Quarterly Newsletter

Transcription

1 SHELBY COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY, INC Old Courthouse ~ P.O. Box 457 ~ Columbiana, Alabama Quarterly Newsletter Volume 17 ~ Issue 3 August 2015 Founded 18 January Officers President Bobby Joe Seales First Vice-President William R. Bill Justice Second Vice-President Dr. Fred Olive, III Third Vice-President Scott A. Martin Corresponding Secretary Rachel Clinkscale Recording Secretary R. Glenn Nivens Treasurer Kaye Alvarez Historian Diane Seales Board of Directors Dr. James S. Jim Day Herbert J. Jim Lewis, III Clem Muck Joshua D. Arnold Della Fancher Timothy D. Nettles, DMD Evan Major David L. Nolen John R. Walker Advisory Board Judge Jim Fuhrmeister Commissioner Dan Acker Tim Prince Diane B. Ellis The Quarterly Newsletter is p u b l i s h e d y e a r l y i n February, May, August and November by the Shelby County Historical Society, Inc. Neither the Editor nor the Society is responsible for errors in fact or for the opinions of the contributors. Editor: Scott A. Martin FUNGO VALLEY 1927 Shelby County Topographical Map From the collection of Scott A. Martin TIDBITS OF THE PAST IN SHELBY COUNTY ALABAMA Copied by Scott A. Martin THE MARTIN FAMILIES OF FUNGO HOLLOW Compiled by Scott A. Martin Fungo Hollow borders each side and extends the entire length [about two miles] of County Roads 33 and 35 from County Road 52 [in Pelham] to the main entrance of Oak Mountain State Park. The origin of the name Fungo Hollow is not documented but it is believed to be derived from the Martin Family that settled in the area in the early 1920s. Many Martin family members moved from Chilton County to Fungo Hollow and one member of the Martin family had a favorite saying I could go for some fun. His friends nicknamed him Fungo and the hollow where the Martin families settled became known as Fungo Hollow. It is interesting to note that on both the 1930 and 1940 Shelby County Federal Census, the road which is now County Road 33 was known as Fungo Road. Fungo Hollow was well known for its bootlegging, with numerous whiskey stills hidden in the area. For this reason it was also known as Bootlegger s Hollow and Drunkard s Hollow. During the 1920s Fungo Hollow was infamous for its bootlegging and is nationally recognized to have had the second most notorious whiskey still operation in the United States. Fungo Hollow has become the accepted name of the area but for many of us it is simply known as home. The Martin families of Fungo Hollow descend from Isaac Newton Martin [ ] and Elizabeth Littlefield Martin [ ]. They were married in Shelby County on September 5, 1849.

2 SHELBY COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY, INC. PAGE 2 VOLUME 17 ~ ISSUE 3 GEORGE LAFAYETTE SCOTT, JR. FIRST MAYOR OF ALABASTER Compiled by Bobby Joe Seales The town of Alabaster was officially incorporated on February 23, 195l. At that time there were 427 inhabitants residing in the limits of Alabaster. In April 1953 George L. Scott, Jr. was elected the first mayor of Alabaster, receiving 86 votes of the total votes cast, and served as Mayor until October The people of Siluria, the adjoining town, on April 27, 1971 voted to merge with Alabaster. Siluria had incorporated on May 25, 1954 with a population of approximately 600. The First Bank of Alabaster officially opened on January 21, George L. Scott, Jr. was President and served on the Board of Directors until his death on December 27, This was the first and only bank in Alabaster and was located on Main Street. The slogan for Alabaster at that time was Watch Us Grow. In January 1965 the bank moved into a new building located on U.S. Highway 31 across from Shelby Memorial Hospital. George L. Scott, Jr., along with many other leaders in Alabaster, was instrumental in bringing the Shelby Memorial Hospital to Alabaster and Shelby County. The dedication and opening of the hospital was in September The hospital was two stories in height, 313 feet long and 36 feet wide. A wing 51 feet by 40 feet was built on the second story to the rear of the main building. The dedication of this hospital in Alabaster is remembered as one of the outstanding events in the history of Shelby County. George Lafayette Scott, Sr. [ ], the father to George L. Scott, Jr. was an Alabaster pioneer and built the Alabaster Lime Company in The shipping point on the railroad was known as Scott Rock, named for him. Later, housing was built to a c c o mmo d a t e s o me o f t h e employees. After his father s retirement, George L. Scott, Jr. Early Advertising Card of the Alabaster Lime Company From the collection of Scott A. Martin became President of the company until his retirement in June The community acquired its name Alabaster from this white calcium carbonate mineral. Shelby County Reporter March 23, 1961 It was during the depression year of 1929 that a young man with pioneer courage started on a trip from Birmingham down a tortuous, winding two lane road now known as Highway 31. He stopped that noon for a bite to eat at Walkers Grocery store, the only store in town. Foy Jones decided then and there that he had found the ideal location for a furniture store. Thus came into being the second retail business to be established in the now thriving town of Alabaster. With the growth of the automobile industry, and being a mechanic by nature, Mr. Jones saw the need for a garage and wrecker service. So, in 1932 he opened one of the first businesses of its kind in Shelby County. Shelby County Reporter-Democrat October 18, 1951 Alabaster, Alabama will have a post office of its own, beginning November 1. Alabaster formerly was served by the Siluria post office..shelby County Reporter-Democrat January 17, 1952 Alabaster stands in the heart of the industrial section of Shelby County. Hundreds of her citizens make their homes in this town and vicinity and find employment in the textile mills, lime works, cement block plants, etc. Some months ago, prominent citizens, and keen-visioned business and professional men, began making plans to establish a Bank in this part of the county, in an endeavor to better serve the people s financial needs in the rapidly expanding territory. Sunday, January 20, the culmination of this ambitious dream will be realized and the official personnel will be hosts at an Open House in the new First Bank of Alabaster. The impressive roster of the officials of this bank are all widely and favorably known business and professional men. Men whose names, combined with their own successful achievements, warrant the faith and confidence of each potential depositor they include President George L. Scott, Jr., Vice-President Dr. J.A. Hines; Secretary W.V. Hammond; Cashier T.L. Cox; widely known banker from Oneonta, Alabama. We feel sure you will join us in taking additional pride in Alabaster s slogan Watch Us Grow as we view the progress in the city...

3 VOLUME 17 ~ ISSUE 3 SHELBY COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY, INC. PAGE 3 DR. JOHN FRED OLIVE III On May 3, 2015 the Shelby County Historical Society, Inc. made a historic change in the leadership of the Society with the election of Fred Olive as the new incoming President on November 1, Fred will be responsible for taking the Society to a new level, building on the solid foundation and leadership of Bobby Joe Seales current and retiring President. Bobby Joe Seales has held the office of Society President for 16 years [November 7, 1999 to November 1, 2015]. We as a Society could not have found a more qualified person to assume this position than Fred, having retired in February 2015 after 27 years as the Head of User Services for the Mervyn H. Sterne Library at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Fred s credentials are impressive: Bachelor of Science in History from Samford University, Masters of Library Science from the University of Alabama, Education Specialist from the University of Alabama and a Doctor of Education from the University of Alabama. He is a long-time member of the Shelby County Historical Society having served on the Board of Directors from and as Second Vice-President from He is a professional genealogist with memberships in the Association of Professional Genealogist and the Alabama Genealogical Society. He is the author of several books and has written articles for the Encyclopedia of Alabama and the Alabama Genealogical Society and others. Fred will not assume the position of Director of the Shelby County Museum & Archives. We are currently seeking a new Director for this position and hope to have that person in place on or before August 1, The Shelby County Museum & Archives, maintained by the Shelby County Historical Society, Inc., is located in the old courthouse built in Here a world of information and artifacts has been meticulously preserved. The future of the Shelby County Historical Society, Inc. with Fred as the new President and a new Director of the Shelby County Museum & Archives is very bright. With new leadership we look forward to becoming a stronger Society for everyone we serve. At the November 1, 2015 Shelby County Historical Society Quarterly Meeting the nomination committee will present the remaining Officers and Board of Directors for election. Your attendance and vote as a member of the Society is very important. Please join together and welcome our new Shelby County Historical Society, Inc. President Fred Olive. The Shelby Guide November 28, 1872 This day came Mrs. Rutha Thames, widow of John Thames, deceased, and filed her petition praying for an order assigning her dower in the lands of said estate. It is thereupon ordered, adjudged and decreed by the Court that said petition be received, filed and set for hearing in this Court on Monday, the 9th day of December ROOTSTECH FAMILY DISCOVERY DAY Families and individuals are invited to attend RootsTech Family Discovery Day on Saturday, August 22, 2015 from 12:30 pm to 4:30 pm. This free half-day event is one of inspirational messages, i n s t r u c t i o n a l c l a s s e s, a n d interactive activities for family members ages 3 and up. Come discover and connect with your families across generations. Whether you re a beginner or an experienced family historian, there s something at Family Discover Day for everyone. This genealogical event will be hosted by the Bessemer Alabama Stake of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Bessemer Alabama at 813 Briarwood Drive. You may register for the event at ldsbessemer.org and choose classes that may interest you. Registration the day of the event will begin at 11:30 am. For more information or questions contact Rodney Jones at (205) or jones8@aol.com. The Shelby Chronicle October 8, 1888 On the last Monday, 8th instant, Miss Toncha Sturdivant, who had been prostrated upon a bed of affliction for several weeks, quietly passed away a victim of that fell destroyer, consumption. She leaves behind a remnant of a once large family, two brothers and a sister, who deeply mourn her early and untimely death. Six young ladies, Misses Mabel Hollowell, Alice Baker, Eva Baker, Bell Blackford, Francis Brasher and Hattie Brasher were selected as pallbearers; they were all dressed in white with a bow of black crape attached to their left arm. They carried the coffin to the hearse and in the procession occupied a hack just in the rear of the hearse; next were the near relatives, and then the friends of the deceased, who slowly followed the remains to Beaver Creek Cemetery. She was laid to rest beside her aged mother.

4 PAGE 4 SHELBY COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY, INC. VOLUME 17 ~ ISSUE 3 Memorials Jefferson Buck Falkner 25 February April 2015 Liddy Willis Fancher 12 January May 2015 Monte Angela Hollis Strickland 10 October May 2015 LOST BALLAD DOCUMENTS 1894 COOSA RIVER TRAIN WRECK Alabama Folkways ~ October 1993 Written by Hank Willett Nearly 99 years ago to the day, a passenger train on the B&A Railroad left Talladega on its regularly scheduled run to Pell City. While crossing the Coosa River at the Talladega and St. Clair County line on the evening of Thursday, October 11, 1894, the wooden trestle bridge collapsed, dropping the entire train into 22 feet of water. Talladega resident C.H. Simmons drowned and dozens of others were injured. The Talladega newspaper, Our Mountain Home, reported the wreck in its October 17 [1894] edition: Thursday evening the passenger train on the B&A Railroad on the Coosa River Bridge below Stemly collapsed. The bridge is 600 feet long, and the west span 150 feet long, gave way as the train ran onto it, when engine, cars and passengers all went down into 22 feet of water. Train hands Jordan Cranford and Bill Street escaped unhurt and did heroic deeds in rescuing Mrs. Duncan and her two children, who were passengers. It was the heroics of the two train hands, Cranford and Street, which caught the attention of the public. Old-timers in Talladega and St. Clair counties have reported that African-America field hands, in the early 20th century sang a work-song which recounted the events of the wreck of the B&A, though no one has been able to recall the words. Others remember a Vernon Dalhart recording of the song, The Wreck of the B&A, on the Cameo Records label, selling at Talladega in the 1920s for 25 cents a copy. However, no songs of that title show up in Vernon Dalhart discographies, and it is quite possibly being confused with Dalhart s The Wreck of the 1256, released on the Cameo label in That song recounts a similar accident, in this case a train plunging into the James River near Clifton Forge, Virginia. It seems u n l i k e l y t h a t t h e b a l l a d commemorating the events of that evening in 1894 when the B&A Railroad train plunged into the Coosa River has disappeared entirely from the memories of the citizens of Talladega and St. Clair counties. Perhaps, as the centennial of that fateful night approaches, the lost ballad of The Wreck of the B&A will be found. The Shelby Sentinel March 9, 1876 We will give three bales of cotton, weighing 500 pounds each, to be paid the coming fall, and secure the payment by mortgage, or in any other way to make it safe, as a reward for the arrest of William Taylor Brown. He has a full face, fair complexion, brown eyes, black hair and mustache, standing something over five feet high and weight about 140 pounds. He shot J. W. Thompson twice with a pistol, while sitting in a chair in his own house, and without cause. The Shelby Sentinel March 16, 1876 Thomas R. Adams, a soldier of the War of 1812, died in St. Clair County, on the 9th instant, in the 83rd year of his age. He moved to St. Clair County from Tennessee in 1819 and had been a resident of that county ever since. Peace to his ashes! Mr. Brazeale, quite a clever and genial gentleman, is refitting the old Honeycutt Hotel in Calera, and will soon open a first class hotel. as railroad connections at this point are miserable and a good hotel at the crossing has long been needed. HOME REMEDIES Eagle Fire Volume I, No.1, There are some good remedies for arthritis, either crippling arthritis or drawing arthritis. It s just as simple as anything. You heat your water in your wash pan, and then you d fill up your tin tub. You would also put some table salt and baby Draft, which you wash babies clothes in, into the water. Then you d sit there and let that steam all over your body. Another way to cure arthritis is to use pine top, rabbit tobacco, and table salt. You d make a big bottle of that mixture and pour it into your water when you re fixing to take your bath. You would let somebody sponge you off with the mixture. It would go all into your bones. After you took your bath, you would go to bed. Talk about sweating, you would sweat all the soreness out of your joints. The next morning you would get up, and you could put your feet on the floor with ease. The Shelby Guide September 21, 1871 Mr. Joseph Savory, died in Selma on the 6th instant, in the 84th year of his age. He was born in the Town of Dunkirk, France, near the coast of Flanders, on the 2nd of December 1787, and grew to manhood among the stormy scenes of the French Revolution. When scarcely more than a boy, he served a drum major in the famous Army of Italy, and was not yet nineteen when he followed Napoleon in the terrible passage of the Bridge of Lodi. In 1811, Mr. Savory left France and came to America, landing first at Philadelphia, but afterwards came to Alabama to join the colony of French immigrants who had settled in the County of Marengo. VISIT THE SHELBY COUNTY MUSEUM & ARCHIVES A wonderful collection of our county s rich history can be found inside this most significant and perhaps the most historic building in Shelby County Alabama

5 VOLUME 17 ~ ISSUE 3 SHELBY COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY, INC. PAGE 5 Shelby s Oldest House The Birmingham News Date Unknown At first glance, Jack and Martha Ward s home near Montevallo might appear to be just another house in the rolling pasture land of south Shelby County. But a closer look down their cedar-lined driveway reveals a 175 year old two-story log cabin thought to be the oldest house in the county still on its original site. The home, restored by the Wards about 20 years ago, was built in the early 1820s and still stands as a masterpiece of craftsmanship and testament to the early years of Alabama. Its builder, Richard Crowson, was a pioneer settler of Tennessee and Alabama and served as a Shelby County Judge and Justice of the Peace. Crowson is the great-great-great-great-grandfather of today s Shelby County Circuit Judge Al Crowson and according to historians, was one of Andrew Jackson s men who fought the Creek Indians at Horseshoe Bend, near present-day Alexander City, in President James Monroe signed the land grant giving Crowson the land where the Ward house sits in The house is made of hand cut heart pine logs ranging from 12 to 18 inches wide and about six inches thick. Some are as long as 47 feet. Wooden pegs and handmade square nails hold the logs together. A mixture of clay and buttermilk was used to fill in the gaps but has since been replaced with cement mortar. The walls still show evidence of gun portals once used to fight off unfriendly Indians, though they have been filled in. The original house had four, 18 feet by 18 feet rooms, two up and two down. A 10 foot wide dogtrot separates the lower rooms. When the Wards bought the house in 1974, it had two layers of siding on the outside and sheetrock covering the pine on the inside. We took it all off and wire-brushed the logs-kind of cleaned em up a little, Ward said. Each side of the house has a colonial style chimney, originally built with handmade bricks. One of the original chimneys still stands, but the Wards had to tear down and rebuild the other one because it was leaning about six inches away from the wall, Ward said. He used as many of the original bricks as possible in rebuilding the chimney, he said. The Wards also added a modern kitchen and bath in the back of the house and enclosed the back porch to form a den. The original kitchen and dining room separate from and to the rear of the house featured a double fireplace. However, termites pretty much destroyed that structure, Ward said. One neighbor told the Wards they should bulldoze the whole house, but the uniqueness of the home touched them. You don t find many houses built out of logs. We couldn t see wasting this timber, Ward said. We had to do something with the house to keep it from falling down, so we moved into it. The main things we wanted to do was preserve it, he said. There s a lot of history here. There aren't many old log houses in the county still at their original site. There s another log house near Montevallo thought to be built in about 1816, but it has been moved. The next oldest house is thought to be the Ward house, followed by a brick house on the University of Montevallo campus built in The Ward house is listed on the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage and as a historic home with the Alabama Historical Commission. The Wards weren t fully aware of the history of the house until after they bought it. A story about the house and its restoration was published in Progressive Farmer magazine in The story got the attention of Crowson s descendants, who started writing and visiting the Wards from all over the country, Mrs. Ward said. Many have come from the Florence, Alabama area, a previous home for Crowson. Others have come from Florida, Tennessee, Mississippi, Arkansas, Maryland, Massachusetts and California, Mrs. Ward said. There was a couple who came from Crockett, Texas, she said. They even called back and requested a brick from Crowson s grave, which is on the Wards property, so we bundled up a brick and sent it to her by UPS, she said. Crowson s grave didn t have a headstone but was covered by handmade bricks. Descendants from Florence bought a monument to put on the grave and hauled it to Shelby County themselves, Mrs. Ward said. One descendant, a Dr. William Crowson, wrote a research paper on Richard Crowson, his wife and their 15 children, whose travels up and down the log cabin s staircase are documented by the well-worn stairs. The Crowson family is pleased to see the Wards taking care of their ancestor s home, the Doctor wrote. They even invited the Wards to the Crowson family reunion in Little Rock, Arkansas. Some people might question the stability of a house so old, but Ward is a true believer. I told my wife if a tornado comes, you get in the old section. It s not going anywhere. RICHARD CROWSON 17 April September 1826 Shelby County Reporter November 1, 1984 On October 20th, family members came from north Alabama, Arkansas and Mississippi to see the granite monument put in place at the old Shelby County homestead. Bricks from the fallen walls which once surrounded the grave of Richard Crowson and two others, lay scattered on the ground which is now part of the pasture where Jack Ward s cows graze. The family is also considering putting up a fence around the grave site. Martha Ward said that a former resident of the cabin told her and her husband about the graves in the 1970s, several years after they bought the property. After realizing that the grave site might be lost unless some action was taken, family members from seven states contributed to the fund to buy the marker.

6 PAGE 6 SHELBY COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY, INC. VOLUME 17 ~ ISSUE 3 J.F. POPE STORE, WILSONVILLE [Prepared by the Book Committee] The Heritage of Shelby County, Alabama The following appeared as an advertisement in the Shelby County Reporter on December 29, 1938: During the period following the Civil War Colonel W.T. Smith operated a store at Wilsonville on the lot later occupied by the J.F. Pope Co., Inc. In 1878 the Colonel hired a young man from across the Coosa in Talladega County as a clerk. That man was Frank Pope. The new clerk worked hard, proved himself a good salesman and bought, in 1885, a half interest in the business. Five years later, Colonel Smith sold his remaining interest in the business to his clerk partner and J.F. Pope began a business of his own in 1890 that made mercantile history in Shelby County. The new owner tore away the old frame building and constructed instead a two-story brick structure with 110 feet frontage, 90 feet in length, with a 50 by 60 feet annex in the rear. The management and growth of the Pope Store are too well known to need repeated at this time. From 1890 until the close of years later, almost half a century, the Pope Store was the greatest single agency in developing the community and trade territory around Wilsonville. Every kind of merchandise needed by the people in the east half of Shelby County and the western portion of Talladega County could be bought at Pope s Store. You can get it at Popes gradually became a trade slogan. Pope s Store not only kept a big stock of goods, but the store was willing and ready at all times to extend credit terms according to the needs and desires of its many customers. During the 48 years since 1890, the credit service rendered by the Pope Store has probably been as valuable to the community as the keeping convenience of a large and complete stock of central merchandise. Upon the death of J. Frank Pope in 1921, his heirs determined to carry on, but with a number of owners, and some of these living at a distance from the location, the store was organized by the heirs into a corporation, which was done in By 1938, many changes had taken place. Instead of wagons, buggies and impassible mud roads six months out of the year, we now have automobiles, improved chert roads and paved highways travelled the year round. Good roads and automobiles have put what used to be distant stores and trade centers right at our doors. It once took two days to go to Birmingham and return. It now takes two hours. Mail order houses and chain stores on every corner, it becomes necessary to change merchandising methods and credit policies of the general merchant of many years. After 1939, it was operated by C.W. Williams, then it was vacant for a while, and in the early 1950s the property was purchased by B.B. Mooney who had a tractor company in one end of the structure. A service station and garage used the other end. The center part and the upstairs were vacant. The building and property was put up for sale at public auction on November 19, The building burned later when it was being considered for nomination to the State Register of Historic Places. Thereby was lost a longtime heritage of Shelby County, where one of the largest general stores had once flourished in Wilsonville, one which supported many a family with necessary farming supplies and other things needed for living in the hard days from the Civil War through the sharecropping days, the depression days of the 1920s and 1930s and almost up to the World War II days. IMPORTANT NOTICE On November 1, 2015 at the next Quarterly Meeting of the Shelby County Historical Society, Inc. the Nominating Committee will present the Officers & Board of Directors for election. Your attendance and vote as a member of the Society is very important. A COVERED WAGON MOVE BACK TO SHELBY COUNTY [Submitted by William C. Cobb, Jr.] The Heritage of Shelby County, Alabama The following is an account of a move back to Alabama in 1877 and eventually to Shelby County after moving from Alabama to Cadiz, Kentucky after the Civil War. Newton Jasper Riley made the move back to Alabama in a covered wagon with a stepdaughter, age 16 and four of his small children, ages 7, 6, 4 and 3. Newton s wife and his eldest son had recently died in Cadiz, Kentucky: My father came back to Alabama in We came back in a covered wagon. We were on the road for 21 days. We had lots of fun although we would get tired. Father would stop and let us play and let us walk. It was raining the morning we got to the Tennessee River. We came through a swamp before we got to the river. It was rough. The road had poles across it. We bumped and bumped. It was almost sundown when the boat came across for us. It was the first river we had ever seen. The railroad crossing was there. We saw the train cross. We got across. The bank of the river was so steep and slick. We was so scared. The man would scotch the wagon to keep it from slipping back. The next day was saw our first pine trees. We stopped to fix dinner. Father gathered up some pine knots and build a fire for us to see how they burned. He was watering and feeding the horses and we run around the fire and the smoked black. We did not know it would make us black. You ought to have seen Father s eyes when he noticed us.we came on and went to see Grandpa Riley and all the kinfolks. We came to Oxmoor and lived there a while. Father married again. He had a job hauling props for a mine. We moved to Shelby County and lived there. We all grew up. There were four of the last children. Their mother died in Mae was 3 months old. Our father had to be a father and mother to us.

7 VOLUME 17 ~ ISSUE 3 SHELBY COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY, INC. PAGE 7 NAME: MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION [to pay online... visit for new and/or renewal membership] or make check payable to Shelby County Historical Society, Inc. and mail with application to Shelby County Historical Society, Inc. P.O. Box 457 ~ Columbiana, AL CHECK ONE: [ ] New Membership [ ] Renewal Membership [ ] Address Change MAILING ADDRESS: CITY: STATE: ZIP: TELEPHONE: TYPE OF MEMBERSHIP ~ ANNUAL DUES [ ] Individual. $20.00 [ ] Couple. $20.00 [ ] Sustaining. $50.00 [ ] Patron. $ [ ] Check Here if this is a GIFT for a New Membership a gift acknowledgement will be mailed. The annual dues are from January 1 through December 31; all renewal dues become due on January 1 and delinquent after February 1 of each year. Those that join after January 1 will be placed on the mailing list and will receive all previous publications for that year. The Quarterly Newsletter is published yearly in February, May, August and November. The Society must be notified of any change of address as soon as possible and are not responsible for publications mailed to an old or incorrect address. They are mailed non-profit organization bulk rate by the U.S. Postal Service. [A 501(c)3 non-profit organization] Thank you for your membership and support! SHELBY COUNTY PIONEER CERTIFICATE PROGRAM EXPANDED Shelby County Pioneer is a certificate program, founded in the year-2000, offered by the Shelby County Historical Society, Inc. and is designed to identify and honor the memory of the early residents of Shelby County Alabama. Due to popular demand we have expanded the Pioneer Certificate Program, effective January 1, The Shelby County Historical Society, Inc. will issue three categories of certificates to direct descendants of the early residents of Shelby County Alabama. For many years these ancestors have gone unrecognized. We hope that this certificate will be a source of pride for your family. (1) PIONEER CERTIFICATE 1830 or earlier. (2) SETTLER CERTIFICATE 1831 through (3) EARLY RESIDENT CERTIFICATE 1861 through 1900 The criteria for the Shelby County Pioneer Certificate Program include (1) Current member of the Shelby County Historical Society, Inc. (2) Completion of Pioneer Certificate Program Application for each certificate. [Visit our website or write for this application.] (3) Copy of documentation of proof of direct descent for each generation of each settler and proof of earliest year ancestor lived in Shelby County Alabama (4) $20.00 certificate fee for each submission. For each qualifying ancestor you will receive a beautifully designed 8-2 x 11 certificate ready for framing. Each certificate is numbered and signed. Acceptable forms of proof of direct descent for each generation [please number proof of direct descent to correspond to each generation number]: (1) Census records. (2) Birth records. (3) Death records. (4) Marriage records. (5) Military records. (6) Land records. (7) Wills. (8) Obituaries or Funeral Home r ecords. ( 9) Tombstone inscriptions or cemetery records, name and location of cemetery. (10) Estate records. (11) Bible records. (12) Books or written articles with proof of copyright date. Please submit copies [do not send original documents] of evidence of direct descent for each generation. Documentation will be filed in the archives of the Shelby County Museum & Archives to help preserve the history of your ancestor and will be made available for public research. Please mail (1) Completed Pioneer Certificate Program Application (2) Documentation of Proof of Direct Descent for each generation and Proof of Earliest Year ancestor lived in Shelby County Alabama (3) and $20.00 certificate fee to: Shelby County Pioneer Certificate Program P. O. Box 457 Columbiana, AL WEBSITE

8 SHELBY COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY, INC Old Courthouse P.O. Box 457 Columbiana, Alabama PHONE: FAX: NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT NO. 26 COLUMBIANA, AL POSTMASTER: ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED The Society appreciates your membership! We re on the web! QUARTERLY MEETING Sunday August 2, 2015 ~ 2:00 pm PLEASE ATTEND Shelby County Historical Society Quarterly Meeting 1854 Old Courthouse Columbiana, Alabama MEETING AUGUST 2, :00 PM REFRESHMENTS Following the Meeting W ITH A POSSIBLE RECEPTION FOR THE NEW DIRECTOR OF THE S HELBY COUNTY MUSEUM & ARCHIVES HISTORY NEVER WRITTEN IS SOON FORGOTTEN GUEST SPEAKER DONNA COX BAKER, PHD EDITOR- IN- CHIEF ALABAMA HERITAGE ACQUISITIONS EDITOR FOR HISTORY THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA PRESS CO-CHAIR STATEWIDE INITIATIVES COMMITTEE OF THE ALABAMA BICENTENNIAL COMMISSION TOPIC ALABAMA HERITAGE AND THE BICENTENNIAL Learn about upcoming projects and plans for Alabama s Bicentennial Celebration! Please join us! MISSION STATEMENT The Shelby County Historical Society, Inc. a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, founded on 18 January 1974, is dedicated to the discovery, collection, and preservation of all things related to the history of Shelby County Alabama; to the encouragement, promotion, and sponsorship of historical research and the public dissemination of that research; to the acquisition of physical artifacts and documents and provision of their public display; and to the presentation of educational programs and other activities for our citizens and visitors about our past history and our heritage.