Tag Archives: George Ward

Neighborhoods, shades mountain, Vestavia

Birmingham’s Mountains

Look south from Birmingham’s city center and you’ll see Birmingham’s two parallel mountain ridges which define the surburban layout. Red Mountain is topped by Vulcan and some of Birmingham’s finest Redmont mansions. Shades Mountain is farther south, its south side gently sloping away and its north side dropping off in a steep ridge, with sweeping views in both directions. (See pgs 118-119 of Birmingham by the Book for more information about Shades Mountain development.)

Aerial view of a lush green landscape featuring two historic houses, surrounded by trees, with a city skyline in the background under a blue sky with clouds.
Redmont Mansions on Red Mountain

Before federal regulations controlled the pollution from the steel mills, this basin-like topography trapped smoky air over the city, prompting many residents to seek cleaner air “over the mountain.” Over time, prosperous early residential neighborhoods in the city were gradually abandoned for suburban “over the mountain” communities, including Homewood, Vestavia, Mountain Brook, Bluff Park, and Hoover.

Sunset over a valley with a fence in the foreground, surrounded by lush greenery and a cloudy sky.
Views from Bluff Park

Bluff Park offered the added attraction of chalybeate spring waters and cooling breezes, which drew summer visitors to cabins and even a hotel as early as the 1850s. Neighboring Vestavia boasted spectacular views across Shades Valley and became well known as the home of Birmingham’s former mayor, George Ward.

Beginning in 1926, Mayor Ward chose not to live in the city proper and instead developed a 20-acre estate and botanical garden atop Shades Mountain. He modeled his home on the Temple of Vesta at Tivoli, Italy, and the road leading to his residence was commonly called Vesta Via. As the area grew up around him, it ultimately gave rise to the community name of Vestavia Hills. Although Ward’s residence was demolished in 1971, his 88-ton Roman temple was preserved and moved to a nearby mountainside park.

A Guide to Architectural Styles, Architecture, Birmingham Historical Society, Birmingham Landmarks, Birmingham pioneers, BOOK, Exhibition, family history, George Ward, Highland Avenue, Historic Preservation, Neighborhoods, Southside, The Altamont

Period Costumes and Historic Houses

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.com
A woman speaking in a casual setting, wearing a black shirt with a design, with colorful decorations in the background.
A man with a beard and short hair speaks in front of a dark wooden background. Text on the screen identifies him as Bob McKenna, the owner of Clubhouse on Highland.
A woman with gray hair styled in waves, wearing a red cardigan over a black and white patterned blouse, sitting at a table. She appears engaged in conversation and is identified as Marjorie White, Director of the Birmingham Historical Society.
A man wearing glasses and an orange shirt sits outdoors, speaking. He appears engaged and expresses his role as the Executive Director of the Pro Bono Advisory Council.
Listen 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.

Two women engage in conversation at an event, one holding a card, with attendees and display boards in the background.
BHS Director Marjorie White
Three people dressed in vintage attire stand in front of a large white historic building with columns and a decorative facade.
Standing in front of the Mortimer Jordan House on Highland Avenue
Two women engaged in conversation at a round table in a light-filled room adorned with framed artwork.
BHS President Wayne Hester withTrustee Linda Nelson
Three people in vintage clothing, two women in white and beige dresses and a man in a vest, stand on the steps of a mansion with intricate door designs.
On the right is Elizabeth Sanfelippo as Mrs. Mortimer Jordan, the builder of the Jordan house
A crowded indoor event with attendees engaging in conversations and exploring displays featuring historical photos, showcasing community participation.
Heritage Hunt participants
Two women and a man dressed in vintage clothing, posing on the steps of a white house with decorative details.
Priscilla (one of event sponsors) & Adam LeBerte stand next to event co-chair, Elizabeth Sanfelippo
A gathering of people inside a historic house, enjoying refreshments and cookies, with a vibrant floral arrangement in the foreground.
Trustees Barbara Shores and Dan Weathers with refreshments at BHS offices
Three women seated and standing at a table displaying various historical books and materials related to the Highland Park neighborhood.
BHS Trustees Katie Tipton, Gerry Waters, and VP Carol Slaughter
All 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!

A happy family consisting of a man holding a young child and a woman beside him, all smiling and posing for a photo. The background shows a room with displays and people.
Co-chair Annie Chester Leardine and her family
A woman wearing a red hat and a black and red outfit stands next to a man in a green shirt. They are posing in front of a display with drawings of architectural styles, including 'Queen Anne' and 'American Four-Square'.
An exhibit of architectural styles was displayed at BHS offices (behind Joseph Bostany and Sheila Chaffin)
A person standing near an exhibit displaying architectural drawings titled 'Architectural Styles of Birmingham Homes' on a white board.
Birmingham Homes: A Guide to Architectural Styles was the scavenger hunt prize, displayed here
A group of people browsing a photo exhibition featuring black and white images displayed on a large panel, with one person studying the photos closely and another standing with a clipboard.
Exhibition of houses in Highland Park as they looked at the turn of the century was displayed at BHS offices on Highland Avenue
All photos by Jacob delaRosa
A woman in a vintage cream dress and large hat holds a parasol, standing in a charming garden setting with guests mingling and various plants around.
Group of people gathered in a lush garden area, discussing amidst various plants and greenery, with a large tree and decorative statues nearby.
A lively outdoor setting with people dining at tables under colorful string lights, while musicians perform in the background. The atmosphere is festive and vibrant.
A man playing the trumpet outside a building, with a smartphone set up nearby and a sign that reads 'HEAR OUT'.
A female musician with glasses and a denim jacket sings into a microphone while seated next to a male guitarist playing an acoustic guitar. They are performing outside a house adorned with pumpkins and greenery.
A woman singing into a microphone while a man plays guitar under a white canopy at an outdoor event, surrounded by greenery.
Audubon Society, Birmingham Historical Society, George Ward, Newsletters, Vestavia

Birmingham becomes a Bird & Wildflower Sanctuary in 1927 thanks to Mayor George Ward

https://alaudubon.org/

Today’s Alabama Audubon was organized in 1927 by Birmingham Mayor George Ward who was influenced by birdhouse salesman, Joseph Dodson. After purchasing a collection of his products for his private residence in Vestavia, Ward became an avid bird enthusiast. He solicited the help of Dr. H.E. Wheeler, who was a curator of the natural history museum at the University of Alabama, to present an illustrated ‘bird talk’ and the Birmingham Audubon Society was born with 49 members, and George Ward as President.

Thanks to his efforts and those of his neighbor, E.J. Smyer, who had an interest in preserving wildflowers, a law was passed to preserve wildflowers in 1927 and wild birds in 1929 which exists to this day. Of the 800 recorded species in the United States, 327 were documented by the National Audubon Society to reside in Alabama.

Birmingham Historical Society’s November 2021 newsletter elaborates on the history of this organization and lists the 49 charter members. Interested in birding trails nearby? Here’s a map and list of popular areas to explore in Jefferson County. This guide or this list might be helpful as well. Finally, the Alabama Audubon’s quarterly guide lists upcoming events through the end of the 2021 year.

The most common bird in Alabama is the American Robin, followed by the Downy Woodpecker. For a list of the 24 most common birds, please refer to this list.
Birmingham Historical Society, Book Sale, George Ward, Research, Vestavia

Alabama NewsCenter shares Mayor George Ward’s story

Many thanks to the Alabama NewsCenter division of Alabama Power for sharing the story of George Ward’s contributions to the City of Birmingham with their customers. In their interest of highlighting ”…entrepreneurs doing innovative things, communities that make our quality of life so much better, and people doing things both great and small that make all the difference”, Alabama NewsCenter is helping the Birmingham Historical Society spread the word about a soon to be released book on Birmingham Mayor George Ward’s contributions, entitled Birmingham: The City Beautiful, compliments of G. Ward.

The NewsCenter article includes several photos of parks (courtesy of the City of Birmingham Parks & Recreation Board) envisioned by Ward in the early 19th century that are still being used today. However, his best known park was his residence on Shades Crest Mountain in Vestavia which no longer exists, but is now memorialized by the Temple of Sibyl.

You’re invited to attend a talk about the book to be released November 1st, 2021 at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens. The book may be purchased there or from the Birmingham Historical Society.

Birmingham Historical Society, Book Sale, Book Signing, Gardening, George Ward, Shades Crest Road, Vestavia

You’re Invited! Nov 1, 2021

Birmingham Historical Society
invites you to
An Evening in Honor of George B. Ward
Monday, November 1, 2021
7:00 p.m. Strange Auditorium
at
Birmingham Botanical Gardens
PROGRAM
By Marjorie White
SIGNING OF THE NEWLY RELEASED
Birmingham: The City Beautiful, Compliments of G. Ward
Published by the Society
with the financial support of
The Sterne-Agee Foundation
Members paid for 2021 may pick up their copy of the new release.
Books not picked up will be mailed following the meeting. Additional copies will be available for purchase for $30 (cash or check), both at the meeting and from Birmingham Historical Society, One Sloss Quarters, Birmingham, AL 35222.


INVITATION FRONT: Left, top to bottom: George Ward, Mayor of Birmingham, Alabama, 1907; Birmingham City Hall (1901-1950); George Ward Park, 1901 Greensprings Avenue, Birmingham.
Center, top to bottom: The Relay House, the city’s first hotel and home to the Ward family, its proprietors (1871-1886); Cover, Birmingham: The City Beautiful booklet prepared and signed by Mayor G. Ward, 1908; View of Birmingham at the Red Mountain Gap, the city’s first protected viewshed, enacted 1929.
Right, top to bottom: George Ward, investment banker, builder of Vestavia, 1926; Ward’s Vestavia temple residence (1926-1971); Ward’s Temple of Sibyl (1929), as relocated to its park site on U.S. 31 at the entrance to today’s City of Vestavia Hills. Historic photographs courtesy Birmingham, Alabama Public Library Department of Archives and Manuscripts; color photographs courtesy Abraham Odrezin, 2020.

“George Ward was a most unusual and an unusually accomplished man with a significant legacy. Ward was alderman, mayor, and city commission president, an investment banker, a civic and community leader, a student and a reader, a writer, a lover of classics, a gentleman farmer, an idealist, sentimentalist, natu- ralist, conservationist, birder, and floriculturist, in short, a many-sided man of extraordinary ability.”
— Marjorie L. White, Author, Birmingham: The City Beautiful, Compliments of G. Ward


“Birmingham: The City Beautiful, Compliments of G. Ward is a fundamentally important contribution to the material available on our community. It places Birmingham in the City Beautiful Movement in the context of urban America. The document can also serve as a guide for citizens interested in becoming en- gaged in their community. It is a manual of civic participation. Three cheers.”
— Edward S. Lamonte, Retired Professor of History, Birmingham-Southern College, Former Chief of Staff to Birmingham Mayor Richard Arrington Jr.


“Every man, woman, and child in Birmingham seems to be imbued with the city beautiful idea. I have never observed in any other city universal interest as is being manifested by the people in this city.”
— Warren Manning in “Manning Tells of Progress of Work-Talks to Commission of City Beautiful Plan,” Birmingham Ledger, November 19, 1914

(click HERE to purchase from Amazon)