Visitors and newcomers often comment on Trussville's idyllic "Mayberry" qualities. Longtime residents take those attributes for granted. "That's just Trussville," they say, even as they jog down shady sidewalks, picnic on the banks of the Cahaba River, and gather at one of the city's many places of worship. But, today's Trussville did not happen without early residents forming a foundation for a strong and caring community. Images of America: Trussville highlights the mid-20th century, a time of building—literally and figuratively—a city of progress, yet in some ways frozen in a simpler time. As Trussville continues to transition from a Birmingham bedroom community to a multi-faceted municipality, it is important to remember those who positioned the city in reputation and reality to become that Mayberry kind of place. Or as the city's tagline describes it: "The Gateway to Happy Living."
Sandra Bearden, a former journalist, corporate writer/editor, and freelancer, has been a resident of Trussville for 36 years and has written about aspects of this unusual community for numerous publications. June Mathews writes for a variety of local, regional, and national publications. A Trussville resident for 43 years, she is a proud graduate of the historic school featured on the cover.