Alabama History & Culture News: August 15 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. Some articles may be behind a paywall. Enjoy!

Iconic Huntsville hardware store closing after nearly 100 years | News | waaytv.com WAAY-TV ... down in just a few months, leaving behind an iconic landmark in downtown Huntsville with nearly one hundred years of hardware history.

William Earl Campbell [William March], Sergeant, U.S Marine Corps, WWI Distinguished ... The Andalusia Star-News The novel was the first of his “Pearl County” series of books and short stories set in south Alabama, using fictional town names.

In 'Filthy Animals,' essayist Brandon Taylor reflects on his Southern roots and the joys of analog Chattanooga Times Free Press "FILTHY ANIMALS" by Brandon Taylor (Riverhead Books, 288 pages, $16). Brandon Taylor, the Alabama-born writer whose 2020 debut novel, "Real Life," ...

Local mayors to discuss Civil Rights Trail revitalization, preservation - WSFA WSFA (WSFA) - Four Alabama mayors will be meeting in the capital city Saturday to ... to preserve history so it does not die with the next generation.

Remember When: Early settlers of Covington County - The Andalusia Star-News

The Andalusia Star-News

Graves of early settlers in Magnolia Cemetery, pictured left is the site of A.J. Fletcher ... One of the first settlers of Alabama and Covington, ...

Novelist Andrew Sean Greer on Exploring Alabama for "Less Is Lost" - Esquire Esquire Andrew Sean Greer has traveled the world, but to research his latest novel, he went to one of the most foreign places he could imagine: Alabama.

Alabama archives transferring Native American remains to Indian tribes with ties to state

AL.com

The Alabama Department of Archives and History has closed and plans to redesign its exhibit on indigenous cultures.

Alabama's Historic Looney House severely damaged by fire—how you can help Bham Now ... the historic Looney House near Ashville suffered severe fire damage—now, locals are mobilizing to save the beloved structure. #Alabama ...

Frank Franz, longest-serving president in UAH history, dies - AL.com

AL.com

Frank Franz, whose 16-year tenure as president at the University of Alabama in Huntsville is the longest in the school's history, has died.

Africatown, Alabama - The Architects' Journal The Architects' Journal An open international contest is being held to re-imagine a series of historic sites in Africatown, Alabama [Deadline: 19 September 2022].

Irish priest who stood up to the KKK to be remembered 101 years later in Alabama IrishCentral An Irish-born priest who was murdered by the Ku Klux Klan in Alabama in ... with other history buffs in the IrishCentral History Facebook group.

Alabama Photo: Former Slaves of General Cantey

At the Alabama State Archives site linked below, we are given the following information about this photo:

"Winter Cantey, 85, and his wife, 83, at Fort Mitchell, former slaves of General Cantey. Winter served as his master's bodyguard in both the Mexican and Civil Wars." The date range given is 1900 to 1919. Hmm....Let's investigate. 

James Cantey served as an officer in the Mexican-American War and a brigadier general in the Confederate States Army. He died in 1874. An historical marker about him near his grave site, seen below, has this to say:

"Cantey fought in the Mexican War and received near mortal wounds. He was left among the dead but was rescued by his body servant whose plans were to bear him home for burial. The slave's detection of a faint sign of life caused heroic action that revived his master. For this deed the servant was offered his freedom which was refused."

So, was Winter Cantey the "body servant" who found his master near death and save his life? Perhaps so. I found this story in the Wikipedia entry on James Cantey linked above, which cited the historical marker as its source. The marker gives no source, so further research on that is needed. 

I did find a bit of further information on Winter. 

In the 1870 U.S. Census he is listed as Winter Canty [sic], born in South Carolina about 1825, a mulatto living at Fort Mitchell with wife Fannie. He was a farmer and six children were listed in the household ranging from 2 to 16 years of age. Winter and Fanny also appear in the 1900 U.S. Census; the couple is listed as being married 50 years. Winter is also listed in Russell County in the 1866 Alabama state census; females in the household are not named, just numbered. The two are also listed as registered voters in Russell County in 1867

I did not find Cantey or his wife at Find-A-Grave. At the U.S. wills and probate records on Ancestry.com I did find a will for Winter Cantey and a probate record. You can see it below. The will was dated February 15, 1913, and probated that same year on December 8 in Russell County. Winter and Fannie were living in Muscogee, Georgia at the time the will was written. I have found no other information about Winter's death, so presumably he died in 1913 after February 15. I've found nothing on Fanny. 

More comments below. 

Fannie and Winter Cantey 

Source: Alabama Dept of Archives and History

Winter left everything to his wife Fannie; daughter Lizzie Cantey is named executrix. Unfortunately, the will contains no inventory of property. 

These images are from the Historical Marker Database. The marker is located in the Fort Mitchell Historical Landmark Park in Russell County, at the Cantey family cemetery. 

Brig. Gen. James Cantey, CSA

Source: Wikipedia

Alabama History & Culture News: August 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. Some articles may be behind a paywall. Enjoy!

New curator hopes to broaden Alabama Music Hall of Fame - Charlotte Observer Charlotte Observer TUSCUMBIA, Ala. When Mickey Lollar walks through the Alabama Music Hall of Fame he senses more than a museum. He feels the history and story of ...

Alabama ghost towns: Lentzville | | enewscourier.com The News Courier The historical marker sits at the entrance to the Lentzville Cemetery and the old Methodist Church off Lentzville Road.

It's Way Too Hard to Put Up a Monument to Lynching Victims - The Daily Beast The Daily Beast Just off a street corner in Mobile, Alabama, a historic marker spells out the grisly details of Richard Robertson's 1909 lynching.

Historic Looney House in Alabama 'heavily damaged' in fire - al.com

AL.com

According to a historical marker at the house, “the two-story log house with double dog-trot is a rare example of pioneer architecture in Alabama.

Horseshoe Bend military park announces symposium | | kilgorenewsherald.com

Kilgore News Herald

All three authors are local Alabama historians including professors ... a historical archaeologist at University of South Alabama's Center for ...

Fire heavily damages historic John Looney House in Ashville - WVTM 13 Birmingham

WVTM 13 Birmingham

An historic Alabama building and tourist attraction in Ashville was heavily damaged by fire early Saturday morning. The city of Ashville issued a ...

Rollng Store coming to Pioneer Museum - The Troy Messenger The Troy Messenger The Pioneer Museum of Alabama has received a historical treasure from the Tourism Council of Bullock County — the Locklar Rolling Store that was ...

George Wallace in Wisconsin: Book explores how the Badger State helped elevate a ... The Milwaukee Independent Fifty years before Donald Trump upended politics in the U.S. and in the Badger State, Alabama Governor George C. Wallace, an ardent proponent of ...

'Sean of the South' to Publish New Book - Opelika Observer Opelika Observer ALABAMA ––. From celebrated storyteller “Sean of the South” comes a laugh-out-loud funny true story of a loving relationship, a grand adventure ...

Furr publishes new book on sociology of mental health Office of Communications and Marketing - Auburn University A new book by L. Allen Furr, professor emeritus of sociology, explores sociology's key contributions to the understanding of mental health ...

Alabama poet laureate Ashley M. Jones awarded $50000 grant from the Academy of American Poets The Birmingham Times Delegates will be chosen based on strength of application materials and a demonstrated history of working within the region on poetry projects and ...

Historical Marker: First Baptist Missionary Church 1875 and Midway Baptist Church Union Springs Herald The marker for the First Baptist Missionary Church 1875 was erected in 2000 by the Bullock County Historical Society and the Alabama Historical ...

For some clergy in the past, facilitating abortions was faith in action - The Washington Post The Washington Post Lisa Lindquist Dorr, a professor of history at the University of Alabama, is working on a book on abortion in the South

James Shipley, one of the last surviving Tuskegee Airmen, laid to rest FOX6 News Milwaukee ... was laid to rest at the Veterans Cemetery in Higginsville, Missouri. ... his basic training at the Tuskegee Institute in Tuskegee, Alabama.

New Chapel Baptist celebrates 75th anniversary The Alabama Baptist Ellen Dewberry (left) from the Alabama Baptist Historical Commission presented a certificate. The church recognized Donna Jones, clerk and Sunday ...

Bayer Properties, The OPAL Fund have started contruction on the historic Hardwick Steel Plant AL.com The Pizitz is home to Alabama's first food hall and Warby Parker; Forge, the city's first large coworking space; the only independent film screening ...

Decatur's historic McEntire House to be redeveloped as boutique hotel | The Bama Buzz The Bama Buzz A beloved historic home in Decatur is getting new life! ... About Decatur's historic McEntire House. Decatur ... Alabama Center of Real Estate.

2 new businesses bring Troy's historic square to full occupancy - WSFA WSFA The Troy Square, built in the early 1900s, is still open for business and is now adding two new storefronts!

Timeline of events in the 84-year history of the Bama Theatre - Tuscaloosa News Tuscaloosa News A banner strung outside declares the Bama “Alabama's Finest and Most Modern Showplace." Grand opening of the Bama Theatre in 1938 Online archive.

LIST: The shortest-serving governors in Alabama history - WHNT.com WHNT.com The governor's mansion in Montgomery has been home to more than 50 chief executives since Alabama became a state in 181

Alabama Library Association in 1904

I began working at Auburn University's Draughon Library in 1973; in 2015, I retired as librarian for the UAB Department of Anesthesiology. In between those places I worked at Tuscaloosa Public Library. Thus, if my math is correct, I worked for 42 years in libraries in Alabama, academic, public, and medical. So I thought for my 801st blog post I'd discuss this little publication, the Proceedings of the First Meeting of the Alabama Library Association, an account of the gathering held in Montgomery on November 14, 1904. 

I've written some other pieces on library history in the state. The topics include Carnegie libraries, the state's first library, libraries in Alabama in 1851, unusual libraries in Birmingham, bookmobiles and traveling libraries, and medical libraries. I'm also working on "Alabama Libraries Before 1920: A Chronology in Progress" found here. 

Papers presented at the meeting are included in this book, but as can be seen in the contents below most address general library topics with little or no Alabama content. The one exception is Thomas Owen's "Public and School Libraries in Alabama" which is an attempt to list those libraries in the state operating at that time. 

Perhaps the most useful material here is the listing of officers and charter members. This provides a snapshot of the library community in Alabama in 1904, both actual librarians and the friends of libraries. One of the latter was Russell Cunningham, M.D., then Lieutenant Governor of the state. Others included John Abercrombie, President of the University of Alabama, and novelist Frances Nimmo Greene, who at that time was principal of Capitol Hill School in Montgomery. Thomas Owen was founder and director of the state archives, the first such organization in the U.S. His wife is listed as Mrs. Thomas Owen. She was Marie Bankhead Owen, a member of the prominent political Bankhead family and aunt to actress Tallulah. She would become director of the archives for 35 years after her husband died in 1920.  

A preliminary announcement with a tentative program was issued prior to this meeting. That publication also contained the announcement of a second meeting to be held in Mobile in 1905 and included a tentative program. That program indicates more papers with Alabama material would be presented. 

In his "Prefatory Note" Owen acknowledges "the work of the meeting was not in any way notable", due to the fact that library development in the state was only beginning. He felt the papers would especially aid "the village librarian, the struggling teacher, and the poorly equipped library assistant" rather than the state's professionals, which were few at the time. Presumably he would be pleased to see the development of both libraries and librarians in Alabama over the past 100 years. 

In 1962 Jean Le Furgey Hoffman completed a dissertation at Florida State University, "The Alabama Library Association, 1904-1939: A History of Its Organization, Growth and Contribution to Library Development." That dissertation can be downloaded as a PDF here. The Alabama Library Association's web site provides information on current activities. 

I've written about a 1922 silent film based on one of Greene's novels here.

The meeting was held at the new Carnegie Library in Montgomery at the corner of Adams and Perry Street. 

Alabama History and Culture News: July 31 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. Some articles may be behind a paywall. Enjoy!

Theater Review: M Ensemble's "Blues for an Alabama Sky" at Sandrell Rivers Theater Miami New Times Miami's M Ensemble first presented "Blues for an Alabama Sky" in the ... Tommy Kwak Captures Miami Beach's Lifeguard Towers in New Photo Book.

The Haunted Book Shop moving to new digs - FOX10 News FOX10 News (WALA) - Mobile's funkiest bookstore, The Haunted Book Shop, is on the move. ... CDC: More than a dozen cases of monkeypox in Alabama ...

Neo-gothic debut novel satirizes reality television | DON NOBLE - Tuscaloosa News Tuscaloosa News Lee Rozelle is an Alabamian, raised, he says, in “backwoods Alabama,” by which I think he means northeast Alabama. He also says he was raised by ...

Historic Commission receives national honor | Alabama Mountains

Spot On Alabama

The Decatur Historic Preservation Committee has been honored with a national award for the creation of an educational booklet.

Hobson City announces Founder's Day details Yahoo News 27—HOBSON CITY — Ministry and history will be the highlighted themes for ... Alabama Historical Commission and the Alabama Black Heritage Council.

'Art is history': National Endowment for the Arts chair visits Alabama Black Belt artists Montgomery Advertiser Alabama artists gathered in Selma last week to discuss the joys and hardships of supporting the arts, especially in rural parts of the state.

A New Orleans tradition continues at this historic Alabama restaurant - al.com AL.com For the staff at the historic, 115-year-old Bright Star restaurant in Bessemer, Ala., the annual Night in New Orleans celebration is like ...

Buckeyes get 'goosebumps' visiting historic sites in Alabama - Ohio State News

Ohio State News - The Ohio State University

They also toured the Civil Rights Memorial Center, the Alabama Department of Archives and History and the Equal Justice Initiative Legacy Museum, ...

Alabama finds ways to narrate complex and painful Civil Rights history with new cultural sites - iNews iNews The state will soon unveil its latest memorial, remembering 'Clotilda', the last known slave ship to arrive in the US that was discovered in the ...

Local businessman, former Auburn trustee Michael McCartney dies at 88 - Gadsden Times Gadsden Times Burial will follow in Forrest Cemetery. ... “My dad started a little construction business here in Gadsden, Alabama, and wanted me to come home," ...

102-year-old WWII veteran from segregated mail unit honored in Alabama - CBS 42 CBS 42 Romay Davis, 102, will be recognized for her service at an event at Montgomery City Hall. It follows President Joe Biden's decision in March to ...

Alabama Girl Becomes Youngest Black Med Student in US History - The Root The Root Alabama Girl Becomes Youngest Black Med Student in US History. Alena Analeigh Wicker will begin her med school studies in 2024.

Gadsden's Miss Alabama celebrates 75 years of her title Gadsden Messenger Featured Photo: Pictured above, Miss Alabama 1947 Peggy Elder Butler (left) and her ... We've had three Miss Americas in the Miss Alabama history.

Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame chosen for "Southern Cultural Treasure" program by South Arts Bham Now The Carver Theatre in Birmingham's Fourth Avenue Historic District. (Jacob Blankenship / Bham Now). On Thursday, July 21, Councilor Carol Clarke ...

15 Alabama restaurants that have stood the test of time - al.com

AL.com

Rich in history and renowned for its sweet-and-tangy orange rolls, the All Steak Restaurant has been a Cullman institution for nearly 85 years.

Historic 135-year-old Homewood Church Makes Plans For Future Generations The Birmingham Times Since the man is in his 90s, the Union Missionary Baptist Church will have to dismantle the organ and bring it to his home in Central Alabama to .

Part of Historic Area in Downtown Opelika Destroyed by Fire - Alabama News Network Alabama News Network Fire crews from Opelika and neighboring areas spent the overnight hours battling a large fire in the city's historic area. The fire happened in a ...

How Wisconsin helped propel an Alabama governor onto the national stage Wisconsin Examiner Book explores George Wallace's appeal in the Badger State as he took aim at ... Alabama governor George Wallace shaking hands with members of the .

Legacy remains of WSY, Alabama's first radio station Alabama NewsCenter But the company's embrace of another cutting-edge technology, just 16 years after Alabama Power's incorporation, is also historic. One hundred years ...

Alabama ghost towns: Coffee Pot, Scarce Grease, and Cotton Port | | enewscourier.com The News Courier “While none of the graves were identified at the time, and in fact, most of the bodies were nothing but dust in wooden boxes by that time, ...