Alabama History & Culture News: November 7 edition

 

Here's the latest batch of links to just-published Alabama history and culture articles. Most of these items are from newspapers, with others from magazines and TV and radio station websites. Enjoy!

The Alabama miners strike of 1920—striking a blow at racism Socialist Worker His book, Race, Class and Power and in the Alabama Coalfields 1908-1921, shows how the colour line could break down on the picket line.

Alabama author Fannie Flagg catches up with beloved 'Fried Green Tomatoes' characters in new ... whnt.com (WIAT) – Years ago, Fannie Flagg said goodbye to “Whistle Stop,” the fictional Alabama town best known as the setting for her 1987 novel, “Fried ...

Have you visited these Alabama musical attractions? Alabama NewsCenter Alabama has a rich musical history that has given way to a vibrant musical legacy. We've brought you stories of Alabama Music Makers carrying on ...

Alabama Veterans Museum and Archives in Athens announces new facility whnt.com Museum volunteer Jerry Crabtree said with such rich history embedded in the museum it's a landmark for the community.

Our Picks for the 2020 Portland Book Festival Portland Monthly Genevieve Hudson's Boys of Alabama—“a magical, deeply felt novel” per Kirkus—somehow skipped my radar on its May release, but I've since been ...

Moulton restaurant holds Historic Register dedication Moulton Advertiser Moulton restaurant holds Historic Register dedication ... celebration on Halloween after the restaurant was listed on Alabama's Historic Register.

State officials recognize historical preservation efforts of the Elba Chamber of Commerce WDHN - DothanFirst.com Elba, Ala. (WDHN)—In Elba on Wednesday, a statewide delegation of the chamber of commerce and main street officials came together

Review: “The Witches” is a poor adaptation of beloved book Ithaca College The Ithacan This year's “The Witches” is a new adaptation of the 1983 novel of the same name. The story takes place in 1960s Alabama and follows a young boy ...

'Alabama Story' sparking conversations at CCP Crossville Chronicle Emily Wheelock Reed, director of the Alabama Public Library Service Division, put the book into circulation. State Sen. E.W. Higgins wanted the book ...

Mobile trail gives visitors glimpse of city's multicultural beginnings Alabama NewsCenter While conducting a tour of Mobile's historic Africatown, Karlos Finley said his ... Dora Franklin Finley African-American Heritage Trail from Alabama ...

St. Bartley Primitive Baptist Church celebrates 200 years! WAFF Alabama history. American history. [ READ MORE: State's oldest black church, baptisms, beginnings remembered during bicentennial ].

Dothan native serves up a tasty thriller [Charles McNair] Dothan Eagle I held a Nikon; Charles gripped a copy of his first novel, the Pulitzer ... Even so, every one of my novels is set in Alabama … and I think the ones I write ...

Anne Hathaway Takes On Role Anjelica Huston Made Famous In Remake Of 'The Witches' Spectrum News NY1 In this version, grandma is from Alabama. In the book, she is from Norway. Spencer says she hopes their version of “The Witches” is a family affair for ...

Local spots steeped in haunted legends The Alexander City Outlook Every graveyard, church and lonely bend in one of Alabama's highways is ... The cemetery sits back from the road, surrounded by a chain-link fence, ...

Dick Cooper's photo exhibit at Alabama Music Hall of Fame dives into Shoals music history whnt.com — Through the end of the year, patrons visiting the Alabama Music Hall of Fame will have the opportunity to dive into even more music history. The ...

The Haunted History of OldTown The Southeast Sun The tale of Grancer Harrison may be the most well known ghost story in Alabama but OldTown carries even more history. About one mile down an old ...

Pea River Historical and Genealogy Society has museum opened back up for tours WTVY, Dothan “What we do as to collecting and preserving and making available the history of the southeast Alabama doesn't just include Coffee County so our ...

LAMP graduate launches historic magazine at UA WSFA (WSFA) - A Montgomery student is making history at the University of Alabama. Tionna Taite, LAMP graduate and Alabama sophomore is the creator ...

Fannie Flagg takes us back to Whistle Stop in 'Fried Green Tomatoes' sequel al.com The 283-page novel takes readers back to the people and places Flagg ... In the past, she's made it a point to begin her book tours in Alabama -- “It's ...

Preserving a legacy at this roadside Alabama BBQ joint al.com All of the employees at Hughes' restaurant are women, and they all do a little bit of everything, she says.(Photo by Art Meripol, from the book "Alabama ..

Kathryn Tucker Windham's ghost stories through the eyes of her daughter Dilcy Windham Hilley Bham Now As one of Alabama's greatest storytellers, I saw her often at library events or book fairs before she died in 2011 at the age of 93. Even though we never ...

Alabama's Fannie Flagg Returns to Whistle Stop in New Novel alabamawx.com Alabama's Fannie Flagg Returns to Whistle Stop in New Novel. October 26, 2020 @ 6:00 pm • By Alabama News Center. Click HERE to see the full ...

Mobile's Magnolia Cemetery is a 'magical landscape'

al.com

... of the first citizens to be buried in Magnolia Cemetery: Judge Henry Hitchcock, one of Alabama's first millionaires, who died of yellow fever in 1837.

The Slave Preacher Owned by Alabama Baptists

Last year I wrote a blog post on a slave named Harry Talbird who saved several Howard College students during a fire in Marion in 1854 and lost his own life in the process. Money was raised for a monument to him which stands in Marion Cemetery. In this post I want to write about another Alabama slave who also has a monument of sorts.

Caesar Blackwell has a Wikipedia entry; more about him is given in the piece below by Pastor Gary Burton. Wikipedia notes his birth year as 1769, but neither it nor the Burton item give information about his life until he appears as a slave of John Blackwell in Montgomery County. In 1821 Caesar joined the Antioch Baptist Church in Mt. Meigs, the first Baptist congregation in the county. The church was founded in 1818 by James McLemore, an important leader among early Baptists in Alabama. 

Caesar Blackwell could read and write, unusual skills for a slave. When his owner Blackwell died, the Antioch church tried to buy his freedom but was unsuccessful. Then the Alabama Baptist Association purchased him, and he moved in with  McLemore, who already owned Caesar's wife and child. McLemore preached to large crowds of both whites and slaves; Caesar became an assistant preacher and had a library of books for study. 

Caesar also preached to blacks, and was praised by whites for his efforts to convert his audiences from black "superstitions". He was very busy and paid well for his efforts until 1835, when the Nat Turner rebellion  in Virginia struck fear into whites across the South. After that, Caesar could only accept expenses and his activities were restricted.

Caesar died on October 10, 1845. The Association raised money for his grave marker; you can read the inscription below. Burton says about his grave, "The marble slab today is obscured by shrubs only a few feet outside the fence that encloses the McLemore-Taylor Cemetery located in the posh neighborhood of Greystone in East Montgomery."

Caesar Blackwell was one of a number of slave preachers in the antebellum South. His remarkable life deserves a more extensive telling.

For further reading, see  Flynt, Wayne (1998). Alabama Baptists: Southern Baptists in the Heart of Dixie. University of Alabama Press, pp. 45–47

Source: Find-A-Grave

The material below is taken from the Find-A-Grave site. The author of the text is unidentified there, but is taken from 

Burton, Gary (2007). "Caesar Blackwell (1769-1845): the work and times of central Alabama's nineteenth-century slave-evangelist". Alabama Baptist Historian. At the time of publication, Burton was the pastor of Pintlala Baptist Church, Hope Hull, Alabama; he is still there today. 

BIRTH	1769 Mitylene, Montgomery County, Alabama, USA
DEATH	10 Oct 1845 (aged 75–76) Montgomery County, Alabama, USA
BURIAL	McLemore Taylor Burying Ground Montgomery County, Alabama, USA

Although he lived and died in slavery, his ownership changed from John B. Blackwell to the Alabama Baptist Association (ABA). Caesar's early creative attempt at missions was quite impressive. The effectiveness of the slave-evangelist, Caesar, indicated by the surviving references to the high demand for his preaching and related services, is a powerful confirmation to his skill as a communicator. His itinerant ministry was widespread within the association and sometimes beyond. Despite his fame, most historical treatments of Caesar's ministry have been expressed in one or two paragraphs.

Caesar's Popularity

A Negro slave, named Caesar, a bright, smart, robust fellow was ordained to preach. His ability was so marked, and the confidence which he enjoyed was so profound, that Rev. James McLemore would frequently have Caesar attend him upon his preaching tours. He was sometimes taken by Mr. McLemore into the pulpit, and never failed of commanding the most rapt and respectful attention....

In 1821, Caesar, a servant of John Blackwell, joined the Antioch church by experience and baptism. Two years after he was licensed by the church to preach the Gospel, and in 1827, he was solemnly ordained to the ministry by a Presbytery consisting of elders Harris, Davis, McLemore and Harrod. ... After he became the property of the Association, he made his home at Rev. Jas. McLemore's, who
owned his wife and only child. He was furnished with a horse to ride--and had an extensive library of books, and as he had been taught in early life to read and write, he spent his time, when not otherwise employed, in reading and study. 'Uncle Caesar' was an excellent mechanic, and before his strength failed, he devoted a part of his time working for the neighbors, who rewarded him liberally for his services. While thus engaged with his hands, he was in the habit of having his Bible, or some other good book before him, and occasionally reading a paragraph for study and meditation, and in this way he acquired much of that knowledge which elevated him above others of his race. As a preacher of the Gospel, 'Uncle Caesar' had few superiors in his day and generation.

Caesar's Death and Posthumous Recollections

The ABA trustees reported on "our late colored brother, Caesar." The report was referred to the Committee on Documents, which encouraged the trustees to finalize Caesar's affairs by the next year and to expend the necessary money for a tombstone. Caesar's affairs were not resolved, and the tombstone had not even been ordered. Once again the trustees were encouraged to bring the matter to closure.

When Caesar died in 1845, the ABA took note of his death and did so with profound appreciation. His trustees were authorized to sell his house and real estate in Montgomery. The proceeds were used to furnish his grave with a marble slab inscribed:

Sacred to the Memory of
REV. CAESAR BLACKWELL,
Who departed this life Oct. 10, 1845.
in the 76th year of his age.
He was a colored man, and a slave;
But he rose above his condition, and
was for 40 years a faithful and acceptable
preacher of the Gospel.
The stone is reared as a tribute of respect to his memory, by his brethren of The Alabama Baptist Association.

The marble slab today is obscured by shrubs only a few feet outside the fence that encloses the McLemore-Taylor Cemetery located in the posh neighborhood of Greystone in East Montgomery.

In remembering Caesar, one person wrote with much fondness:
When I used to see old Caesar coming down the lane to my father's house, Saturday evenings, that he might preach at the log church not far away the next day, I used to run with all my might to meet him. He would lift me from the ground and place me near the mule's wet ears and I would embrace and kiss old Caesar. I was only a child, but with the frosts of many winters on my head, whiter now than was old Caesar's then, I still love the memory and cherish it
as did my father and mother, till they, as I am, grew old and with old Caesar joined.., angels, whose melody doubtless provoked the celestial conflict of which I was dreaming.

---

Birmingham Photos of the Day (77): Off to Mexico!

On March 14, 1916, the U.S. Army began a little adventure down Mexico way. The impetus was the invasion of Columbus, New Mexico, on March 9 by paramilitary troops under the command of revolutionary Pancho Villa. About 500 of his men burned part of the town, and killed ten civilians and several members of the cavalry regiment stationed there. President Woodrow Wilson sent Brigadier General John J. Pershing and 10,000 men to Mexico to find Villa. 

After a month in Mexico, another faction of the Mexican revolution mustered troops to resist the U.S. invasion. American forces remained in Mexico until February 1917 when the country entered World War I, and Pershing was needed elsewhere.

Villa was never captured, but assassinated in 1923. You can read more about the Mexican Revolution here. 

These three photos show U.S. troops from Birmingham awaiting departure. Further comments below. 

"Birmingham Citizen Soldiery Leave for the Mexican Frontier.""Battery C Awaiting Orders to March."
From the rotogravure section of the Birmingham Age-Herald, Sunday, July 30, 1916

Source: Alabama Dept. of Archives and History

"Some of the Crowd Present to Say Farewell"
 From the rotogravure section of the Birmingham Age-Herald, 
Sunday, July 30, 1916

Source: Alabama Dept. of Archives and History 

 

"In Solemn Lines Thousands Bade the Boys Godspeed."
From the rotogravure section of the 
Birmingham Age-Herald, Sunday, July 30, 1916

Source: Alabama Dept of Archives and History

Alabama History & Culture News: October 27 edition

 

Here's the latest batch of links to just-published Alabama history and culture articles. Most of these items are from newspapers, with others from magazines and TV and radio station websites. Enjoy!

A Painter's Visions of Créolité in 19th-century Louisiana Hyperallergic A self-taught artist, former antiques dealer, and period history buff born in Mobile, Alabama and currently based in Savannah, Georgia, Hopkins makes ...

Fundraiser seeks donations for 'transformation' of Scottsboro Boys Museum Chattanooga Times Free Press ... Scottsboro Boys Museum and Cultural Center in Jackson County, Alabama, ... When local officials were discussing a historic walking trail in 2000, ...

A little background on Birmingham's Historic Greyhound Bus Station Bham Now Located at 618 19th Street North, the historic Greyhound Bus Station is a block away from Alabama School of Fine Arts (ASFA), Linn Park and City Hall ...

What reviewers are saying about 'The Witches,' set in Alabama al.com The storyline for the movie is based on a 1983 novel by British writer Dahl, but the location has been changed from Norway to Demopolis, Alabama.

Joel R. Anderson, philanthropist, paper money collector, dies at 76 Coin World Joel R. Anderson, of Florence, Alabama, known in the numismatic world as a ... Press; and Books-A-Million (the nation's second-largest book retailer).

John Evans Harbour, 77, founding member of Colonial Williamsburg Fifes and Drums WYDaily John was born March 29, 1943, in Gadsden, Alabama, and for the past 20 years, he was a resident of Williamsburg. ... He earned a Bachelor of Arts in History from Hampden-Sydney College in 1965 and was a charter member of ...

Rich film history in focus in Alabama Hills, California Las Vegas Review-Journal ... that Lone Pine is also home to the Alabama Hills, which draw people from around the world for their recreational opportunities and rich film history.

County included on historical commission interactive map Cullman Times Online “This continuing effort will eventually expand to all of Alabama's counties and future documentation of historic resources will be added.” Student interns ...

Voters could remove racist phrases from Alabama Constitution

WFMJ

In Alabama, history shows there's reason for supporters of the amendment to worry. Two decades ago, Alabama voters voted to repeal an unenforceable ...

Heritage Baptist Church, Montgomery, celebrates 50th anniversary Alabama Baptist Lonette Berg, executive director of the Alabama Baptist Historical Commission; Bobby DuBois, associate executive director of the Alabama Baptist ...

Monticello to receive new historical marker this weekend Troy Messenger Wes Allen was instrumental in assisting us in getting an Alabama Bicentennial Grant to purchase the maker,” Smith said. “We had planned to dedicate ...

Chelsea Middle staff members, students recognized for historical project Shelby County Reporter Rayl, Lovett and a team of students received a grant from the state aimed at preserving local history throughout Alabama. The Chelsea Middle School ...

Historical restaurant in Moulton to hold dedication ceremony Halloween Moulton Advertiser Moulton's "The Hot Spot" has been listed on Alabama's Historic Register, and owners Marvin and Elayne Jackson plan to hold a dedication ...

Timothy Leary at 100: How the counterculture icon got kicked out of the University of Alabama WIAT - CBS42.com ... man in America,” Timothy Leary was already making trouble in Alabama. ... continued to reach millions around the world through his books, lectures, ...

Remaking 'The Witches' for 2020: How the HBO Max film updates Roald Dahl's classic story Los Angeles Times Roald Dahl's 1983 novel “The Witches” has always been an especially ... the setting shifts from Europe to rural Alabama in 1968, and the cast gets a ...

New documentary explores Alabama 'Black Belt Blues' Alabama NewsCenter Some of the photos appeared in Ramsey's book, “Been Here and Gone,” but have never appeared in a film until now. Clem, the film's producer and ...

By the book: Flagg takes us back to Whistle Stop The Augusta Chronicle Why a new Fannie Flagg novel, of course. ... Stop,” Flagg fans will celebrate her return to the iconic fictional Alabama town, and she'll gain ... In the book, she explores spiritual friendships and community, the power of hospitality, and ...

The Witches Makes Family-Friendly Changes to Roald Dahl's Grimly Funny Book

Slate Magazine

... Norway, becomes Demopolis, Alabama. Though both movie and book use real places, both of the hotels where all the mousey action takes place ...

Matthew McConaughey's new book cover shot by Alabama photographer al.com ... McConaughey's new book “Greenlights” released this week, reminding us all to just keep livin', but we also noticed the familiar work of an Alabama .

The Boxer Who Played Joe Louis--Three Times

One of Alabama's most famous sports figures is boxer Joe Louis, whose career ran from 1934 until 1951. Considered one of the all-time greats, Louis defended his heavyweight title in 25 consecutive contests and had the longest reign in heavyweight boxing history. His two fights against German Max Schmeling in the 1930's were spectacles of the first order. On June 19, 1936, Schmeling gave Louis his first professional loss when he knocked the "Brown Bomber" out in the 12th round. For the rematch on June 22, 1938, the pair met in Yankee Stadium before a crowd of more than 70,000. Louis defeated Schmeling in the first round. In 2010 an eight foot statue of Louis by Casey Downing, Jr., was erected on the Chambers County Courthouse lawn. Louis was born in Lafayette. 

Naturally, Hollywood brought Louis to the screen in at least three biopics. In 1938 Louis himself had starred in a fictionalized account of his life, Spirit of Youth. The second one was  The Joe Louis Story from United Artists and released on September 18, 1953. Louis was played in that film by a professional boxer, Coley Wallace. Ring of Passion, a made-for-TV movie with Bernie Casey as Louis, appeared in 1978. 

Wallace was born April 5, 1927 in Jacksonville, Florida; he died  January 30, 2005, of heart failure in Harlem, NY. At the time of his death he was married to Pearlie-May Wallace; she died in 2016. The couple had a daughter named Pat. 

As an amateur, Wallace was New York Daily News Golden Gloves heavyweight champion in 1948 and 1949. In the 1948 semi-final he defeated Rocky Marciano in a split decision, an outcome unpopular with the crowd. Wallace is believed to be the only fighter ever to defeat Marciano. You can find more highlights from his amateur career here. 

Wallace's first professional fight took place in April 1950 and his final one in April 1956. In that period he had 29 bouts, with 22 wins [16 by knockout] and seven losses [four by knockout]. His best known pro opponent was probably Ezzard Charles, who defeated Wallace by a knockout in December 1953. Charles held a world heavyweight title and in 1950 defeated his idol Joe Louis who was at the end of his career. Another opponent was Jimmy Bivins, who defeated Wallace by a knockout in September 1952. Bivins never had a title fight, but defeated eight of eleven world champions he faced. He lost to Joe Louis in an August 1951 bout. 

Thus Wallace was in the midst of his professional boxing career when he made this film. In the early 1950's he also worked as a bouncer at the Savoy Ballroom, a legendary music and dancing venue in Harlem that operated from 1926 until 1958. Wallace was a referee in two bouts in 1974 and a judge in several fights in the 1980's. 

Wallace had small roles as Joe Louis in two later films, the 1979 TV movie Marciano and Martin Scorsese's classic Raging Bull [1980] based on the life of boxer Jake LaMotta. In 1956 he starred in a non-boxing film, Carib Gold, along with Ethel Waters. It's also the first known film role of Cicely Tyson. 

The Joe Louis Story has been released on VHS and DVD, and is available on Amazon Prime and for free on YouTube. The boxer's mother, Marva Louis, is played by Hilda Simms in the movie. 

More comments are below. 

Joe Louis [1914-1981] in 1941 

Source: Wikipedia

Source: Wikipedia

Coley Wallace [1927-2005]

Source: BoxRec

On May 14, 1953, Joe Louis and Coley Wallace stand in front of a 1951 poster for what turned out to be the Alabama heavyweight's last fight. Marciano won in the eighth round. 

Source: A 2011 commentary on the film by Louie Shields

This issue of Look magazine 3 November 1953 included an article "Corey Wallace Plays Joe Louis" on pages 86-89. Five photographs by Wil Blanche show Wallace training at his New Jersey gym, etc. 

Source: WorthPoint

Source: Wikipedia

Marciano was first broadcast on the ABC-TV network on 21 October 1979

Frankie Manning and Coley Wallace at the dedication of a Savoy Ballroom plaque 26 May 2002

Source

Wallace's grave in the Calverton Cemetery, Suffolk County, New York

Source: Find-A-Grave

Source: Wikipedia 

In this 1978 TV movie actor Bernie Casey portrays #Alabama native Joe Louis as he fights German Max Schmeling, losing the first fight 19 June 1936 but winning the rematch 22 June  1938 

An article about Louis by William Jerome appeared in the May-June 1937 issue of this magazine.