Exploring Montgomery

The storytelling continues… a collection of stories and photos from Exploring Montgomery!

Daily Archives: February 24, 2016

Winter Buidling — …at No. 2 Dexter Avenue, sort of dominates Court Square, based on its age, its Early Italianate Style, and its role in history. It was from this building in 1861 that was sent the telegram which authorized the firing on Ft. Sumter, and thus was started the War Between the […]

Winter Building

February 24, 2016 in Commercial tagged historic registry / italianate / winter

…built ca 1937 by Montgomery contractor Algenon Blair, a friend of my Grandfather Banks. Montgomery’s city hall burned in 1932, and this was the replacement. For 30-odd years this auditorium was the scene of Montgomery’s big events, balls, and productions. It was cooled by sliding huge blocks of ice into the […]

City Auditorium (City Hall)

February 24, 2016 in Government tagged auditorium / city hall / hank williams

It is difficult to overstate the importance of the ramp down to the river at the foot of Commerce in the mid-1800’s. Each year, cotton bales by the hundred made their way to river steamers down the ramp, pulled by slaves, on to worldwide markets. Trade goods came the other […]

Commerce Street Tunnel (Riverfront)

February 24, 2016 in Places and Things tagged amphitheater / cotton / riverfront / tunnel

…at 221 South Court Street is typical ante-bellum Greek Revival. It was built in 1845 by the same John Figh as is mentioned as contractor for several other buildings covered herein, for his personal residence. But Figh sold it even before he moved in for the princely sum of $5,800. […]

Lomax House

February 24, 2016 in Residential tagged colonel / lomax / tennent

Montgomery Zoo — is located at 2301 Coliseum Parkway out in Chisolm, probably on land that was one time a part of the Kilby reservation. It was founded as part of Oak Park in 1920; declared to be the Montgomery Zoo in 1935, and moved to this 48-acre site in Chisolm in 1974. […]

Montgomery Zoo

February 24, 2016 in Commercial / Education tagged zoo