person to be admitted to the University of Alabama. Photo courtesy of The Birmingham News
The premier screening will be one of the first events at the newly renovated historic Carver Theater, which also houses the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame. For a full list of events, please click HERE.
Tickets for the movie screening are FREE but for guaranteed entry, please register HERE and pick up tickets at the theater’s box office Wednesday to Friday from 11AM to 2PM
The annual Birmingham Historical Society meeting next year will be February 26th, 2024, at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens. As always, it will include a popular cake contest (and tasting!) after the featured speaker. Judges select multiple winners with 2024 categories listed below. Memorable family recipes are always a big hit with the judges! The meeting is FREE and open to the public. So start thinking of your best recipes that are filled with fruit! Need inspiration? Lots of ideas below…
This historic home in Highland Park on Highland Avenue near Rojo is scheduled to soon be demolished to make way for more apartments. A public hearing on the issue has been postponed until January 10. Please help show your support for saving this historic home by signing this petition.
Twelve years in the making, Burgin Mathews has recorded the history of Birmingham’s Jazz Tradition and will talk about it at BHS offices in Southside on December 3rd. While not covering every notable Birmingham musician, he focuses on the jazz traditions of the time, through the careers of such greats as Erskine Hawkins, whose greatest hit was “Tuxedo Junction”, and Sun Ra, who were both born in Birmingham. Weaving in Birmingham’s civil rights history, and the male dominance in jazz (despite break through favorites like Ethel Harper), this is the story of how our city’s music was a key to a better Birmingham, transcending its legacy of racial injustice and division.
Burgin Mathews, a writer, radio host at The Lost Child, and the founding director of the nonprofit Southern Music Research Center, will talk about the long process of recording this history of Birmingham’s jazz tradition and the jazz greats who made Birmingham their home.
Burgin Mathews’ deep dive in to the Magic City’s music history led him to the creation of the Southern Music Research Center which will be housed at the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame in the iconic Carver Theater. Music scores of Southern favorites are recorded and available through the generosity of donated collections, including that of longtime Birmingham Historical Society trustee, Patrick Cather.
Alabama governors have had their share of controversy over the years, but no one can forget “Big Jim Folsom”. A huge man, at 6’ 8” and weighing 250 pounds, he was hard to miss in a crowd, and his larger than life personality matched his size. A notorious ladies man, as a recently widowed governor, he once organized an event where young women lined up to kiss him, earning him the title of ‘Kissin’ Jim’.
He was a populist, grew up very poor in Elba, Alabama, and often traveled with a hillbilly band, the Strawberry Pickers, along with a mop and a bucket to ‘clean up’ politics where he also collected donations. He was loved by the people he supported, but ultimately ruined his career due to his alcoholism and bawdiness.
Sunday, October 29, 3:00 p.m. at 2827 Highland Avenue Signed books will be available for $19.95 – or available now on AMAZON.com
His grandson, Jamie, has written a book about Big Jim’s relationship with his grandmother Christine Putman, who met Folsom when she was a cashier at the Tutwiler Hotel. Although the relationship lasted several years, over multiple cities, and resulted in a son, Big Jim kept the relationship hidden from the general public during his political campaign. Despite multiple marriage promises to Christine, and even after the birth of their son, he never married her. Years later, he publicly acknowledged paternity, and made a financial settlement. However in the interim, to her heartbreak, he had married another woman. His political opponents capitalized on this with songs like the one below:
Written and performed by his political opponents, this was one of several songs focusing on Big Jim’s foibles.
She was poor but she was honest, honest, honest No victim of a rich man’s whim Till she met that Southern gentleman, Big Jim Folsom And she had a child by him. It’s the rich what gets the glory; It’s the poor what gets the blame; It’s the same the whole world over, over, over; It’s a dirty gosh-darn shame. Now he sits in Governor’s Mansion Makin’ laws for all mankind While she walks the streets of Cullman, Alabama Selling grapes from her grapevine So, young ladies, take a warning And don’t ever take a ride With Alabama’s Christian gentleman Big Jim Folsom And you’ll be a virgin bride. (to chorus)
Jamie Putman’s father, James Douglas Putman, Sr. authorized this version of his mother’s story written by Alabama author, William Bradford Huie. Published in 1977, it’s the story of the rebirth of the illegitimate son of one of the most powerful men in American politics.
(Clockwise left to right: “Kissin’Jim” – Alabama Department of Archives; Strawberry Pickers – Burgin Mathews; James E Folsom, Sr. – Encylopedia of Alabama; Christine and Big Jim – AL.com; James E Folsom, Sr. – Encyclopedia of Alabama; Big Jim at the Governor’s Conference – Public Domain)
The remarkable story of Anne “Missy” Roberts Gayler in One Hundred Years can be accurately told because of the care with which she saved photographs, newspaper clippings, letters, scrapbooks, and journal entries. She documented and saved material that she compiled at the age of one hundred, typing while nearly blind, leaving the manuscript in the care of her family. Her grandson digitized the manuscript, and relatives helped with additional photographs, dates, and research. Fortunately, her granddaughter, Sumter Carmichael Coleman, as a Trustee of the Birmingham Historical Society, felt that it was a story that needed to be shared, not only because of the author’s ties to Birmingham, but because it’s the story of a gallant Southern lifestyle in the 19th century that’s gone with the wind…
Anne Gayler’s story began in Charleston, SC where she was born in 1882 before moving to Birmingham in 1884 when her wealthy and well-connected father financed and came to Bessemer to manage Henry DeBardeleben Coal and Iron Company. She grew up in a life of extreme privilege with schooling in New York and Germany, summers in the mountains and at the seashore, and vacations abroad. After marrying a naval officer, Lieutenant Ernest Gayler, she traveled the world, carefully documenting her adventures, but returning often to her family’s several homes in Birmingham as well as to the home of her sister Belle Hazzard. She encountered presidents, foreign dignitaries, and was present at many historical events. This is the well-written, entertaining story of an exciting life, well-lived, with multiple ties and descendants in Birmingham. Please join us along with family members for a publication celebration.
October 1, 4:00 p.m., 100 Years Publication Celebration, 2827 Highland Avenue.
Historic Quinlan Castle was demolished earlier this year to make way for a new Southern Research building. But prior to Quinlan Castle, this was the location of the Roberts’ home, parents to author Anne Roberts Gayler of One Hundred Years, a memoir released by Birmingham Historical Society in September 2023.
Prominent early residents of Birmingham, David Roberts and his bride, Belle Sumter Yates Roberts, moved their family from Charleston first to Bessemer and then to Birmingham in 1894. Roberts had successfully raised capital for the formation of DeBardeleben Coal & Iron Company and took an ownership role in the new firm that was formed in 1886. At the time of his death in 1909, he was associated as a director of several banks and leading industrial and commercial interests in Birmingham. He was 63, his widow, 48, his daughter and the author of this book, only 27 years old.
They later moved to Altamont Road and the author states, “I went to Birmingham for (my sister’s) wedding, a home affair, in Mother’s great house. There was only one difficulty. The minister had some trouble getting to the house on the Altamont, for the automobiles of that era lacked edurance.”
The story of this remarkable Birmingham family as written by Anne Roberts Gayler at the age of 100, is available October 1st, 2023, 4:00PM at a Publication Celebration, 2827 Highland Avenue. The public is invited! Now available on Amazon HERE
Many people are aware of an historical society’s interest in preserving historic architecture and period houses. But our society is so much more than that!
The Birmingham Historical Society has created an heirloom garden, focusing on organic plants and traditional gardening techniques.
It’s working on the history of green spaces, parks, and walking trails throughout the city and helping local organizations with awareness and possibilities.
It’s published books on the civil rights history of Birmingham, and educated students by providing free learning materials.
It’s created free walking tours, pointing out the historic architecture of downtown areas.
It’s provided free lectures and book signings, often bringing in well-respected historians speaking on everything from family histories to Birmingham’s ties to the Olmsted Brothers of New York
It’s created pride of ownership with incentives, resources, and guidance for maintenance of both historic commercial and residential buildings.
It’s provided resource material with photographs, exhibitions, online databases, newspaper articles, and more.
It’s provided food history, weather history, and family histories, and has plans to promote music history
It’s a source of in depth knowledge of the region, its pioneers, and its early industry
All of us are volunteers so 100% of every donation goes into making this city even better. We have only recently joined social media (Covid project) but appreciate the support of everyone who has read, liked, or shared what we have offered! Thank you! And thank you for your ongoing support!
The popularity of beautiful Bluff Park was definitely affirmed at the extremely well-attended presentation by Birmingham Historical Society Director Marjorie White and landscape architect & BHS Trustee Birgit Kibelka on September 19 entitled Bluff Park: Then & Now, hosted by the Hoover Historical Society. Hoover had a series of town halls this past spring to determine the community’s interest in greenways, trails, parks, and public spaces. As a follow-up to those town halls, this event delved further into the history and possibilities of a Bluff Park Preserve with maps, photos of rock formations and existing springs, views, and historical correspondence.
Proposed Preserve
Friends of Shades Mountain (FOSM), working with the Hoover Historical Society, and Birmingham Historical Society are promoting the creation of the Bluff Park Preserve on Shades Mountain. As the City of Hoover explores possibilities for future parks and preserves, the opportunity to save the last remaining publicly accessible viewpoint along Shades Mountain presents itself. The proposed future Bluff Park Preserve might include the original “Bluff Park,” Lover’s Leap-Sunset Rock, and the site of Tip-Top Grill. Please read this BHS newsletter for additional information.
Click on the interactive map above to locate your property. The State of Alabama encourages owners of historic income-producing properties to maintain them by providing tax credits for rehabilitation. Properties built before 1960 and in an historic district would most likely be eligible for the credit. Owners of income-producing historic properties can use this program to improve and repair their properties while receiving tax credits against income tax they owe to the State of Alabama.
1) Property must be at least 60 years old…
2) Property must be listed in the National Register of Historic Places either individually or as a contributing resource in a listed National Register district.
OR
3) Property must be eligible for the National Register either individually or as a contributing resource in an eligible National Register district.
The Alabama Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credit is a 25% refundable tax credit available for owners of income-producing properties who substantially rehabilitate historic properties that are listed in or eligible for the National Register of Historic Places and are 75 years old or older.
What expenses qualify for the credit?
Repair of exterior materials; repair of structural systems; repair of interior finishes like floors, walls, and ceilings; upgrades to HVAC, electrical, and plumbing; and architectural, engineering, and land surveying fees.
The Wallace Property Relief Constitutional Amendment (“Lid Bill”) Code of Alabama 40-8-1 Section 2. allows all historic property, regardless of use, to be assessed at 10% of the assessed value for ad valorem tax purposes.
Local Birmingham leader, preservationist, architectural historian, editor, and design enthusiast, Philip A. Morris, established a fund via the Community Foundation to perpetuate the good design for which he continually advocated during his lifetime. The first grants were only recently funded and included such notable preservation projects as Main Street Alabama, Sixteenth Street Baptist Church, Railroad Park, and Freshwater Land Trust.
Click image above to visit Community Foundation website
Morris was a strong supporter of the efforts to restore Vulcan, as well as a contributor to BHS publications below:
A long time member and supporter of the Birmingham Historical Society, his life long contribution will now live on through his Design Arts legacy fund. Thank you Philip!
And the Facebook page is archived with photos and information gathered over the 15 year period by both master gardeners and volunteers. Both sources are a wealth of information for those interested in heirloom plants, organic herbs, fruits, and vegetables, as well as decorative period plants and the way in which they were historically used.
There are lots of reasons to rediscover heirloom plants including their disease resistance, flavor, pollination without pesticides, and even the memories that they evoke. Be sure to take a look at the links above and if you’d like to try this yourself, here are a few useful tips!
Published every Saturday from February 1991 to April 1992 in the comic pages of the Birmingham News were TRUE TALES of Birmingham’s earliest pioneers. A project of the Birmingham Historical Society, these stories were then assembled in a book entitled True Tales of Birmingham. We will periodically be recapping these stories here! But if you want them all (and they make great children’s gifts), check out the book! Or subscribe to the blog if you don’t want to miss one. Here’s the story about one of Birmingham’s early educators. And you may recall that James R. Powell donated his salary as Birmingham’s mayor to establish the first school.
School is starting and fall is just around the corner. We’ve added a few new events to the calendar that should be interesting. Please mark your calendars.
September 19, 6:30 p.m., Bluff Park: Then & Now, hosted by the Hoover Historical Society at the Hoover Public Library, 200 Municipal Drive.
October 1, 4:00 p.m., 100 Years Publication Celebration, 2827 Highland Avenue.
October 3, Members’ Books to be mailed to those not receiving them at the reception. Please let us know if your book does not arrive.
October 29, 3:00 p.m. Christine Putman & Big Jim Folsom, Talk & Book Signing with Folsom’s grandson Jamie Putman, 2827 Highland Avenue.
Over fifteen years ago, back in 2007, the Birmingham Historical Society filed a nomination for Birmingham’s Bethel Baptist and 16th Street Baptist, along with Dexter Avenue Baptist in Montgomery to be included among the UNESCO “World Heritage Civil Rights Movement Sites”. At the time, the World Heritage Society was researching sites throughout the world of non-violent movements in the twentieth century that confronted and dismantled racial segregation. The sites in Alabama were considered along with campaigns & sites fighting colonialism in India, across Africa, and elsewhere in the world alongside the anti-apartheid struggle in South Africa. On Thursday, August 10th, 2023, the World Heritage Society team will be visiting Bethel Baptist to make a final determination on the Alabama sites.
CRITERION (iv) Significance in Human History: “To be an outstanding example of a type of building, architectural or technological ensemble or landscape which illustrates (a) significant stage (s) in human history.”
CRITERION (vi) Heritage Associated with Events of Universal Significance: “To be directly or tangibly associated with events or living traditions, with ideas, or with beliefs, with artistic and literary works of outstanding universal significance. (The Committee considers that this criterion should preferably be used in conjunction with other criteria).”
GSU World Heritage Initiative
Glenn Eskew, who has ties to Birmingham, is the historian who headed up the George State initiative to review all possible sites in the United States. Over 300 sites were considered and over half were visited. The Civil Rights Movement nomination in addition to those in Alabama includes 10 additional sites across the country. The complete nomination can be read HERE
Ultimately, the 13 sites were considered for final selection because “the location and setting for each of the component sites remains relatively intact, thereby enabling each to retain its cultural value. All of the components of the potential Serial Nomination of U.S. Civil Rights Movement Sites express a spirituality and feeling of being as in a sacred space. All have evolved into shrines where the public goes to comprehend how nonviolent protests removed racial barriers to achieve tangible racial integration and intangible associated values of freedom and racial equality.”
Numerous examples of this style of construction existed in the antebellum South as slave quarters and later as company housing. This is a twentieth century example.
Find out about this and numerous other popular home building styles with Birmingham Historical Society’s book, A Guide to Architectural Styles featuring Birmingham Homes. It features the drawings of Auburn University’s Professor of Architecture, Cheryl Morgan, with descriptions by BHS Director, Marjorie White.
We’re had some hot weeks this summer, and it seems that every year we hear about weather extremes when the temps rise. So we thought this might be a good time to post these actual weather stats!
Published every Saturday from February 1991 to April 1992 in the Birmingham News were TRUE TALES of Birmingham’s earliest pioneers. A project of the Birmingham Historical Society, these stories were then assembled in a book entitled True Tales of Birmingham. We will periodically be recapping these stories here! But if you want them all (and they make great children’s gifts), check out the book! Or subscribe to the blog if you don’t want to miss one.
