Birmingham History Center

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In this Issue Page 2 Letter from the Director Featured New Artifact Page 3-4 On Exhibit Motlow

Hawkins Bell Presented To St. Johns Episcopal Church Elyton, Ala. By Williamson Hawkins, Sr.

Pounds of Bronze Movers from Road Runner Moving Service ( Vladimir Marinov, Branden Pair and

Ed Stevenson, bring the Williamson Hawkins Bell to the History Center.

1 In this Issue Page 2 Letter from the Director Featured New Artifact Page 3-4 On Exhibit Motlow Brothers Letter Page 5 Birmingham History Center Volume 1, Number 2 March 1, 2011 Williamson Hawkins Bell Presented To St. Johns Episcopal Church Elyton, Ala. By Williamson Hawkins, Sr. March, 1872 Book Sale Speaker Page 6 Members Volunteers Page 7 Enduring Companies Project 484 Pounds of Bronze Movers from Road Runner Moving Service ( Vladimir Marinov, Branden Pair and owner, Jim Owens) with the assistance of Dr. Ed Stevenson, bring the Williamson Hawkins Bell to the History Center. To join our List send us an at: info@birminghamhistorycenter.org 1731 First Avenue North, Suite 120, Birmingham, AL Tel Website -

Jim Owens, the owner of Road Runner, donated his company s services and time for this project. For many years the bell was part of an outdoor display at the St.

Marvin Whiting, were instrumental in arranging this donation. Moving the 484 lb. bell from its outdoor perch in Vestavia to the History Center was quite a task. Mr.

2 Birmingham History Center Newsletter Page 2 Letter from the Director/Jerry Desmond Many thanks to Dr. Ed Stevenson and the movers of the Road Runner Moving Service for bringing the Williamson Hawkins bell to the History Center. Jim Owens, the owner of Road Runner, donated his company s services and time for this project. For many years the bell was part of an outdoor display at the St. John s Episcopal Church for the Deaf in Cahaba Heights. Dr. Stevenson, a Birmingham History Center board member, and our much missed curator, Dr. Marvin Whiting, were instrumental in arranging this donation. Moving the 484 lb. bell from its outdoor perch in Vestavia to the History Center was quite a task. Mr. Owens and his assistants, Branden Pair and Vladimir Marinov (see photograph on page one), accomplished the feat with nary a scratch. As an outstanding artifact of early church history in Jefferson County, it is now on exhibit at the Birmingham History Center. Dr. Nathaniel Hawkins, and his wife, Maria Welton Hawkins, helped to organize St. John s Episcopal Church in Elyton in His father, Williamson Hawkins, Sr., one of Jefferson County s early settlers, donated the bell to the church in Featured New Artifact This letter was donated by John Morse, local historian and founder of Bhamwiki. It is an invitation sent to Claude Lawson (spelled without the e on the invitation), the Superintendant at Sloss- Sheffield, and his wife to attend the launching of the USS Birmingham on March 20, Mrs. W. Cooper Green, wife of the President of the Birmingham City Commission had been chosen to christen the ship. The Newport News Shipbuilding Company of Virginia built 243 ships during World War II. In 1952, the company built the SS United States luxury liner, still the westbound record holder for the fastest crossing of the Atlantic Ocean.

3 Birmingham History Center Newsletter Page 3 On Exhibit Motlow Brothers Distillers Letter Our Vice-President, and chairman of our collections committee, Tommy West, tells us that this letter may be the most expensive artifact ever purchased for the History Center. It is certainly very rare as it contains the letterhead of the Motlow Brothers Distillers of Birmingham, Alabama an item coveted by serious collectors of Jack Daniel memorabilia. What is Birmingham s connection to the famous Jack Daniel s Distillery of Lynchburg, Tennessee? The answer relates to the Prohibition movement of the late 19 th and early 20 th centuries. It seemed that every time the company established itself in a community, that county or state would pass laws prohibiting the sale of alcoholic beverages. It happened first in Jack Daniel s home, Moore County, Tennessee soon after his distillery gained fame by winning the gold medal for the best whiskey at the St. Louis World Fair of Jack Daniel s nephews, led by Lem Motlow, then began a distillery in Birmingham that same year. Lem s brother, John Franklin Spoons Motlow was President of the company. Another brother, Jesse Butler Motlow, served as the Vice President and Secretary. Jesse Motlow also served as master distiller. He and his wife, Alice, moved to Birmingham sometime in (Continued on Page 4)

However, on January 1, 1908 the local Jefferson County prohibition laws went into effect and the business was closed down only to reopen in 1911 when the county voted to again allow the sale of

4 Birmingham History Center Newsletter Page 4 On Exhibit Motlow Brothers Distillers Letter (Continued from page 3) 1905 Birmingham City Directory Listing of the Motlow Distilling Company The 1905 Birmingham City Directory listed the address of the company as 1215 Avenue B (now Second Avenue, South). However, on January 1, 1908 the local Jefferson County prohibition laws went into effect and the business was closed down only to reopen in 1911 when the county voted to again allow the sale of alcohol. This time, Lem Motlow served as President of the Jack Daniel Distilling Company and the Jack Daniel Distributing Company, located on 2 nd Avenue North. When the Alabama legislature passed a statewide prohibition law in 1915 (five years before National Prohibition), Motlow moved his company to St. Louis only to return to Lynchburg, Tennessee following the repeal of National Prohibition in the 1930s. Our letter is dated August 13, It is from Jesse Motlow to the youngest Motlow brother, Felix W. Motlow. Felix had recently graduated from the West Point Military Academy in June of of 1905 and had returned to Lynchburg to see the family before being assigned a post. In the letter, Jesse writes to his brother that he was hoping to see you before you go away. He also makes reference to the fact that it was safe to visit as [there is]no yellow fever here yet, so you need not be afraid to come down and stay a few days with us. The Jack Daniel s sign at the corner of 2 nd Avenue North and 24 th Street in Birmingham.

Pick one up at the Center or call 205-202- 4146 to reserve your copy. Need a Public Speaker for Your Meeting or Event?

5 Birmingham History Center Newsletter Page 5 The History Center has 2 nd edition hardcover copies of Historic Birmingham and Jefferson County by James R. Bennett on sale for $39.00, tax included. For an extra $6 we will ship it anywhere in the country. Pick one up at the Center or call to reserve your copy. Need a Public Speaker for Your Meeting or Event? Our Executive Director, Jerry Desmond, is available to give talks about the History Center or other topics in local or American History. Donations to the Center are accepted but not required, last minute requests are considered. Call or at jdesmond@bham.rr.com.

6 Birmingham History Center Newsletter Page 6 Charter Members Class of 2011 Martha Bartlett Frances Blount Mary and James French Lee Ann and James Harris David Herring Charlotte Murdock Sarah and Phil Neal Patti and Dennis Pappas Joseph Schoel Betsy Simmons Katy and Charles Terry Eva and Alex Vare A.S. Williams Volunteers Gary Gerlach, volunteer curator, works every Monday at the BHC. If you're interested in history and want to get in on the ground floor of a developing museum, consider volunteering. It took many hands to get the museum open in April, 2010, and more volunteer opportunities will open as time goes by. Right now, we have work waiting for archives assistants. Archives assistants are curatorial volunteers who help speed record-keeping and other caretaking duties. An archive assistant gets to see artifacts as they come in and helps make sure objects, papers, and photographs are properly documented and cared for. For more information on becoming a volunteer go to our website at or, call for more information, (205)

Let us know if you know of any other business organizations in the area that qualify.

7 Birmingham History Center Newsletter Page 7 Enduring Companies Project The History Center is planning an event for the fall of 2011 to honor 75 year old companies in Jefferson County. So far, our research has found over 100 companies that meet the age requirement. Look for details in future newsletters. Let us know if you know of any other business organizations in the area that qualify. Companies Founded in Jefferson County before 1937 Adams Produce Company, Alabama Power, Alabama Theatre, Alex Kontos Fruit Company, Alley s Drug Store, American Cast Iron Pipe, Baker Donelson, Balch & Bingham, Baldone Taylor, Baptist Health System, Berthon s Cleaners, Birmingham Barons, Birmingham Limb and Brace, Birmingham News, Birmingham Printing, Birmingham Public Library, Birmingham Realty Company (Barber), Birmingham Slag Company (Vulcan Materials), Birmingham Trunk, Birmingham Southern College, Bon Ton Hatters, Borland Benefield, Bradley Arant Boult and Cummings, Brice Building Company, Bright Star Restaurant, Brombergs, Brownell Travel, Buffalo Rock, Burr and Forman, Cabaniss Johnston, Cather Publishing, Central Paper, Chambers Funeral Home, Children s Hospital, City Paper Company, Coca-Cola, Commercial Printing Company, Cotton s Department Store, Davenport and Harris Funeral Home, Davis Architects, Dixie Store Fixtures, Drennen Motor Car Company, Drummond Company, Dunn Construction Company, Edwards Motor Company, Engel Realty, Ensley-Fairfield Mattress, Evans Services, Inc, Exchange Security Bank, General Machinery Company, George F. Wheelock Company, Gilmer Drugs, Golden Flake, Golden Rule Barbecue, Goodyear Shoe Hospital, Hinkle Roofing, Huffstutler s Hardware, Hugo Marx and Company, Irondale Café, J.H. Berry and Gilbert, Lee Rogers Tire Company, Levys Fine Jewelry, Liberty National Life Insurance, Long Lewis Ford, Long Lewis Hardware, Longshore, Buck, Marx Brothers, Inc, Mayer Electric, Mazer, McWane Pipe, Miglionico & Rumore, Miles College, Molton, Allen and Williams, Moore Coal Company, Norton s Florist, O Neal Steel, Peanut Depot, Pete s Famous Hot Dogs, Pritchard, McCall & Jones, Protective Industrial Insurance Company, Protective Life, Red Diamond, Redmont Hotel, Royal Cup Coffee, Sadler Sullivan, Samford University, Shaia s, Sloss Real Estate, Smith and Gaston Funeral Directors, Southern Armature Works, Spain and Gillon, St. Vincent s Hospital, Standard Furniture, Steel City Lumber, Sterne, Agee and Leach, Inc, Steward Machine Company, Strickland Paper, Sulzby Realty, Turner Batson Architects, U.S. Pipe and Foundry, U.S. Steel, Walter Schoel Engineering, WAPI Radio, Women s Missionary Union, Wood Fruitticher Grocery, Ziegler Meats

Birmingham History Center Recently opened in the Spring of 2010, the BHC features exhibitions of historical events of Birmingham and Jefferson County from the 18 th century to the present.

Open 9:00 am - 4:30 pm, Monday - Friday. Located at the corner of 18 th Street and First Avenue North in Birmingham at the historic Young and Vann Building.

8 Birmingham History Center Recently opened in the Spring of 2010, the BHC features exhibitions of historical events of Birmingham and Jefferson County from the 18 th century to the present. Admission charged; $4 adults, $3 seniors and veterans, $2 students, children under 6 free. Visa, Discover, Master Card accepted, tickets available also by phone. Group rates available, free parking. Open 9:00 am - 4:30 pm, Monday - Friday. Located at the corner of 18 th Street and First Avenue North in Birmingham at the historic Young and Vann Building. Directions 1731 First Avenue North Birmingham, AL Officers Stamp Dr. Bayard Tynes, Chairman Fox De Funiak, III, Co President Garland Smith, Co-President Thomas M. West, Jr., Vice-President Samuel A. Rumore, Jr., Treasurer Board of Trustees William A. Bell, Jr. William A. Bowron, Jr. Patrick Cather Francis H. Crockard, Jr. Jeremy Erdreich Angela Fisher Hall Wyatt. H. Haskell Thomas E. Jernigan, Jr. Henry S. Lynn, Jr. Corey Nixon Terry Oden Dr. Dennis Pappas Kathryn Porter Erskine Ramsay, II Carla Roberson Dr. Edward Stevenson Alice Williams

Birmingham History Center

In this Issue Page 2 Birmingham History Center Volume 3, Number 4 July 1, 2013 Letter from the Director Featured New Artifact Page 3 On Exhibit New South Page 4 Member Day Page 5 Announcements 1963 Exhibit