Tuesday, September 3, 2019

Coke & Baby Furniture Signs in Birmingham

Recently Dianne and I were tooling along 22nd Street downtown. I managed to get a few interesting photos along the way and below is one of them. When the matter involves ghost signs in Birmingham, I always consult Charles Buchanan's  Fading Ads of Birmingham [2012] and there on pages 69-71 are  these two signs and their history.

The building is on 22nd Street and First Avenue North Corner. The top sign is obviously one for Coca-Cola, but the bottom one is difficult to read in my shot unless you blow up the photograph. That sign turns out to say "Storkland Baby Furniture." 

Storkland opened a store at the site around 1976, when Buchanan speculates the signs were painted. The building, constructed in the early 1910's, housed the Alabama Engraving Company on the second floor for many years. Before Storkland moved there from its original Vestavia location, many tenants had occupied the first floor. These included a Greek restaurant, a barber, a bakery, a jeweler and a dictating machine company. 

Storkland has moved more than once; you can read the details at BhamWiki. The ads have faded even more since Buchanan took the photo for his book. 




Sunday, September 1, 2019

Alabama History & Culture News: September 1 edition




For a number of years I've been posting links to just-published Alabama history and culture articles in the "alabamahistory" group at Yahoo!Groups. Most of the articles are from newspapers, with others from magazines and TV and radio websites. You can subscribe to the emails there if you wish; I send out two or three a week along with relevant meeting announcements and so forth. 

Here's the latest batch:




Poet's art on display this month at Manna Grocery and Deli
Canvas images from a Tuscaloosa poet's book of abstract six-color ... Hank Lazer, a semi-retired University of Alabama professor and former UA ...


books published to mark Alabama bicentennial
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Two new books have been published to coincide with Alabama's bicentennial celebration. The Montgomery-based ...

First black student at Auburn University reflects on Gov. Kay Ivey
Franklin had graduated from Alabama State College in 1962 and wanted to get a master's degree in historyfrom Auburn University. He worked selling ..


NOTICE: Pinson Historic District to be considered for National Register ofHistoric Places
PINSON — The Palmerdale Homesteads Historic District, in Pinson, Alabama, will be considered for nomination to the National Register of Historic ...

Lars Anderson's book chronicles dynasties of Bryant, Saban
“The idea behind this book has been circulating in my mind for several years now,” Anderson said. “I have been in Alabama since 2004 so I have had ...

Columbiana hosts Alabama Bicentennial traveling exhibit
Created by the Alabama Humanities Foundation, the Making Alabama ... The traveling exhibit consists of panels detailing different periods of history in ...


On this day in Alabama history: Andalusia depot got historic listing
The Central of Georgia Depot in downtown Andalusia, built at the end of the 19th century, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

On this day in Alabama history: Artist Bruce Larsen was born
Bruce Larsen, who repurposes discarded objects into sculptures and also has created special-effects work for movies, was born in Birmingham on this ..

1st high school black history class of its kind taught at Tuscaloosa
1st high school black history class of its kind taught at Tuscaloosa ... black history during the first African American history class of its kind in Alabama, ...

New historic trail honoring Tuskegee-area civil rights trailblazers to be dedicated Sept. 20
New historic trail honoring Tuskegee-area civil rights trailblazers to be ... It also joins six other Alabama trail sites that comprise the U.S. Civil Rights ...

City of Montevallo approves historical marker [for double lynching that occurred 31 August 1889]
City of Montevallo approves historical marker ... City leaders in Montevallo have approved the installation of an historical marker in their city. ... making it only the 6th municipality in Alabama to do so, according to a news release.

Bessemer's Historic Lincoln Theatre Being Revitalized
Glenny Brock, outreach coordinator for the Lyric and the Alabama Theatre, has joined the Lincoln restoration effort as a project consultant. Family ties ...


Janie Wiggins earns historic 600th career win
That win gave Wiggins her 600th career win, making her just the 29th coach in Alabama state history to earn 600 wins or more. Wiggins said that her ...

On this day in Alabama history: Henry Collier died
Henry Collier, the first chief justice of the Alabama Supreme Court, was a native of Virginia. Collier became chief justice when the state Legislature ...


"House of Rose: A Magic City Story" By: TK Thorne
T. K. Thorne's second book, “Last Chance for Justice: How Relentless ... This novel, “House of Rose,” is set in Birmingham, Alabama, in the present.

The legendary Goat Man's decades-long walk across Alabama
The legendary Goat Man's decades-long walk across Alabama ... Historical accounts debate McCartney's early history – even his birthdate is in ...


Alabama history like you've never seen
It's a 6-minute video covering 175 million years of Alabama history, from the time it was under water to the time it was under Alexander Shunnarah.


Mattel chooses Alabama Civil Rights activist Rosa Parks for Barbie's Inspiring Women series
The Mattel company announced on Monday that Alabama Civil Rights ... 2018, features other dolls based on women who have made historical impact, ...

The 175-Year History of Speculating About President James Buchanan's Bachelorhood
... with one man in particular: William Rufus DeVane King of Alabama. .... prior to their deposit at the Alabama Department of Archives and History.

The Alabama Humanities Foundation brings culture to our state
Projects include the Alabama History and Heritage Festival, Theatre in the Mind and – co-sponsored with the Alabama Shakespeare Festival ...

Mac McAnally bringing songs and stories of home Tuesday atAlabama Shakespeare Festival
A night of familiar songs and Alabama stories is ahead Tuesday at ... McAnally's dad was played guitar a little bit, but he was a history major and a ...


Saga of 1930s Alabama Communists has lessons for today
The book Hammer and Hoe: Alabama Communists During the Great Depression, by Robin D.G. Kelley, a professor of history at University of California ...

Tuesday, August 27, 2019

Alabama History & Culture News: August 27 edition





For a number of years I've been posting links to just-published Alabama history and culture articles in the "alabamahistory" group at Yahoo!Groups. Most of the articles are from newspapers, with others from magazines and TV and radio websites. You can subscribe to the emails there if you wish; I send out two or three a week along with relevant meeting announcements and so forth. 

Here's the latest batch:



TUSCALOOSA 200 MOMENT IN HISTORY: Tuscaloosa, a POW Prison
Tuscaloosa, a POW Prison. The Confederates captured so many Union soldiers during the first battles that the Secretary of War told Alabama's ...


2 schools selected Alabama 200 Bicentennial "Schools of Excellence"
Kilby Director Eric Kirkman credited his staff for "doing a tremendous job exposing our students to the wonderful rick Alabama history that exists right ...


On this day in Alabama history: Amelia Boynton Robinson died
A native of Savannah, Georgia, Robinson later moved to Alabama and with her husband became active in voting rights and other causes in Selma ...

Mobile Botanical Gardens set to close in September
history of MBG, written by Maarten Van Der Giessen, follows this fact ...


Alabama's National Memorial For Peace And Justice And Legacy Museum Wins Tourism Award
The horrific history of lynchings in America is front and center. Stone tablets with thousands of victims are showcased. Soil samples from lynching sites ...

On this day in Alabama history: Popular author died
Francis Bartow Lloyd is remembered for “Sketches of Country Life: Humor, Wisdom and Pathos from the Sage of Rocky Creek,” a collection of his ...

Enon Baptist Church, Danville, holds 200th anniversary celebration
Jerry Armor presented a certificate from the Alabama Baptist Historical Commission. Robert Smith, associational missions director for Muscle Shoals ...


Phillip Tutor: White Plains students, teachers discover grave of principal's ancestor at historic ...
It sits on private property, behind a locked gate and at the end of a winding incline adjacent to Bert's Lake, an old fishing spot not far from Alabama 9.


Former Selma Business Owner Achieves Dreams of Writing Book
Her debut children's book, "The Magic Wishing Rock" tells the story of a little girl, Bella and her dog, Walker, as they find a magic wishing rock and ...


TUSCALOOSA 200 MOMENT IN HISTORY: John B. Read, Surgeon and Inventor
John B. Read, Surgeon and Inventor. John Read wore many hats: physician, pharmacist, and most notably surgeon for the University of Alabama ...


Women outnumber men for first time in first-year class at UA law school
Women make up the majority of The University of Alabama School of Law's incoming class for the first time in the school's history. The school accepted ...

On this day in Alabama history: Musician Oteil Burbridge was born
Oteil Burbridge was born in Washington, D.C., on this day in 1964. At 14, he began learning to play the bass guitar, having grown up listening to his ...

Tap your toes for the sixth annual Alabama Women in Jazz Festival
There will be special appearances by Miss Alabama, Tiara Pennington, and Dr. Debbie Sue Esslinger, historical scholar and host of live performances ...


Alabama events mark 1619 slavery anniversary
The Alabama Historical Commission said the bell will ring at the Alabama Capitol at 2 p.m. Sunday as bells ring across the nation at that time.

George Wallace Jr.: Centennial reflection on the parallel journeys of my father and the state he ...
... history on that hot June day. James Hood invited my father to attend his graduation when he received his doctorate from the University of Alabama, ...

Alabama Voices: State plays a huge part in aviation development
With every Army and Air Force rotary wing aviator trained there, Alabama ... Let's be proud of Alabama'simpressive history in aviation programs, but ...

Africatown ceremony part of national 1619 commemoration
Their forced labor helped establish the historic Jamestown settlement. ... Flen said in a release distributed by the Alabama Historical Commission.

Alabama Sports Officials Hall of Fame to induct inaugural class
RONNIE BAYNES — Talladega High School alum who was one of the last four-sport lettermen in Auburn history. After playing for the Dallas Cowboys, ...

The Mighty Wurlitzer Returns to its Roots at Sidewalk
Visit the Alabama Theatre in downtown Birmingham, face the stage and you ... in restaurants or private homes — a blip in musical instrument history.

On this day in Alabama history: Key court ruling celebrated
Lee v. Macon County Board of Education sought the integration of the all-white Tuskegee High School. The 1963 lawsuit was later expanded to ...

On this day in Alabama history: Pioneering doctor died
Dr. Alfred “Freddy” Habeeb was born in 1911 in Bishmizzine, Lebanon. His family came to the United States when he was a boy, settling in Vicksburg, ...


Shiloh Baptist Church celebrates bicentennial anniversary
Jerry Armor presented a certificate from the Alabama Baptist Historical Commission, and state representative Scott Stadthagen presented a resolution ...

Slaves arrived in America, and Alabama, years before 1619
Conceived by the Equal Justice Initiative, the physical environment is intended to foster reflection on America's history of racial inequality. (Photo by ...


Traveling Bicentennial exhibit comes to Luverne
The Luverne Bicentennial Committee received a grant from the Alabama ... to visit the exhibit to enjoy the interactive tour of the state's history.

$20000 awarded to Main Street for downtown alleyway project
“As a Main Street Alabama designated community, we are able to utilize the ... An existing 90-foot historic timeline mural was the first phase of the project and ... Main Street Wetumpka is one of 23 designated Main Street Alabama ...

Sidewalk 2019: Look for these works from Alabama artists at the film festival
Learn more about the Alabama-connected movies you can see at Sidewalk this weekend below (with information on the films from the festival schedule). ..... Pie in the Puss: A Brief History of Pieing in Film, directed by Stacey Davis: ...

With memoir 'Blood,' Alabama singer-songwriter Allison Moorer diving deep into family tragedy
In superficial detail, at least, that dark family history was told over and over from the outside as Moorer and her sister, Shelby Lynne, began careers in ...


Historian to host tour of historic Byler Road
He explained that Byler Road was the first roadway authorized by Alabama after it attained statehood in Dec. 1819, and that the privately-funded road ...

What did Alabama's landscapes look like in 1819? Hint: think Kansas with prairies and bamboo.
What did Alabama's natural landscapes look like in 1819, the year it was accepted into ... What is being done to restore Alabama's lost landscapes? ... touch the ground has been propagated time and time again in our history books.

Jack Daniel's releasing special whiskey forAlabama Bicentennial
“We at Jack Daniel's have a history of working closely with our neighboring state of Alabama on the production of our Tennessee Whiskey, most ...

A Perfect Summer Book, 'Late Migrations' Reminds Us Of Life's Beauty And Fragility
Renkl, however, grew up in Alabama and now lives in Tennessee, so her ... Late Migrations is, to my mind, a perfect book to read in the summer.

Books-A-Million Welcomes Daniel Wallace for Author Event, September 22
BIRMINGHAM, Ala.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--. Book reading and signing with “Big Fish” author to support programs of the Alabama Writers' Forum.
Book on Alabama's path from territory to statehood to be released Oct. 1
Learn more about Alabama's journey toward becoming a state in 1819 in AlabamaHeritage Magazine's NewSouth Books' Oct. 1 release titled ...

Alabama Legacy Moment: ED Nixon
Alabama Public Television is producing a series of videos titled “Alabama Legacy Moments” that offer a quick history of the people, places and stories ...


On this day in Alabama history: Strikeout record set
Birmingham Black Barons pitcher Alvin Gipson struck out 20 Philadelphia Stars batters on Aug. 21, 1943, establishing a Negro American League ...

Serve a meal inspired by Alabama's 200-year history
Alabama has a rich food history—from agriculture to fishing to treasured heirloom recipes. As Alabamacelebrates its bicentennial this year, we looked ..