Oxford

9781467107051

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Located primarily in the southernmost regions of Calhoun County with portions in Talladega and Cleburne Counties, Oxford was established on February 7, 1852, by an act of state legislation. Oxford, originally referred to as Lick Skillet, was settled in the 1830s by the Snow and Simmons families. The economy of Oxford for many decades was primarily based on self-sustaining agriculture and trade. During the post-Civil War era, Oxford boomed as a cotton training destination, which assisted in the economic prosperity of cotton production in the 1880s. In the 20th century, Oxford prospered as a cotton manufacturing town with the establishment of Blue Springs Cotton Mill. The business district thrived with numerous drug, dry goods, and mercantile stores. Oxford Lake was the hub of recreation for the county, featuring a dance hall, bowling alley, trolley lines, and boat rides. The people of Oxford deeply believed in family values, education, and faith.

Wicked North Alabama

9781596297531

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Even in paradise, evil sometimes creeps in.

Thoughts of Alabama invite images of Confederate jasmine and fertile cotton fields, sweet iced tea and Southern hospitality, but there's a darker side to the state's history. Some of the stories captured within the pages of this book are well known to the good folks of North Alabama; others are less familiar. The scandals of Lincoln's brother-in-law, the reign of terror created by Huntsville's Southwest Molester, the Decatur man who buried his wife's dismembered body under the fish pond and the beautiful Black Widow of Hazel Green--all of these stories are well researched and masterfully written by Huntsville author Jacquelyn Procter Reeves. True-crime fans will appreciate this treasury of stories spanning nearly two hundred years of North Alabama history.

Lawrence County

9781467108355

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Lawrence County was founded on February 6, 1818, the year before Alabama became a state, from lands ceded by the Cherokee and Chickasaw. It is a rural county bordered to the north by the Tennessee River and to the south by the waterfall-rich Bankhead National Forest and filled with small vibrant communities. Moulton, the county seat, features a picturesque square. Courtland, an antebellum town, was once a bustling railroad port. Featured topics include Southern architecture, leaving for war, the railroad boom, cotton agriculture, and industry. Notable individuals highlighted include Jesse Owens, Gen. Joseph Wheeler, and Annie Wheeler.

Baseball in Huntsville

9781467152693

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The Rocket City Trash Pandas, who made their Class AA South debut last summer, rekindled the interest in professional baseball in this area. As a journalist, it rekindled my interest in looking at the team with some historical context, to the first baseball team in the area (in 1903, with Ty Cobb as a visiting player) to the arrival of the first affiliated team (in 1985) and its ultimate demise. I discovered interesting characters of the early days (the first "graduate" from Huntsville to the majors once placed a dead rat in a sportswriter's bed, perhaps a precursor to the horse's head in The Godfather). The Huntsville Stars era was populated with some legendary players, like Jose Canseco, who was the league MVP in the first year of the franchise, Mark McGwire, Tim Hudson, Ryan Braun and Nelson Cruz. The Huntsville area also produced some fascinating players like Gabby Street, famous for catching a ball dropped from the top of the Washington Monument, Jimmy Key, Craig Kimbrel and our "Mr. Baseball," Don Mincher, who homered in his first World Series at-bat, enjoyed a 14-year career in the majors, became a team general manager, owner and, ultimately, president of the Southern League. Even as people embrace the freshness of the Trash Pandas, so often the conversation will turn to "I remember when…" moments from the Stars' era.

Montgomery's Civil Heritage Trail

9781467135474

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Montgomery's cultural heritage reflects two of America's most transformative struggles: the Civil War and the civil rights movement. On February 18, 1861, Jefferson Davis was inaugurated as president of the Confederate States of America on the Alabama Capitol steps. Those same steps marked the final destination of the Selma–Montgomery voting rights march on March 25, 1965. The telegram to fire on Fort Sumter originated from the Winter Building on Court Square on April 11, 1861. Just down the street, and a century later, Mrs. Rosa L. Parks refused to give up her seat, sparking the Montgomery Bus Boycott. Discover these compelling stories and more surrounding the historical landmarks along Montgomery's Civil Heritage Trail.

Cover image for Montgomery's Civil Heritage Trail, isbn: 9781467135474

Albertville

9780738516646

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Beautiful Albertville, Alabama, originally settled in the mid-1800s, is home to a special community that has endured many trials and tribulations throughout its history. The town, once known as Jones Chapel, was named in honor of Thomas Albert by his son-in-law, J.C. Miller, who established the town's first post office. Albertville remained fairly secluded until the arrival of L.S. Emmett in 1881; this pioneer opened a mercantile store and thrust the town into a significant period of growth. Despite the fact that the town experienced its fair share of growing pains-including two fires in 1904 and a cyclone in 1908-its citizens have provided the impetus to keep moving forward.

Over 200 vintage photographs from the Albertville archives, family and church collections, and the author's private collection illustrate the successful story of the town of Albertville.

Coal Mining in Jefferson County

9780738582177

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Uniquely, Jefferson County had all of the elements necessary for the fabrication of iron and steel within its borders. Coal, limestone, and iron ore all lay within close proximity to Birmingham. The right amounts of business acumen, industrial planning, and labor force came together creating the industry that made Birmingham the "Magic City." The coal mining towns in the Birmingham Industrial District have rich histories--a Hollywood movie was made in one, a novel was written about another, and a soccer championship was won in yet another town. These coal towns and the miners who lived in them are as responsible as anyone for the birth of Birmingham industry.

Tennessee River and Northwest Alabama

9781467129824

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This pictorial history illustrates the Tennessee River's influence on Northwest Alabama and people, places, and events that have shaped the area’s cultural and natural history.

For centuries, the Tennessee River has shaped the lives of northwest Alabamians. Native peoples made their homes on its shores, living on the rich resources found in its waters and on its banks. Early Europeans and Americans recognized the river's importance in connecting east with west, although traveling the 40-mile stretch of rocky shoals between present-day Decatur and Florence was difficult. Overcoming that navigation challenge led to such 19th-century technological advances as the Tuscumbia, Courtland & Decatur Railroad—the first rail line west of the Appalachian Mountains—and the Muscle Shoals Canal. During the Civil War, skirmishes over control of factories, rail lines, and bridges characterized most military activity in northwest Alabama. In the 20th century, the construction of Wilson Dam and the creation of the Tennessee Valley Authority improved the quality of life and increased economic opportunities in northwest Alabama.

Cover image for Tennessee River and Northwest Alabama, isbn: 9781467129824

Alexander City

9780738588049

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The story of Alexander City began hundreds of years ago with members of the Creek Nation who lived along the rivers and streams in what is now central Alabama. Alabama gained statehood in 1819 following the Battle of the Horseshoe Bend in 1814 and ceding of Creek lands. With the final cessions of land in 1832 and removal of Native Americans in 1837, settlers arrived with their families, some purchasing lots drafted by Griffin Young in the town square. The arrival of the railroad in 1874 resulted in the town's name changing from Youngsville to Alexander City to honor Edward P. Alexander, president of the Savannah and Memphis Railroad. Early commerce flourished with the opening of the Alexander City Mill in 1901. Within a year, the entire town and nearby residences burned. The pioneer spirit of the people prevailed, and the town was rebuilt within weeks. In the early 20th century, the successes of Avondale Mills and Russell Corporation provided an economic environment where hometown businesses, schools, and churches thrived.

Legends and Lore of Birmingham and Central Alabama

9781626193963

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From Jasper to Selma to Hoover, central Alabama is bursting at the seams with unique stories and legendary characters. Read about the Goat Man, the famous wandering traveler who wrestled a bear, narrowly avoided being lynched by the Ku Klux Klan, was pronounced dead and taken to the morgue and later became an ordained preacher. Learn the story of the Alabama White Thang, a seven-foot-tall creature covered in white hair that has appeared all over the region. Be charmed by Fred, the Rockford town dog that became everyone's best friend and had his fifteen minutes of fame on Animal Planet. Author Beverly Crider brings the most bizarre facets of the Alabama spirit to life with dozens of strange stories in central Alabama.

Legends and Lore of Birmingham and Central Alabama

Christmas Tales of Alabama

9781609491550

$14.99 $11.24 Save 25%

It's the most wonderful time of the year, especially in Alabama. Celebrate the spirit of the season with these tales of Christmases past from the heart of Dixie. There is the story of Helen Keller's first Christmas memories in Tuscumbia, the tale of how Birmingham native Hugh Martin penned the classic tune Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, visions of all the impressive Christmas light displays throughout the state and much more. In a collection of tales that range from the heartwarming to the heartbreaking, Alabama author Kelly Kazek culls from over two hundred years of Christmas celebrations in the state and offers up a gift that no one will want to be without come Christmas morning.

Cover image for Christmas Tales of Alabama, isbn: 9781609491550

Prattville, Alabama

9781609491949

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In 1833, a New Hampshire industrialist named Daniel Pratt moved south. Pratt established the largest cotton gin factory in the world and, with it, a town known fittingly as Prattville. Soon this humble hamlet outside Montgomery became an industrial hub, fueling Alabama's antebellum cotton production. Prattville weathered the Civil War and recovered faster than any other Alabama town, as Pratt collected on debts owed from his Northern accounts. Since then, Prattville has continued to grow in important ways, gradually shifting from an industrial epicenter to a forward-looking city and a beloved hometown. Through floods, tornadoes, damaging fires and shifting economic conditions, Prattville and its townspeople endured. Now, authors Marc and Melissa Parker ensure that Prattville's history will also endure by recounting the Fountain City's proud heritage.

Brewton and East Brewton

9780738587516

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Brewton was founded by settlers in the early 1800s and was built by the lumber barons who found a wealth of trees in the area. The city is a direct travel route to and from the beaches of Alabama and west Florida and is located midway between Montgomery and Mobile. Its largest employers are Georgia-Pacific and T.R. Miller Mill Company. Culturally, the town has several wonderful parks for relaxing and catching entertainment, and the Greater Brewton Council of the Arts hosts several performances every year. Brewton has recently been named "One of the Best Small Towns of America." The East Brewton area has been settled as long as Brewton but was only incorporated in 1918. East Brewton and Brewton share many facilities, such as the YMCA and the Greater Brewton Area Chamber of Commerce.

Birmingham Landmarks

9781596297388

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Though the landscape has certainly changed, many of Birmingham's early landmarks--testaments to the steelworkers who built the city after the Civil War, as well as those who have since prospered here--remain. In Birmingham Landmarks, Alabama native Victoria Myers explores the Magic City's most prominent industrial and cultural features. Step back in time to discover Rickwood Field, one of America's oldest baseball parks, and the Carver Theater, the only venue that allowed African Americans to view first-run movies before the civil rights movement. Find out why Birmingham is known as the Pittsburgh of the South at Sloss Furnaces and learn the secrets of Vulcan, who was commissioned for the 1904 World's Fair and has become one of the state's most recognizable monuments.

USS Alabama

9781455627769

$19.99 $14.99 Save 25%

Home to thousands of US sailors, the USS Alabama fought bravely in World War II, but after she finished her service, the battleship was set to be scrapped. The people of Alabama decided they had to save the ship named for their proud state. No one was more determined than Alabama's schoolchildren. Author Karyn Tunks traces the story of the children's efforts in this informative and entertaining account. Tunks reveals a wealth of detail about life at sea before the ship was decommissioned and the many challenges Alabamians faced in securing the ship's permanent home. Artist Julie Dupré Buckner captures the feeling of the era in her detailed, vivid illustrations of the ship, those who called her home, and those who saved her for future generations. Complete with a glossary, illustrated ship's diagram, and timeline, USS Alabama: Hooray for the Mighty A! offers beginning readers a glimpse of the fascinating history of the battleship and how even the smallest of actions can produce incredible results.

Monroeville

9780738502045

$24.99 $18.74 Save 25%

For 39 years, people from all over the world and all walks of life have come to the small town of Monroeville, Alabama, in search of a place called Maycomb. They come in search of a story that have moved millions of people with its enduring message, and in search of the world of the storyteller. Monroeville: The Search for Harper Lee's Maycomb explores the relationship between Harper Lee's hometown and the setting of her Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, To Kill a Mockingbird. Born in response to the curiosities of visitors to the Monroe County Heritage Museums, this book explores the parallels between the tow worlds through vintage images and informative captions. Included are photographs of the Lee family and the author in her early years; the sights of Monroeville that undoubtedly inspired the setting of Maycomb; the cast of the Oscar-winning film adaptation that premiered in 1963; and the Mockingbird Players, a group of Monroeville residents who, each year in May, present an authentic production of the two-act play adapted by Christopher Sergel. Among the visitors to Monroeville are teachers and lawyers making a pilgrimage to Atticus' courtroom, scholars in search of unanswered questions, and fans of the novel trying to capture a glimpse of Scout's world. The Monroe County Heritage Museums, under the direction of Kathy McCoy, made this possible in 1991 with the opening of the Old Courthouse Museum on the town square. Visitors now leave Monroeville feeling as if they walked the streets of Maycomb on a hot summer day, enchanted by the imagined presence of Sout, Jem, and Dill exploring their neighborhood in an era of tumultuous change.

Cullman

9780738598765

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Although German immigrants were not the first to settle in the area now known as Cullman, they are the ones who put the city on the map by incorporating the town in 1874. The original five families that Col. John G. Cullmann recruited to colonize the town quickly grew into many more. With the assistance of local people, the Germans adapted to their new environment, and the colony took root. The strong German heritage and influence is still widespread today. Cullman was, and still is, an agricultural town. Immigrants discovered that cotton, sweet potatoes, and strawberries would readily grow in the area, and they wasted no time in filling the earth with these and other crops. Cullman also thrived on other industry, including numerous factories and merchants. The railroad running through the town played no small part in both the colonization and success of Cullman.

Bluff Park

9780738590998

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The community of Bluff Park is home to a variety of residents, ranging from retirees to working families. Historically speaking, Bluff Park was first developed as a mountain resort and summer vacation site. Gardner Cole Hale bought the mountain property in the 1860s and called it Hale Springs. One of the first recorded uses of the name Bluff Park was with the Bluff Park Hotel, built in 1907. After its resort days, the area became more residential. Several of the founding families in Bluff Park settled on the mountain, building homes and farms. One such family, the Hales, ran a lumber mill, a cotton gin, and an icehouse. The Tyler family ran a large dairy farm after they moved to the area around 1888. The community school started around 1899 as a one-room schoolhouse and church, and Bluff Park Elementary is now one of the top elementary schools in the city of Hoover.

Leeds

9780738591254

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Although Leeds State Bank opened in 1910, the small city's history as the primary population center of the Cahaba Valley started by 1810, when European woodsmen came through Tennessee to live along the Cahaba Trail with the Cherokee Indians. By 1821, Henry Little, a Scottish descendant, built his log home near an existing gristmill. In 1857, he rebuilt the mill as his version of the regionally famous Fuller's Mill. Early settlements consisted of Europeans and Cherokees who remembered the American Revolution and who fought in the War of 1812, which they believed was a second revolution. Free African Americans arrived in the 1880s with the building of the railroad, bringing added ingenuity. All founding groups were Americans who demonstrated their sense of community, value of education, and reverence for God as they began a Leeds heritage that includes three Medal of Honor recipients, as well as famous statesmen, scholars, athletes, entertainers, and builders.

Tuscaloosa

9780738587882

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Tuscaloosa (Choctaw for black warrior) is one of the oldest cities in West Alabama. It shares its name with a chief who fought Spanish conquistador Hernando de Soto in 1540 and a river that stretches from the Appalachian foothills in the north-central region to the floodplain and lowlands of the south. Called The Druid City since the 1800s, when large water oaks lined its main streets, Tuscaloosa remains a center of industry, commerce, health care, education, and cultural life, with the university being its dominant source. The former capital (from 1826 to 1846) is affiliated with the Alabama Crimson Tide, catfish, Dreamland, the Black Warrior River, a strong folk and craft tradition, and Gov. George Wallace's 1963 stand at the schoolhouse door.

Cover image for Tuscaloosa, isbn: 9780738587882

Childersburg

9780738542218

$24.99 $18.74 Save 25%

The oldest continuously occupied city in America, Childersburg, Alabama, is a place with an ancient and distinctive past. This area, once known as Coza (Coca, Coosa), was the political capital of Chief Tushkalusa's far-reaching empire covering all the area from the Ohio River to the Mississippi. Coza's population in 1540 was estimated to be between 30,000 and 40,000, according to de Soto's chroniclers. De Soto's army left at least two Spaniards here when they departed for Mauvilla: a sick black man and a white man named Furada. These two men became the first black and white settlers in the territory now known as Alabama. This book will document the history of Childersburg in over 200 images, including the earliest photographs of the city and the ancestors of its citizens. The population boom period during World War II is documented, as well as the history of Kymulga Cave, now known as DeSoto Caverns Park.

Cherokee County

9780738505879

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Within these pages, the Cherokee County's rich and varied history is illuminated by vintage photographs, and its past is brought to life in the faces of its early settlers.

Created in 1836 from land held formerly by the Cherokee Indians, Cherokee County is situated in the northeast corner of Alabama, bordered by Georgia to the east.The families of the Reverend Whitefield Anthony and others settled at Mudd Creek in 1831 in what was to become Cherokee County. From these first families developed a community that would grow and change along with a young and bustling America, welcoming new industries, farming fertile lands, and building churches and schools to feed the hearts and minds of its young. The photographs in this volume, illustrating the county's past as well as how it looks in the present day, were culled from a variety of sources, including the Cherokee County History Museum, the Pine Grove Baptist Church, and the private collections of many local families. Coupled with a historical narrative, these glimpses of yesteryear will evoke fond memories for all who have made Cherokee County home.

Gadsden

9781467112239

$24.99 $18.74 Save 25%

Gadsden began as a small stagecoach stop on the banks of the Coosa River, where weary travelers could rest while traveling between Jacksonville and Huntsville. Known as Double Springs, the small settlement consisted of several log dwellings, a store, a school, and a post office. In 1840, the coming of Gabriel Hughes and his wife, Asenath, followed by Gabriel's brother Joseph Hughes, led to the founding of a new town that would eventually grow into Gadsden. In the days before and during World War II, new industry brought jobs to the Gadsden Ordnance Plant and civilian jobs to Camp Sibert. Following the end of the war, the area experienced a return to normalcy and a great time of growth when Gadsden's fighting men returned home. Gadsden has also been blessed with exceptional leadership over the years, which has propelled it from a small village on the banks of the Coosa River to the "City of Champions" and an All-America City.

Montevallo

9780738587431

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Montevallo: a mountain in a valley. This bucolic, natural phrase aptly describes the beauty of this central Alabama town. Early settlers were drawn to the area by its abundant agricultural and mineral resources, and in 1826, the tiny village of Montevallo was born. The nature of the town changed significantly in 1896 with the founding of the Alabama Girls' Industrial School, now the University of Montevallo. The Olmsted Brothers firm of Brookline, Massachusetts, laid out the central campus, and its master plan still inspires current development. Since 1896, the focus of the town has shifted from agriculture and mining to education. The university's mission is to be Alabama's "Public Liberal Arts College." Prominent figures include writer and veteran E. B. Sledge, actresses Polly Holliday and Rebecca Luker, and Major League Baseball player Rusty Greer.

Birmingham Food

9781626198074

$21.99 $16.49 Save 25%

Birmingham began as a boomtown filled with immigrants who held on to the best recipes from their homelands. More recently, locals like Frank Stitt and Carole Griffin helped transform the modern southern city into a foodie destination with the best of national trends. Andrew Zimmern visited with his show Bizarre Foods America to tout one of the city's most popular food trucks, Shindigs. Fast casual dining is done with care, and gems like Trattoria Centrale and Bettola are dedicated to local ingredients. Join food writer and restaurant enthusiast Emily Brown as she details the delectable history of food in the Magic City.

Cover image for Birmingham Food, isbn: 9781626198074

Riverchase

9781467117401

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If residents of the original c. 1900s mining town of Acton, Alabama, looked into the future, would they have imagined that the area would develop into the multimillion-dollar planned community it is today? In the late 1960s, John M. Harbert III (1921-1995), founder of Harbert Corporation, saw tremendous potential for land in Acton owned by the Chace brothers. In 1974, the Harbert Corporation partnered with Equitable Life Assurance Society of the United States to form Harbert-Equitable Joint Venture, Riverchase. This plan was not a concrete jungle of homes and businesses. The venture called for a careful blending of new development with its surrounding natural landscape. This plan spoke to man's need to be part of nature, albeit in a new and responsible way. Today, Riverchase is a picturesque community steeped in land preservation, business development, and community pride. The story of Riverchase is conveyed through the memories of its residents in Images of Modern America: Riverchase.

160 Years of Samford University

9780738513539

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Stately Samford University, established in 1841 as Howard College, is a treasured institution of higher learning in Alabama, consistently ranked among the best regional universities in the nation.

Well known for the quality of education it offers and for its stunning Georgian-Colonial campus, Samford boasts a long and fascinating history, illuminated here in a collection of vintage photographs. With images ranging from informal to formal, routine to remarkable, tragic to hilarious, this engaging retrospective delves into the heart of the school's heritage--its people. The aspirations of all who have called Samford home and those who have supported its mission come to life in snapshot memories of centuries past. Highlights of the book include extensive coverage of the East Lake campus years; the first experiment in coeducation; the earliest known photographs of the Marion campus; the infamous ""liberation"" of a rival college's mascot; the courage of student journalists in the 1970s; the story of Harry, the slave who gave his life saving students; and Samford University's latest educational innovations and architectural marvels. Rarely seen photographs from the university's Special Collection department, supplemented by informative, entertaining captions, offer Samford students, faculty, staff, alumni, and friends a chance to relive some of the most memorable moments in the school's history.

Tuscaloosa

9781467114363

$24.99 $18.74 Save 25%

In the 1960s, Tuscaloosa drew national attention when the University of Alabama was fully integrated. The decade also marked the arrival of Paul Bear Bryant as head coach of Alabama's football team and the majority of Frank Anthony Rose's tenure as president—a period characterized by race mediation and increases in enrollment, assets, and academic standards. For the next 50 years, sports, education, cultural and recreational opportunities, and business developments contributed to the city and the lifestyles of its residents. Tuscaloosa has associations with people such as F. David Mathews (who concurrently served as president of Alabama and as a secretary under Pres. Gerald Ford), writer Richard Yates (Revolutionary Road), actress Sela Ward, and quarterback Joe Namath.

Cover image for Tuscaloosa, isbn: 9781467114363

Fort Morgan

9780738505749

$23.99 $17.99 Save 25%

Fort Morgan has stood sentry on the Gulf of Mexico for almost 200 years. This pictorial history illustrates the people and events that have shaped its history.

Following the War of 1812, the United States embarked upon a major building program to improve the nation's seacoast defenses. A project was begun on Mobile Bay that would take almost twelve years to complete, plagued by harsh conditions, a lack of resources, and financial burdens. The end result, completed and opened in March of 1834, was Fort Morgan. Fort Morgan has played many key roles in the nation's military. During the Civil War, Fort Morgan provided covering fire for blockade runners entering and leaving Mobile Bay. The fort fell into disrepair after the Civil War as military planners thought it had outlived its usefulness. Between 1895 and 1904, five modern reinforced concrete batteries rose from the sands. At the peak of operations between 1910 and 1918, more than one hundred structures dotted the Mobile Bay landscape. This unique pictorial retrospective explores the growth and change at Fort Morgan, allowing the reader a chance to step back in time to the days when our nation's military fortifications provided a sense of security and protection to every citizen. Included are images culled from the Fort Morgan Museum, the National Archives and Records, and private collections. These vintage photographs depict every aspect of the fort's history, from the damage caused by the Union siege guns to the days following World War II when the fort was temporarily turned into a resort, and from the Confederates who worked to strengthen Mobile's lower defense line to the devastation of the hurricanes in 1906 and 1916.

Calhoun County

9781467109697

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Calhoun County, formerly known as Benton County, lies in northeastern Alabama in the Coosa Valley region at the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. Much of the history of the area has been documented in photographs archived at the Public Library of Anniston-Calhoun County in the Alabama Room, which provides historical and genealogical reference for the area.

Haunted North Alabama

9781596299900

$23.99 $17.99 Save 25%

Join author and Huntsville resident Jessica Penot on a terrifying trip through the chilling and ghost-filled destinations of North Alabama.

Nestled in the scenic foothills of southern Appalachia, in the center of the Tennessee Valley, North Alabama is known for its natural beauty. Peppered with antebellum mansions and historic homesteads, it is a region rich in history, brimming with a unique cultural heritage. Yet amidst the beauty of these rolling hills and historic features, something dark lurks below the surface. The haunted spirits of the past run as wild as the Tennessee River through North Alabama.

From Florence to Huntsville to Albertville and points in between, Haunted North Alabamaoffers a broad survey of the history of haunted destinations in the upper regions of Alabama. Packed with over 20 haunted locales, Haunted North Alabama is required reading for anyone interested in learning about the history of the phantom spirits that call the heart of Dixie home.

A Culinary Tour Through Alabama History

9781467149730

$21.99 $16.49 Save 25%

One of the surest ways to connect with the past is to sample what was on its plate. That's the goal with this gustatory journey through Alabama history. Sweetmeats with the governor's lonely, oft-depressed wife in 1832 Greensboro. Shrimp and crabmeat casserole at a long-departed preacher's house at the Gaines Ridge Dinner Club in Camden. Pimento cheese and tea with notes of cinnamon and citrus at the Bragg-Mitchell Mansion in Mobile. Poundcake from Georgia Gilmore's kitchen in Montgomery, where workaday freedom fighters and luminaries of the civil rights movement sought sustenance. Author Monica Tapper serves up a stick-to-your-ribs trek through Alabama history, providing classic recipes modified for the modern kitchen along the way.

Haunted Talladega County

9781626196216

$21.99 $16.49 Save 25%

Talladega County is known for its auto racing and rich southern history. Stories of the strange and supernatural, however, are just as prevalent. Like the story of Gloria's bridge, where the spirit of a woman and her baby are said to appear when her name is called out. Or the ghost of a man and his dog wandering the forests of Cemetery Mountain. At Hill Elementary, the specter of a principal still patrols the grounds, watching over her students. Paranormal writers Kim Johnston and Shane Busby chronicle the strange, mysterious and ghastly past of Talladega County.

Cover image for Haunted Talladega County, isbn: 9781626196216

Legendary Locals of Cullman County

9781467101622

$24.99 $18.74 Save 25%

In search of opportunity and freedom from oppression, European emigrants boarded ships, leaving behind their ancestral homes. They carved new lives from the unknown wilderness in the American South. The Speegle family settled in what would become southwest Cullman County, and the Brindley family claimed lands to the north. From the historic Streight's Raid exploit of the Civil War to the agricultural and social development of this region of northern Alabama, these early pioneers marched into history. In 1865, Col. Johann G. Cullmann, who was disillusioned with the anarchism in his native Germany, also sought new opportunity in America, eventually settling in Alabama. After being enticed by Colonel Cullmann's descriptive words of the area's virgin timber and fertile soils, five German families joined him. Encouraged by what they found, optimism flourished, word spread, and Cullman County's destiny was set. Its growth has been constant, and, today, its expansion is propelling the area to new heights of economic prominence.

Pizitz:

9781596299931

$21.99 $16.49 Save 25%

For nearly ninety years, Pizitz offered Birmingham residents and Alabamans across the state a one-of-a-kind shopping experience. From the Enchanted Forest that sprung up every Christmas to in-store fashion shows, visiting Pizitz wasn't just a trip to the store, it was an event. Yet Pizitz was more than just a department store--it was a Birmingham institution. When Louis Pizitz opened up his first dry goods store in downtown Birmingham in 1899, he began a career as a successful businessman and a generous philanthropist, establishing a tradition of giving freely to local causes that has come to define the Pizitz family. Join Birmingham historian Tim Hollis as he recounts the fascinating history behind one of Alabama's most recognizable names and treasured retailers.

USS Alabama

9781941879061

$17.99 $13.49 Save 25%

Home to thousands of US sailors, the USS Alabama fought bravely in World War II, but after she finished her service, the battleship was set to be scrapped. The people of Alabama decided they had to save the ship named for their proud state. No one was more determined than Alabama’s schoolchildren.

Author Karyn Tunks traces the story of the children’s efforts in this informative and entertaining account. Tunks reveals a wealth of detail about life at sea before the ship was decommissioned and the many challenges Alabamians faced in securing the ship’s permanent home.

Artist Julie Dupré Buckner captures the feeling of the era in her detailed, vivid illustrations of the ship, those who called her home, and those who saved her for future generations. Complete with a glossary, illustrated ship’s diagram, and timeline, USS Alabama: Hooray for the Mighty A! offers beginning readers a glimpse of the fascinating history of the battleship and how even the smallest of actions can produce incredible results.

Cover image for USS Alabama, isbn: 9781941879061

See Alabama First:

9781609494889

$23.99 $17.99 Save 25%

Tourism in the Southeast is often associated with Florida--a state that essentially defined the industry in America. Yet Alabama has a fascinating history of tourism all its own. It all began with an enterprising politician. In 1916, John Hollis Bankhead went to great lengths to ensure that one of America's first transcontinental highways went directly through Alabama. Though it was a less efficient route for highway travelers, it marked the birth of Alabama's fledgling tourism industry, which grew exponentially with each passing decade. Since he was a boy, author Tim Hollis has traveled from the Shoals to the coast and amassed an unrivaled knowledge of Alabama tourism. From restored and preserved historic destinations to campy tourist traps and outrageous roadside attractions, this is the complete story of tourism in Alabama.

Haunted Birmingham

9781596296145

$14.99 $11.24 Save 25%

From the eerie vestiges of the Sloss Furnaces to the unexplained (and un-booked) performances in the Alabama Theatre and rather otherworldly room service at the Tutwiler Hotel, Birmingham is truly one of the South's supernatural hotbeds. Renowned author and ghost expert Alan Brown delivers a fascinating, downright spine-chilling collection of haunts from around the city and surrounding neighborhoods such as Bessemer, Columbiana, Jasper and Montevallo. Residents and tourists alike will cherish this exclusive glimpse into the city's inexplicable occupants, and even the skeptics can enjoy the book's historical framework.

History of Weiss Lake, A

9781596295605

$21.99 $16.49 Save 25%

The History of Weiss Lake was filled with debate. Read how the past of this area was reshaped and the area matured.

Until the late 1950s, the major body of water for residents of northeast Alabama was the Coosa River, which wove prominently through the rural landscape of the region. When Alabama Power Company decided to dam the river in order to build a thirty-thousand-acre reservoir, locals were divided about whether to welcome the hydroelectricity and potential prosperity or resist losing their land and proud agrarian heritage. Three years and millions of cubic yards of earth later, Weiss Lake emerged to alter Cherokee County history permanently. Post editor and county native Scott Wright presents a captivating collection of personal recollections and historical vignettes to illustrate the magnitude of the lake's influence in shaping the future of the area--and damming its past.

Ensley and Tuxedo Junction

9780738586809

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With dreams of building a vast steel production operation, Memphis planter Enoch Ensley founded a city in the wooded valley at the heart of Jefferson County, Alabama. He named the city Ensley, after himself, and established the Ensley Land Company to acquire and develop 4,000 acres for industrial facilities and a town. As field workers left their farms to work in steel mills and businesses sprang up on the valley floor, Ensley became a diverse place of hopes and desires. A strong community of churches, businesses, civic clubs, and neighborhoods developed around the factories and railroads. Jazz music was the social thread of Ensley's African American community, known as Tuxedo Junction. Musicians such as Erskine Hawkins famously mastered the style. The annexation of Ensley into Birmingham established the "Magic City" as the largest and wealthiest in Alabama and the heart of the Southern steel manufacturing economy.

Noah and the Eight Trucks of Hanukkah

9781455622030

$16.99 $12.74 Save 25%

Noah is a young boy who loves Hanukkah, but his favorite thing in the whole world is trucks. Why aren’t they part of the Hanukkah celebration? In this story, Noah devises a way to have a Festival of Trucks along with the Festival of Lights, each honoring the brave Maccabees.

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Tennessee River and Northwest Alabama

9781467102421

$7.99 $5.99 Save 25%

This collection of mailable vintage-image postcards celebrates the rich history of the Tennessee River, which has shaped the lives of northwest Alabamians for centuries. Native peoples made their homes on its shores, living on the rich resources found in its waters and on its banks. Early Europeans and Americans recognized the river's importance in connecting east with west, although traveling the 40-mile stretch of rocky shoals between present-day Decatur and Florence was difficult. Overcoming that navigation challenge led to such 19th-century technological advances as the Tuscumbia, Courtland & Decatur Railroad—the first rail line west of the Appalachian Mountains—and the Muscle Shoals Canal. During the Civil War, skirmishes over control of factories, rail lines, and bridges characterized most military activity in northwest Alabama. In the 20th century, the construction of Wilson Dam and the creation of the Tennessee Valley Authority improved the quality of life and increased economic opportunities in northwest Alabama.

Cover image for Tennessee River and Northwest Alabama, isbn: 9781467102421

Notable Women of Alabama

9781467159852

$24.99

Smashing the Glass Ceiling

Women in Alabama have made an outsized contribution to both the state and the nation. Before Rosa Parks, fifteen-year old Claudette Colvin challenged segregation laws on a bus in Montgomery. Georgia Gilmore used her cooking skills to empower and support protestors during the Montgomery Bus Boycott in 1955. Singer “Big Mama” Thornton became the bridge between rock ‘n roll and the blues. After being crowned Miss America in 1951, the “Basque Spitfire” Yolande Betbeze took a defiant stand for women, forcing changes in the pageant industry. Author Joe Cuhaj profiles the unique journeys, challenges and triumphs of these and many more women who have helped shape the cultural and social landscape of not only Alabama but the world as well.

Cover image for Notable Women of Alabama, isbn: 9781467159852

Hidden History of Alabama Aviation

9781467156264

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Author Billy J. Singleton sets readers on a captivating course through the history of Cotton State aviation. From the dreamers who envisioned flight decades before the Wright Brothers achieved it at Kitty Hawk to the international space race, Alabama has been at the forefront of aviation. Delve into the obscure and forgotten stories of the state’s aeronautical heritage, including an encounter over Montgomery that initiated an investigation by the Air Force, Eleanor Roosevelt’s aerial tour of the Tuskegee Institute in a two-seat training aircraft and the miracle of Eastern Flight 002. Recall the lost squadron of Gunter Field, the Alabama pilot recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records as the most experienced aviator in history and the college administration that constructed an airport to obtain a gymnasium.

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Montevallo

9781467160988

$24.99 $18.74 Save 25%

Montevallo, a charming city located near the geographic center of Alabama, has a rich historic legacy spanning 200 years. /

The city has been home to the University of Montevallo, Alabama’s public liberal arts college, and its predecessors since 1896. Located close to Birmingham, Montevallo has maintained its vibrancy as it has transitioned away from agriculture and mining. /For this volume, authors and university professors Carey W. Heatherly and Clark Hultquist have selected images from the university’s Anna Crawford Milner Archives and Special Collections.

Cover image for Montevallo, isbn: 9781467160988

Cold War Alabama

9781467160797

$24.99 $18.74 Save 25%

The 50-year Cold War began following World War II and was a struggle between ideologies, militaries, economies, athletes, and each nation’s ability to reach space. Alabama played a key role in that conflict.

Huntsville led the efforts in ballistic missile as well as rocket propulsion development. From Enterprise to Montgomery to Anniston, the military prepared for and served in battles abroad. While the United States promoted democracy globally, the civil rights movement fought for a “more perfect union” at home. Not everyone supported the US involvement in proxy wars; groups of college students in Alabama protested the Vietnam War. All these aspects of the Cold War are captured from across Alabama through pictures and words.

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Civil Rights in Birmingham

9781467110679

$24.99 $18.74 Save 25%

Since the city's founding in 1871, African American citizens of Birmingham have organized for equal access to justice and public accommodations. However, when thousands of young people took to the streets of Birmingham in the spring of 1963, their protest finally broke the back of segregation, bringing local leadership to its knees. While their parents could not risk loss of jobs or life, local youth agreed to bear the brunt of resistance by law enforcement and vigilantes to their acts of civil disobedience. By the fall, even youth who did not participate in the Children's Movement gave all for the struggle when a bomb placed in the 16th Street Baptist Church exploded and killed four girls.

Birmingham's Highland Park

9780738543437

$24.99 $18.74 Save 25%

Birmingham's Highland Park originated in the 1880s when a grand boulevard was dug and three lush parks were planned at the northern foothills of Red Mountain. This boulevard was Highland Avenue, at the time the widest street in the South. The development, built within three miles of the center of Birmingham, included the construction of a resort hotel and lake. A dummy line rail system conveyed the populace of The Magic City" out to the beautiful Highland Park neighborhood, where in summer the air was both cooler and cleaner. Although Highland Avenue was lined with mansions of every architectural style, only 12 remain today. Indeed, some Highland Park dwellers have resided for generations in this neighborhood of true character and charm."

Deep South Aviation

9780738502465

$24.99 $18.74 Save 25%

Since the 1920s, Birmingham, Alabama, has played a vital role in the development of aviation in the Deep South and the nation. From aircraft construction to Air Guard activity, and from the evolution of commercial airlines to military training bases, Birmingham has contributed greatly to one of the most significant advancements of the twentieth century. Deep South Aviation explores the fascinating history of aviation in and around Birmingham through vintage images of the pilots,
aircraft, and aviation enthusiasts of years past. Included are photographs of the early airfields, the Alabama Air National Guard, and the Birmingham Naval Air Station. Culled from the archives of the Southern Museum of Flight, these captivating images tell a story that began with a few brave individuals who surmounted the sky. Photographs were also taken from Alvin W. Hudson's collections on Fairgrounds Air Shows, Roberts Field, and the Birmingham Municipal Airport; Cecil Greene's collection on the Alabama Air National Guard; and generous friends of the museum who donated from their private collections.

Baseball in Birmingham

9780738566863

$24.99 $18.74 Save 25%

The Birmingham Barons were a charter member of the old Southern League in 1885. Built in 1910, Rickwood Field, longtime home of the Barons, is recognized as the oldest surviving, professional baseball park in the nation. The Barons now play at the newly remodeled Regions Park in Hoover, Alabama. In spite of the popularity of football in Alabama, Birmingham continues to be a leader in minor league baseball, winning the prestigious Bob Freitas Award in 2008. This award is given annually by Baseball America to the most outstanding franchise in each classification.

Daphne

9780738591162

$24.99 $18.74 Save 25%

Daphne, the Jubilee City, is home to people who came to partake of the rich resources of Mobile Bay's eastern shore.

They gathered to collect seafood miraculously washing ashore during the phenomenon of jubilee. They gathered under the spreading oaks to hold councils and along the bayfront to escape the perils of yellow fever across the bay in Mobile. They gathered for clean spring waters and rare pottery clay, to greet the bay boats, and to farm the rich soil. Daphne's heritage is one of a gathering of peoples, and Images of America: Daphne documents that heritage.

Birmingham Broadcasting

9780738542713

$24.99 $18.74 Save 25%

Birmingham, Alabama, has enjoyed a long and distinguished broadcasting history. The city's first radio station aired in 1922, and television arrived in 1949. Both media produced personalities who became household names in the city. Audiences came to know Joe Rumore, Tommy Charles, Country Boy Eddy, Cousin Cliff Holman, Rosemary, Pat Gray, Tom York, and many others as if they were members of their own families. Even the commercials became as memorable as the news, entertainment, talk, and children's shows they interrupted.

Baseball in Montgomery

9781467124836

$24.99 $18.74 Save 25%

In 2004, Riverwalk Stadium ushered in a new era of professional baseball in Montgomery. After a more-than-20-year absence, the new ballpark became a catalyst for the revitalization of downtown Montgomery. Biscuit baseball and Riverwalk Stadium have given citizens something to be proud of. The stadium is nestled between the Alabama River and railroad tracks and incorporates the old Western Railroad building as part of the ballpark. This has made Riverwalk an example for other cities looking to keep their identity and add something new and exciting. Montgomery's rich baseball history includes hall of fame players like Fred Clarke, Joe McGinnity, Casey Stengel, and Turkey Stearnes. There is also the forgotten history of an Alabama native, Roy "Goat" Walker, a fan favorite of Montgomery baseball for two generations.

Hoover

9781467112185

$24.99 $18.74 Save 25%

Take a view of Hoover and the nearby towns of Bluff Park, Shades Mountain, Rocky Ridge, Green Valley, and Patton (Patton's) Chapel.

The community of Hoover began as a seed planted in the young mind of William Henry Hoover Sr. (1890-1979). Hoover's father dreamed of a city for working families, and the younger Hoover used this vision as a road map to build a strong municipality that grew with business, community, and family living. Through hard work and determination, Hoover opened Employers Mutual of Alabama's first office in Birmingham in 1922. He later founded the early town of Hoover in 1954 and in 1958 moved his company to the area that would be incorporated in 1967 as the city of Hoover. Several nearby communities are older than the city itself. Images of America: Hoover looks at Bluff Park, Shades Mountain, Rocky Ridge, Green Valley, and Patton (Patton's) Chapel as some of the early areas where Hoover's great story began.

Alabama Baby

9781455626359

$24.95 $18.71 Save 25%

Keep track of your baby’s essential Alabama firsts in this unique baby book! Place birthday photos and record milestones on colorful pages with hand lettered text. Capture baby’s first experiences with food including favorite fried chicken, white BBQ sauce, and banana pudding! Colorful pages provide guided journaling of baby’s first football game, visit to the U.S. Space & Rocket Center, and more. Illustrated end sheets give space to record blessings from the baby shower and well wishes from loved ones in this book that will become an heirloom for generations.

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Calhoun County

9780738589985

$24.99 $18.74 Save 25%

Discover Calhoun County's diverse and unique history through historic images collected and compiled through the decades.

Chief Ladiga and his Creek tribe first settled in the northeastern half of the county. By the early 1800s, settlers from Georgia, Tennessee, and South Carolina came to this scenic mountainous area to farm in the county's rich valleys. After the Treaty of Cusseta removed the Creeks west of the Mississippi in 1832, more settlers began arriving. In 1833, Benton County was incorporated into the state of Alabama and Jacksonville was made the county seat. Oxford, or ""Lick-Skillet,"" was a frontier town at the time, and Piedmont, or ""Cross Plains,"" was an intersection for the two stagecoach routes. By the time of the Civil War, the county would change its name to Calhoun County in honor of South Carolina statesman John C. Calhoun. In 1872, two northern industrialists, Samuel Noble and Gen. Daniel Tyler, created their ""model city"" in Anniston, which began a period of great growth in the county.

The Haunting of Alabama

9781455622900

$23.95 $17.96 Save 25%

A tour to make you tremble!

Alabama’s haunted history is spotlighted in chapters that cover the ghostly escapades and happenings at Rawls Hotel, Heritage Bible College, the USS Alabama, Bayview Bridge, and Marion Military Institute, to name a few. Each entry provides a history of the establishment and offers the possible motivations behind the hauntings. Vivid descriptions of the setting, along with detailed eyewitness accounts, enable the reader to experience the hair-raising events firsthand. Dip into this ghostly guide for a tour of more than forty haunted sites along with stories of their supernatural inhabitants. In each instance, skepticism abounds and the question remains—is there really a ghost?

Birmingham's Theater and Retail District

9780738517773

$24.99 $18.74 Save 25%

From the 1890s to the 1970s, the thriving area of Birmingham between Eighteenth and Twenty-first Streets along First, Second, and Third Avenues was the bustling heart of this quickly growing city. Before the age of the shopping mall, the downtown was the center of retail and entertainment in Birmingham. Along these streets, entrepreneurial immigrants built department stores--including Pizitz and Loveman, Joseph, and Loeb--while the marquees of the Alabama, Ritz, and Lyric theaters, among others, shined over the busy downtown sidewalks.

Birmingham's Theater and Retail District

Auburn Football

9780738516691

$24.99 $18.74 Save 25%

Football is one of Auburn's oldest and most beloved institutions. Formally established as a varsity sport by Dr. George Petrie in 1891, Auburn's football team has proudly represented the school for over a century. The team shares some of the South's oldest college football rivalries with the University of Georgia and the University of Alabama-a rivalry tested annually in the Iron Bowl. Throughout their history, the Tigers have earned the honor of SEC Champions and a national championship and have been featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated; the team has produced many professional players and Hall of Fame inductees. Auburn football also boasts a very dedicated legion of fans, who love to cheer on their Tigers, both at home and away. The images contained within Auburn Football illustrate the team's impressive history, filled with legendary coaches such as Shug Jordan and John Heisman, and Heisman trophy-winning players Pat Sullivan and Bo Jackson. Auburn's football tradition will continue to delight fans and attract players for decades to come.

Montgomery

9781467113632

$24.99 $18.74 Save 25%

This book looks at the changes in Alabama's "Capital City of Dreams." During World War II, Montgomery residents opened their homes and hearts to pilots at Maxwell and Gunter Air Force Bases. During the postwar boom, downtown flourished as homes and shopping centers emerged in suburbia. In the 1950s and 1960s, Montgomery became an important site of the civil rights movement. The 1970s brought urban renewal, while the 1980s focused on the arts with the Alabama Shakespeare Festival, the construction of the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts, and the restoration of the Paramount Theatre as the Davis Theatre for the Performing Arts. Montgomery's current downtown renaissance features the restoration of historic buildings for use as restaurants, retail shops, and a baseball stadium.

Tuskegee

9781467110358

$24.99 $18.74 Save 25%

Tuskegee, Alabama, is associated with Tuskegee University, the Tuskegee Airmen, Booker T. Washington, and George Washington Carver. Named after the Taskigi, it is the site of the first law school in Alabama and had local schools long before there was a public school system. Tuskegee Normal School for Colored Teachers (now Tuskegee University) was pivotal to the city being a beacon of African American achievement for a century. The birthplace of civil rights icon Rosa Parks, radio host Tom Joyner, and singer Lionel Richie, it is where Olympic star Alice Coachman was dubbed the "Tuskegee Flash" and where important court cases guaranteeing voting rights and equal education were fought. The city was also the site of the infamous medical experiment that threatened to stain the school's triumphant legacy.

Northport

9780738594002

$24.99 $18.74 Save 25%

The name Northport reminds people that "North Port" was the northern-most point river traffic could navigate the Black Warrior River in the early years. Settled in 1816, Northport was first known as Kentuck or Cane-tuck because it was a cane-brake wilderness. In the 19th century, the land was fertile and cotton was king. Warehouses were built along the riverbank to store cotton to be loaded onto steamships bound for market. Due to periodic flooding, the center of town was relocated several blocks away from the river around 1830; Northport was incorporated 41 years later. The current buildings along both sides of Main Avenue were primarily built after the Civil War. Over time, several fires, flooding, and a tornado have changed the downtown landscape. As reported in the Tuscaloosa News after the March 21, 1932, tornado, "It looked as if Northport had been bombed."

Houston County

9780738515458

$24.99 $18.74 Save 25%

In 1903, before "King Cotton" gave way to the boll weevil, Alabama's youngest county was born. Bordered on the east by Georgia's busy Chattahoochee River and flanked to the south by Florida, Houston County, Alabama has seen many changes and thriving successes over the course of its 100-year existence. Throughout the years the county's hearty population has found a unique niche in southeast Alabama's Wiregrass region and the state as a whole. Depicted within these pages is the county's 100-year quest told through images from the past and present. From the early days of steamships on the river when tall pines provided economic opportunity, to the present day when the peanut is honored with the National Peanut Festival, Houston County's history is revealed within the faces and places of each photograph.

The Ghostly Tales of Alabama

9781467197298

$12.99 $9.74 Save 25%

Ghost stories from America’s “Heart of Dixie” have never been so creepy, fun, and full of mystery!

Welcome to the spooky state of Alabama!

Stay alert! Ghosts lurk around every corner. Even the most unexpected places might be haunted by wandering phantoms.

Did you know that every February, a sunken ship rises again on the Tombigbee River? Or that the man peeking out of the Pickens County Courthouse window was wrongfully imprisoned there…150 years ago? Can you believe the sounds of a Civil War horse still echo on the porch of an old house in Suggsville?

Pulled right from history, these ghostly tales will change the way you see Alabama and have you sleeping with the light on!

Cover image for The Ghostly Tales of Alabama, isbn: 9781467197298

Randolph County

9780738543710

$24.99 $18.74 Save 25%

Randolph County began as an agricultural community and gradually industrialized as farmers left the fields for the factories and women left their kitchens for the sewing plant. This book celebrates a panorama of 175 years of life in Randolph County through a collection of photographs primarily from its citizens. Some individuals featured in the book are more prominent than others, but all helped fill Randolph County with Southern charm, gentility, and hospitality.

Around Stemley Bridge

9780738542157

$24.99 $18.74 Save 25%

Around Stemley Bridge captures the spirit of a community that overcame the destruction of the Civil War, reformed with Reconstruction, survived the hardships of both world wars, struggled during the Depression, and ultimately prospered. The photographs and legends herein tell of the Northern Talladega County people, from early farmers to modern-day lakeside dwellers who spend their weekends boating, skiing, and fishing. Churches, schools, businesses, and families around Stemley Bridge have preserved a way of life that has yet to succumb to the demands of a fast-paced world. From an original land deed signed by Pres. Andrew Jackson to the modern design of the bridge, images in this book traverse many cultural layers.

Cover image for Around Stemley Bridge, isbn: 9780738542157

A History of Alabama's Deadliest Tornadoes

9781596299115

$21.99 $16.49 Save 25%

Journey just west of America's infamous Tornado Alley to Alabama, home to some of the deadliest tornadoes of the past century. These twisters remain etched in the collective memory of the people, from the 1908 Dixie Tornado, regarded as one of the most brutal tornadoes in U.S. history, to the 1998 Birmingham Tornado, the most expensive twister in Alabama's history. Discover how the 1932 Deep South Tornadoes resulted in 268 fatalities and millions of dollars in damage, and read the terrifying account of the 1977 Smithfield Tornadoes, which rocked this Birmingham suburb with as many as six twisters in a one-hour span. Join local journalist Kelly Kazek as she shares the tales of these natural disasters and the hardy Alabamians who endured them.

A History of Alabama's Deadliest Tornadoes

Trussville, Alabama

9781626191853

$21.99 $16.49 Save 25%

Long before Trussville became the commercial hub of northeastern Jefferson County, settlers fell in love with the area's fertile land and proximity to Alabama's longest free-flowing river, the Cahaba. In the late 1930s, a New Deal initiative known as the Cahaba Project established nearly three hundred new homes in the city, a community that became a historic treasure. The Trussville Academy opened its doors in 1869 and is the area's first educational institution. Camp Gertrude Coleman, which opened in 1925, is the third-longest-operating Girl Scouts camp in the nation, remaining open even during the Great Depression and World War II. Join author Gary Lloyd as he recounts the people and events that make Trussville one of the most desirable places to live in Alabama.

Cover image for Trussville, Alabama, isbn: 9781626191853

Oak Park and the Montgomery Zoo

9780738553115

$24.99 $18.74 Save 25%

Established at the beginning of the 20th century with a total of 41 acres, Oak Park was the social and recreational center of Alabama's capital city, Montgomery. It was here in 1935 that a menagerie of animals was housed in facilities built by the Works Progress Administration called the Oak Park Zoo. As the civil rights movement gathered steam in the 1950s, there was a class action suit to desegregate the city's parks, including the zoo. In response, all parks were closed, including Oak Park. In 1967, plans were approved for a 34-acre recreational park in north Montgomery, which included acreage for a small zoo. Unfortunately, although the zoo was scheduled to open in 1971, thirteen years after the closing of Oak Park, the opening was delayed for almost a year when the zoo's first director died in a car accident just 37 days after accepting his post. The opening of the new Montgomery Zoo was finally celebrated in 1972 and included the happy homecoming of a female capuchin monkey, an original resident of Oak Park.

Wetumpka

9781467111249

$24.99 $18.74 Save 25%

Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne, seeking to create a strategic outpost for New France, built Fort Toulouse in Creek territory. This area would eventually become Wetumpka, located on the banks of the Coosa River and standing at the foot of the Appalachian Mountains. The fort became the headquarters for Gen. Andrew Jackson during the War of 1812, and later it was where Creek Indians ceded their lands to the federal government. Wetumpka's presence was also large outside of military endeavors. During the cotton boom, two years after the city's incorporation in 1834, a New York newspaper declared it and Chicago, Illinois, the "two most promising cities in the West." Although fire, floods, and the Civil War hindered growth, infrastructural transformations and cultural additions have helped mold modern Wetumpka into the "City of Natural Beauty" and propel it to occasional roles on the big screen.

Loveman's

9781609493424

$21.99 $16.49 Save 25%

In an era when local department stores still thrived, Birmingham shoppers had different stores from which to choose. But when customers sought more than bargain prices, when they demanded unparalleled quality and outright luxury, they chose Loveman's. The first store opened in Birmingham in 1887, and the chain eventually grew to include locations in Huntsville and Montgomery, embracing those from throughout the state who valued an upscale shopping experience. Weathering the Great Depression, a devastating fire that destroyed the original location in 1934 and historic civil rights protests in the early 1960s, Loveman's proved to be an enduring name through many eras of change until finally closing its doors in 1980. Now, Birmingham historian Tim Hollis chronicles the sterling history of this celebrated store's commitment to excellence.

Legends, Lore & True Tales of the Chattahoochee

9781626190221

$21.99 $16.49 Save 25%

The Chattahoochee Trace in southeast Alabama and west Georgia is steeped in Native, African and early American tradition--stories often deeply rooted in folklore. Unusual beasts such as the Kolowa, the Wampus Cat and even Bigfoot roam the area. Crossroads magic, hoodoo and Huggin' Molly make their homes in the storied region. The Native American trickster rabbit, the Nunnehi Cherokee watchers, the tales of the Indian mounds and the saga of Brookside Drive are forever etched in Chattahoochee lore. From the Creek wars to Indian removal and Sherman's March to the Sea, the legends of the Hooch have left an indelible mark on Georgia and Alabama. Join author Michelle Smith as she reveals many of the strange creatures and myths that sing the Song of the Chattahoochee.

Legends, Lore & True Tales of the Chattahoochee

Greene County and Mesopotamia Cemetery

9780738552774

$24.99 $18.74 Save 25%

The lovingly restored homes of many Eutaw citizens now laid to rest at Mesopotamia Cemetery depict the grace of the antebellum South. First known as Oak Hill Cemetery, Mesopotamia Cemetery was established around 1822 on present-day Mesopotamia Street. Eutaw, the seat of Greene County, boasts 50 structures listed on the National Register of Historic Places, with many more eligible for nomination. Greene was the most populous county in Alabama in 1850 and was widely regarded for its thriving and elegant communities. Greene County and Mesopotamia Cemetery ties the beautifully carved marble tombstones in the Mesopotamia Cemetery to the extraordinary people who have shaped Greene County's history.

Alabama Aviation

9781467128414

$7.99 $5.99 Save 25%

From early aerial experimenters who devoted their lives to the development of a heavier-than-air flying machine to the massive expansion of military flight training during the Second World War, the story of aviation in Alabama represents a remarkable historical legacy. In March 1910, Orville and Wilbur Wright established the nation's first civilian flying school on the grounds of what would become Maxwell Air Force Base, the center for military aerospace education and airpower doctrine. The establishment of the Wright brothers' flying school represents the first of a series of extraordinary events that propelled Alabama to the forefront of the evolution of aviation as the foundation of Pres. Franklin Roosevelt's arsenal of democracy during the Second World War.

Cover image for Alabama Aviation, isbn: 9781467128414

Cathedral Caverns

9781467125536

$7.99 $5.99 Save 25%

Once little more than a local curiosity, Cathedral Caverns was transformed by one man’s vision and hard work into a spectacular tourist attraction and natural landmark.

In 1952, Jacob “Jay” Gurley explored a local Marshall County curiosity which residents referred to as “Bat Cave.” Amazed by its stalagmites and sheer enormity, Gurley purchased the site and began transforming it into Cathedral Caverns. After decades of hard work, Cathedral Caverns became one of Alabama’s top tourist attractions, eventually being dedicated as a national natural landmark in 1973, and a state park in 2000. Had it not been for Gurley's hard work and dedication, this cave, a geological treasure of international renown, might have remained a little-known hole in the ground. His efforts impacted local and state tourism, economics, and politics. This is the story of one man and his vision. Enjoy the rich history of Cathedral Caverns in this collection of 15 historic black-and-white postcards.

Cover image for Cathedral Caverns, isbn: 9781467125536

All Aboard, Alabama!

9781455628124

$19.99

Join the Coastal Cannonball in this exciting new All Aboard adventure.

From the recording legacy of Muscle Shoals to suiting up for your own space mission, All Aboard, Alabama! showcases the rich history and diverse experiences young travelers can enjoy in Alabama. Try on an Egyptian mask, taste your first Moon Pie, and follow in the footsteps of heroes. Climb aboard and take a lap around the track!

Cover image for All Aboard, Alabama!, isbn: 9781455628124

Tuskegee Airmen

9781455628308

$14.95 $11.21 Save 25%

Now in paperback!

Substitute teacher Victor Kennedy begins a middle-school American history class by writing one word on the chalkboard: Tuskegee. Over the next several days, the elderly veteran teaches students about the Tuskegee Airmen, brave men who fought racism and prejudice to fly more than 1,500 missions during World War II. The students learn about segregation and how the victories of the Tuskegee Airmen helped move the United States on a path toward racial equality. In Tuskegee Airmen: American Heroes, exciting battles against evil abroad and at home come alive for a new generation.

Cover image for Tuskegee Airmen, isbn: 9781455628308

Montgomery's Historic Neighborhoods

9780738586205

$24.99 $18.74 Save 25%

Montgomery's first neighborhoods were nestled close to downtown for convenience, but over the decades, Montgomery has grown into the second-largest city in Alabama.

In 1887, the electric trolley system made living beyond the city limits feasible, and the first streetcar suburb, Highland Park, was developed the same year. Although neighborhoods such as Centennial Hill, Cottage Hill, the Garden District, and the Old Line Street existed before the trolley, it spurred their growth, and other surrounding cities, like Capitol Heights and Cloverdale, were incorporated into Montgomery by 1908. By the time automobiles had replaced the trolley, Montgomery was a sprawling metropolis.Images of America: Montgomery's Historic Neighborhoodsdocuments the changes from inner city to suburban residences and from mass transportation to the automobile. The images show how residents lived, worked, studied, worshipped, and played for over a century in Montgomery's iconic neighborhoods.

Mobile Aviation

9780738586830

$24.99 $18.74 Save 25%

Local businessman and inventor John Ellis Fowler introduced the concept of the flying machine to Mobile and South Alabama. Fowler's innovative designs mark the beginning of the remarkable aviation heritage of Alabama's port city, a legacy further enhanced by the evolution of military and civilian aviation on Alabama's Gulf Coast. A mild climate and abundance of flat terrain made the region attractive for the establishment of military flight training programs during the World War II while the availability of air, rail, and sea transportation made Mobile an ideal location for construction of a supply and repair depot to support military aviation in the Southeast. Images of Aviation: Mobile Aviation is the story of the first century of powered flight in Mobile and South Alabama.

Trussville

9781467111409

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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."

Etowah County

9780738567204

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Etowah County, located in northeast Alabama, was formed in 1866 from parts of Marshall, Calhoun, St. Clair, DeKalb, Blount, and Cherokee Counties. Originally known as Baine, the area was named Etowah County in 1868. Although the smallest county in Alabama in land area, Etowah is rich in local history.

Baseball In Mobile

9780738515823

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A city wrapped by the Gulf of Mexico's beaches, Mobile has a history as rich as the azalea-saturated soil on which it rests. Recipient of the All-American City distinction, Mobile is home to the original Mardi Gras celebration, the Junior Miss Scholarship Program, the Battleship U.S.S. Alabama, and Hammerin' Hank Aaron. The city's passion for baseball has endured through its tumultuous past, marked by yellow fever, World War II prominence, and the Civil Rights Movement. Spanning from the late 1800s to the present day, Baseball in Mobile recounts the introduction of baseball to the Port City, chronicles the vast talent of Mobile natives who have influenced the sport, and introduces the players and teams of modern Mobile, many of whom are sure to become tomorrow's legends. Historic photographs of the changing baseball landscape are captured in Baseball in Mobile, showcasing the fact that while the fields, uniforms, and teams have changed, the game remains ingrained in Mobile, as constant as the bay that surrounds it.

Montgomery Aviation

9780738552590

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The history of powered flight in Alabama began in February 1910 with the arrival of Wilbur Wright in the capital city of Montgomery. In search of a suitable location to establish a training camp for student aviators, Wright selected Montgomery as the site of the nation's first civilian pilot training school because of the region's short winters, mild climate, and flat farmland. The establishment of the Wright flying school marked the beginning of a remarkable aviation heritage in Montgomery, a legacy further enhanced by the arrival of military flight
training at Taylor Field less than a decade later. The same factors that attracted the Wrights to Montgomery made the area an ideal location for the military flight training programs that would produce more than 100,000 aviation cadets at Maxwell and Gunter Fields during the Second World War. From the
Wright brothers to the Air University at Maxwell Field, Images of Aviation: Montgomery Aviation is the story of the first century of powered flight in Alabama's capital city.

Foley

9780738598697

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Advertisements placed in newspapers throughout the Midwest in the early 1900s read, ""Notice to Homeseekers: Good farm land at a reasonable price,"" directing people toward picturesque Foley, Alabama.

A new town with an ideal climate and boundless resources, it was the final stop on the railroad spur to south Baldwin County that was completed in 1905. First built on an agriculture and timber economy, the town was soon home to businesses that sprang up during the population explosion. Nearby Elberta, a German colony, and the river towns of Magnolia Springs and Bon Secour also experienced accelerated growth as the area was developed. The heritage of the greatest resource--the people of Foley--is best told in the photographs long treasured by families of the earliest settlers and collected by the authors to be shared and preserved for posterity. ""

Etowah County

9780738516240

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Drawing from, among other sources, the collection of famed photographer Adolph Lebourg, a French immigrant who traveled to Alabama with a circus, Scarboro and Goodson combine wonderful images with insightful text to provide a unique look at the county's heritage. Especially evident in Lebourg's photographs is a passion for motorcycles, providing a great point of interest for many of the book's images. Etowah County includes such points of interest as the Kyle Home, which once stood on the present site of the Etowah County Courthouse, the home of Alabama Power Company founder W.P. Lay, and
several of the county's early movie theaters. Many local businesses and industries are highlighted in the early years of their existence. Also included are glimpses of such local events as parades, sporting events, and the beautiful Nocallula Falls. Whether one is a longtime resident familiar with all the area has to offer, or a newcomer eager to learn more of the county's heritage, Etowah County is a wonderful look at days gone by.

Cover image for Etowah County, isbn: 9780738516240

Etowah County Volume II

9780738516257

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Etowah County Volume II traces the history of everyday citizens in this Alabama community. Largely derived from the collections of local photographers Bob Scarboro and Hugh Hall, the images in this volume depict the county's championship sports teams, the drive-in theaters and restaurants of the post-World War II era, and the mansions that once lined Forrest Avenue. Also included are two rare and seldom-seen photographs-the old dummy engine of the streetcar line that ran from Gadsden to Attalla, and the wooden dance pavilion located beneath Noccalula Falls at the turn of the century. Readers will discover the lasting contributions made to Etowah County by such notable early settlers as Col. R.B. Kyle, Capt. James M. Elliott Jr., Gen. Daniel Turrentine, and Judge John H. Disque. Many of the area's schools, businesses, and churches can be attributed to the efforts of these enterprising individuals. Etowah County Volume II also celebrates the contributions made by the hard-working, everyday people who have made this Alabama community a memorable place to live.

Madison

9781467110167

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The city of Madison reflects the evolution of networked communications. Initially, this occurred as physical pathways were trod via horse and foot traffic, then waterways fostered communications as products and crops were shipped to markets when wilderness gave way to farms. Widespread communication expanded again with the laying of railroad tracks that carried passengers and freight; Madison was established after the arrival of the Memphis and Charleston Railroad in the area in the 1850s. Almost concurrently, electronic communication and vehicular roadways enabled more widespread delivery of messages, passengers, and freight. Today, aircraft play a primary role in the movement of commodities, while communication is rapidly transitioning to the Internet and bypassing radio, television, telephone, and mail services. Madison has been involved, often as a hub, with all of these media outlets since its founding in 1857.

Homewood

9781467114905

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Shades Valley was primarily used as a hunting ground by Native Americans until the arrival of the first white settlers in the 1830s. During Birmingham's industrial boom in the 1870s, Out of the Smoke Zone, Into the Ozone became the promoters' cry to move Over the Mountain into what was then called Clifton. By 1926, Rosedale, Edgewood, and Grove Park were established neighborhoods, and under the leadership of Charles Rice they incorporated to form the city of Homewood. The new community had luxurious amenities like the Hillcrest Country Club and the Birmingham Motor and Country Club at Edgewood Lake, which was accessible via the Edgewood Electric Railway. Nearly 100 years later, through much growth and change, Homewood has maintained its small-town feel while adapting to the ever-changing culture of today.

Vestavia Hills

9781467112628

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In response to the explosive growth of industry in Birmingham, entrepreneurs and young families sought quieter areas to call home. The search led them to Shades Mountain, an area replete with flowering dogwood and pink honeysuckle--pure wilderness. There were no paved roads, no public services, and no merchants nearer than Homewood. Still, those seeking respite from the soot (of the steel mills) lingering over the "Magic City" persevered, establishing homesteads, stores, communities of worship, and basic public services. While the contributions of some of the area's early pioneers--men like Edgar S. Smyer, George Ward, and Charles Byrd--are well documented, Images of America: Vestavia Hills contains lesser-known stories of citizens who helped shape the "city on top of the mountain."

Chilton County

9781467125185

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Located in the geographic center of the state, Chilton County is the Peach Capital of Alabama. The mild climate and gently sloping terrain of central Alabama provide an ideal environment for cultivation of the region's principal agricultural export and Alabama's leading commercial fruit. This distinctive setting has influenced the heritage and historical legacy of the county and its people for more than 100 years. From the big peach water tower that welcomes visitors to Chilton County to the annual peach festival celebration and the crowning of the Peach Queen, this iconic fruit has become symbolic of a way of life for residents of the Chilton County communities of Clanton, Jemison, Maplesville, Thorsby, and Verbena. In celebration of the 150th anniversary of this remarkable county, Images of America: Chilton County is the story of the people and places that are the heart of Alabama.

Anniston Revisited

9781467114752

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Nestled in the Piedmont region of the Appalachian Mountains, the small farming community of Pine Ankle was established in the 1830s on the former lands of the Creek Nation. In 1872, industrialists Samuel Noble and Daniel Tyler purchased the land for their Woodstock Iron Company, and in 1883 the town was opened to the public as Annie's Town. It grew rapidly, and by the early 20th century Anniston was not only the seat of Calhoun County, but also home to numerous textile and iron industries as well as a thriving military complex. The vintage photographs in Images of America: Anniston Revisited showcase the daily lives of Annistonians and Fort McClellan soldiers during a time when Noble Street was a bustling urban center. Anniston's homes, schools, and community centers are featured, along with the expanded downtown area and Fort McClellan, to paint a vivid portrait of The Model City.

Monroeville

9780738554372

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Monroeville is the county seat of Monroe County, a county older than the state of Alabama itself.

Located in what was the western Creek Nation, Monroeville became the center of county business in 1832, eighteen years after the surrender of the Creeks to Andrew Jackson. Monroeville soon became a powerful political base in the state. In the 20th century, it hosted visits from ""Big Jim"" Folsom as well as George Wallace, a powerful young orator who would change the face of American politics. Today, Monroeville is known as the childhood home of internationally known authors Harper Lee and Truman Capote; Lee's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel To Kill A Mockingbird was set even in a small Southern town based on Monroeville, while many of Capote's short stories and novels were drawn from his Monroeville experiences. Visitors from around the world come to the town that still remembers when Capote rented the town's only taxi for the weekend and drove around for days ""visiting. "" Townsfolk like to talk about the time Gregory Peck came to town to meet the many of the people who were inspirations for the characters in To Kill a Mockingbird. As other writers from Monroeville emerge, such as Mark Childress and Cynthia Tucker, one wonders how many more stories the town holds, as well as what is so special about a small, rural southwestern Alabama town call Monroeville.

North Alabama Beer

9781467136648

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North Alabama built its fi rst commercial brewery in Huntsville in 1819, three months before the state joined the Union. Before Prohibition in 1915, the region was peppered with numerous saloons, taverns and dance halls. Locals still found ways to get their booze during Prohibition using Tennessee River steamboats and secret tunnels for smuggling. Alabama re-legalized beer in 1937, but it wasn't until 2004, when the grass-roots organization Free the Hops took on the state's harsh beer laws, that the craft beer scene really began to flourish. Authors Sarah Bélanger and Kamara Bowling Davis trace the history of beer in North Alabama from the early saloon days to the craft beer explosion.

Irresistible History of Alabama Barbecue, An

9781467137027

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From Muscle Shoals to Mobile, Alabamians enjoy fabulous barbecue at home, at club meetings and at countless eateries.

In the 1820s, however, a group of reformers wanted to eliminate the southern staple because politicians used it to entice voters. As the state and nation changed through wars and the civil rights movement, so did Alabama barbecue. Alabama restaurants like Big Bob Gibson's, Dreamland and Jim 'n Nick's have earned fans across the country. Mark A. Johnson traces the development of the state's famous food from the earliest settlement of the state to the rise of barbecue restaurants.

Irresistible History of Alabama Barbecue, An

Haunted Montgomery, Alabama

9781609499303

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In Montgomery--cradle of the Confederacy and capital city of Alabama--lost highways bring visitors to the grave of legendary country singer Hank Williams and the home of the jazz-era princess Zelda Fitzgerald. Dig up the bones on the feather duster murder from the Garden District, and find out which spirits at Huntingdon College make this campus their eternal home. Take a stroll through the Old Alabama Town, and listen for the ghost of the Lucas Tavern. Join ghost hunter and folklorist Faith Serafin for a trip through the Heart of Dixie and Montgomery's most haunted history.

Birmingham and Jefferson County

9780738587301

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From its founding as a steel-making area that rivaled any in the world for quality and quantity, to its present-day role as a leading banking, retail, and medical center for the New South, the rolling, iron-rich land of Jefferson County has been well represented in picture postcards. Roving photographers and those from local studios captured scenes of civic, business, and private life, and made them into postcards that were sent around the world. Birmingham and Jefferson County, Alabama takes the reader on a visual tour of such landmarks as the Tutwiler Hotel, the Empire Building, Rickwood Field, Legion Field, Arlington, and the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church. Explore the beginnings of world-class medical facilities, the rise of the iron and steel industry, and the rich cultural heritage that the Poles, Czechs, Slovaks, Italians, Greeks, and other ethnic groups brought to the area.

Tannehill Ironworks

9780738582412

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When cotton was king and Jackson was president, Daniel Hillman built a bloomery forge on Roupes Creek near the Jefferson and Tuscaloosa County line. As the birthplace of the Birmingham Iron and Steel District, the forge grew into an important battery of three blast furnaces capable of producing 22 tons of iron daily for Confederate munitions. The Tannehill Furnaces--the handiwork of Moses Stroup, one of the South's leading ironmasters--are among the best preserved 19th-century ironworks in America. Along with the Iron and Steel Museum of Alabama, the furnace ruins form the centerpiece of Tannehill Ironworks Historical State Park, which attracts 400,000 visitors annually. It is Alabama's most visited Civil War site.

Miles College

9780738517933

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Emerging from post-Civil War America, Miles College was formally founded in 1905 by the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church. Efforts to found the college began in 1898 as part of the struggle to create equal educational opportunities for Birmingham's African-American middle class and expanding working class. Since then, the college
has aimed to develop students intellectually, ethically, and spiritually and has remained affiliated with its founder. Originally chartered as Miles Memorial College, in honor of Bishop William H. Miles, the name of the college was changed by the trustees in 1941 to its current name, Miles College.
The four-year, liberal arts Historically Black College
(HBCU) is currently located in Fairfield, Alabama,
six miles west of downtown Birmingham. In recent
years, the college has had an annual enrollment of
over 1,700. The close relationship Miles College
established with the community is still
maintained today.

Perry County

9780738586625

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Perry County has been a major player in the history of Alabama. Native Americans lived and hunted on its land, and it became a county before Alabama gained statehood. Early citizens chose to name it for Oliver Hazard Perry, a hero of the War of 1812. The people of Perry County have played major roles over the years, which include the following: one married Sam Houston; one served as Alabama's first governor during the Civil War; one designed the Confederate flag and uniform; one married Martin Luther King; one was slain by a state trooper, triggering the Selma-to-Montgomery march; and another was the wife of Andrew Young. Along with its history, Perry County is an educational center and the location of many homes that predate the Civil War. Images of America: Perry County features samples of its rich history in photographs.

Around Chelsea

9781467116411

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From humble beginnings to magnificent gains, there are few cities that can boast as much growth as Chelsea, Alabama. Where Creek Indians once hunted and roamed, successful businesses, neighborhoods, schools, recreation parks, and churches now stand. In the mid-1800s, pioneer families settled in the hills of what was first called Melrose. The railroad played a vital role in the advancement of the area by offering passenger and commercial transportation, attracting families, businesses, and schools, and in 1996 Chelsea was incorporated with a population of 908. Just over 10 years later, it exceeded 10,000, and Chelsea was the fastest-growing city in Shelby County. With an expanding home market, a growing school system, and a strong sense of community, Chelsea is widely considered one of the top areas in the state for families to live. In fact, the city's motto is "It's all about family."