Exploring Montgomery

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

Places and Things

First Alabama — I took this a few years back when this old building was Regions Bank (now Renasant Bank), but I liked it best when it was First National. It was built circa 1907, and I’m sure it could tell a thousand stories, but the one I like best involves my brother […]

First National/Alabama Bank

April 3, 2016 in Commercial / Places and Things tagged alabama / bank / first / lions / national / regions / renasant

Klein Clock from afar — The Klein Clock is back at No. 1 Dexter! From this late afternoon view across Court Square, we can see the former Klein’s Jewelers, nee Central Bank, standing proudly with its landmark clock restored to its rightful place at the foot of Dexter Avenue. Kudos to Kleins for this contribution […]

Klein Jeweler’s & Klein Clock

March 12, 2016 in Commercial / Places and Things tagged central bank / clock / jewelers / klein

Crampton Bowl — Cramton bowl is on Madison Avenue, and long past its glory, but it did have its era. It was built in 1922, and officially seats 25,000 or so. Both API (Auburn) and Alabama played here up until the late 1930s, and API continued to schedule non-conference games here until the late 1940s. […]

Cramton Bowl

March 10, 2016 in Commercial / Education / Places and Things tagged asu / bowl / crampton / faulkner / stadium

Windchime — In 1987 when the Courthouse was approaching completion, County Fathers authorized the creation and installation of the world’s largest wind chime. Renowned chime artisans were located in upstate New York. The New York Times and many other news sources wrote articles and sent reporters,Great publicity. . . Click on image at […]

The Wind Chime (That Never Was)

March 6, 2016 in Government / Places and Things tagged windchime / woodstock chimes / WSJ. New York Times

Grain Silos — Today this one-time grain elevator is a police sub-station. It sits high up on the bank, benevolently overlooking the complex. But just 15 years ago this strange creation served as Montgomery’s train station…yes, Montgomery, which in 1900 boasted the two grandest railroad depots in all of central Alabama. Union Station […]

Grain Silos

March 2, 2016 in Places and Things tagged amtrak / depot / grain / silos

Cloverdale Bottom Park — I suppose one has minimal control of where his explorations take him, but none at all as to where his memories go. Take the currently popular Cloverdale “Bottom” Park, where the Live Oakes provide a spacious canopy, and the gazebo serves as band-stand for the weekly music program. Hundreds gather […]

Cloverdale’s “Bottom” Park

March 1, 2016 in Places and Things tagged cloverdale / ditch / murder / park

This life-size bronze of little Helen Keller stands quietly, unlighted, virtually un-noticed, in the back, lower Lobby of the Alabama Public Library Service out on Monticello Drive. The piece was sculpted by South Montgomery County artist Clydetta Fulmer, a graduate of Alabama Christian Academy. It depicts a young Helen sitting […]

Helen Keller Bronze Statue

February 27, 2016 in Places and Things tagged helen keller / library / statue

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

Blount Design — This 250-acre park is home to the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts, The Alabama Shakespeare Festival and the Hannah Daye Ridling Bark Park. The park features ponds, miles of walking trails, a natural amphitheater and picturesque scenery. The park is open seven days a week and closes at sundown except for […]

Blount Cultural Park

February 22, 2016 in Places and Things tagged blount / park / puck / puddle jumpers / thunder bridge / wee top

Camp Sheridan — The old Camp Sheridan, active during WW-I, was located in North Montgomery on land that became the Kilby Prison reservation shortly after the war ended. The entire camp covered many square miles. For a variety of reasons, this war (which was going on long before the United States got into […]

Camp Sheridan

February 22, 2016 in Government / Places and Things tagged camp / sheridan / ww I

Montgomery Mall — The dead, dead Montgomery Mall . . . so convenient, so wonderful, in its day. The empty hulk stands at the intersection of McGehee Road and Southern Boulevard, a spot believed in 1970 to be the future epicenter of Montgomery. The Montgomery Fair, frightened by an inroad of Lovemans and […]

Montgomery Mall

February 22, 2016 in Commercial / Government / Places and Things tagged fire / mall / police

Blount Bark Park — … located in Blount Park and named after Hannah Ridling, this dog park has it all. It has everything a dog and his best friend could want, fountains, wash stations, streams, walking trails, bridges, gazeebos, benches and the list goes on. The main entrance leads to two smaller entrances; one […]

Hannah Daye Ridling Bark Park

February 22, 2016 in Places and Things tagged bark / blount / park / ridling

Eastchase — The highly successful 330-acre development was opened in 2002 as a joint endeavor of ALFA and Jim Wilson Associates. The center currently boasts 70+ stores and eateries, a hotel and an office building. Its open-air concept attracted high-end tenants from the outset, and its opening was the dagger thru the heart that […]

Eastchase Shopping Center

February 22, 2016 in Commercial / Places and Things tagged eastchase / mall / shopping

Montgomery’s most well known landmark. Sorry this is an old picture. The immodest nymph on top is supposed to be Hebe, Greek Goddess of Youth, raising her cup to welcome visitors. The fountain was erected in 1885, and the iron work was cast by Mott Iron Works of New York. Beyond […]

Court Square Fountain

February 22, 2016 in Places and Things tagged dexter / fountain