Exploring Montgomery

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

Monthly Archives: March 2017

Whitfield Mansion — It’s sometimes erroneously called the “Pickle Palace”, at 1506 South Perry Street, is Mediterranean Style and was built in 1920. Today it is the home of gambling tycoon Milton McGregor, who is wont to say,” You could be a winner too!” But the house, designed by the favorite of Montgomery’s […]

Whitfield Mansion

March 31, 2017 in Residential tagged lockwood / mansion / mediterranean / palace / pickle / whitfield

Robert Steiner — I think Robert Steiner Jr built this Colonial Revival, probably in the 1930s, but his son, Robert E Steiner III became HOH during the 1950s when his father died. Bob Jr & III were both members of the prestigious law firm of Steiner, Crum and Baker, which was founded in […]

Robert Steiner Residence

March 27, 2017 in Residential tagged colonial revival / robert / steiner

Yost Res — For almost a half century this imposing house at 3191 Thomas Avenue was the Yost Residence. Back 70 years ago the property was so big it took two yardmen to keep it up (of course you didn’t have blow & go machines then). Mr Walter Yost was in the lumber […]

Yost Residence

March 24, 2017 in Residential tagged dragon / playhouse / yost

Marshall Lumber — Founded circa 1920, and for the 90-plus years since, it has been an institution in Montgomery. From the beginning it was a family endeavor, and it has survived through four generations of Marshalls. I think it was located right at this spot when I moved here 60-something years ago, and […]

Marshall Lumber and Mill

March 20, 2017 in Commercial tagged lumber / marshall / mill

Eagles Nest — Back 60 to 70 years ago this house at 3541 Thomas Avenue was the Eagle’s Nest, but today its picture is interesting because of the arbor formed by the trees lining the short entrance drive. It makes you feel like you are entering a special place. But back 60+ years […]

Eagle’s Nest

March 17, 2017 in Residential tagged aronov / eagle / nest

Diplomat Hotel — I always chuckle when I drive by the old Diplomat Hotel . . . out on the Southern By-Pass (now grandly called “Southern Boulevard”) at its intersection with Norman Bridge. Around 1960, when all this appeared, that intersection was the largest (by number of lanes) of any in the city. And […]

Diplomat Hotel

March 13, 2017 in Commercial tagged diplomat / hotel / inn

Grace Episcopal Church — The much revered Grace Episcopal Church . . . out on the Pike Road near Mt. Meigs, a mile or two South of I-85. The Church was founded circa 1858. However, while this nice Carpenter Gothic style structure was designed by Pennsylvania architect Joseph Pierson in 1861, soon after the […]

Grace Episcopal Church

March 10, 2017 in Religious tagged church / episcopal / flowers / gardens / gothic / grace

Thigpen House — The very impressive Thigpen House. . . at 1412 South Perry, situated at the head of Clanton Avenue. This was probably built around the turn of the previous century and seems to be a blend of Greek Revival and Italianate. The Thigpen Family lived here for neigh onto a half-century, […]

Thigpen House

March 6, 2017 in Residential tagged greek revival / italianate / thigpen

Richardson RX — Fifty years ago as I recall it, the major oil companies were taking hits for the garish appearance of their stations, especially for those built in settled neighborhoods or historic districts. Shell Oil must have been sensitive to the criticism, because in the mid-sixties it began to hire local architects […]

Richardson’s Pharmacy

March 3, 2017 in Commercial tagged oil / pharmacy / richardson / shell