Arab Historical Society

07/19/2026

From Johnny Tidmore:
𝐒𝐔𝐑𝐍𝐀𝐌𝐄 𝐈𝐍𝐃𝐄𝐗 𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐚𝐯𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 for Arab's History book, 𝙏𝙧𝙖𝙞𝙡𝙨 & 𝙏𝙧𝙖𝙘𝙚𝙨, 𝙋𝙚𝙤𝙥𝙡𝙚 & 𝙋𝙡𝙖𝙘𝙚𝙨 (430+ pages, published in 1992 for Arab's Centennial Celebration).
Janet' Calhoun had one regret about the book. She wished they'd compiled a surname index. She knew it would increase sales at events. But that was a monumental task that I attempted last year, and quit out of frustration and due to lack of time.
Then it dawned on me. AI! Prompting Magica AI over the past two weeks, I have a completed index (see link to download below) which is 56 pages, formatted in 2 columns.

I NEED YOUR HELP! Please pull out your book and compare the index to the book. If you find any mistakes (and you will), please email me with corrections. I will add the index to the book before we order again.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1qRLmhEgYJT4bo8KLdEfwpmwnP4RBiJvs/view?usp=sharing

06/29/2026

DID YOU KNOW? The Arab Chamber of Commerce was organized in 1956. At that time, there was no newspaper published in Arab. The Advertiser-Gleam published the "Brindlee Mountain Edition" as a supplement to its weekly paper in Guntersville. 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝘼𝙧𝙖𝙗 𝙏𝙧𝙞𝙗𝙪𝙣𝙚 was started in 1958.

06/18/2026

Many thanks to John Mann and The Arab Tribune for covering our annual Decoration Day at the 1883 Methodist Cemetery downtown. We had a great time remembering our town's founders.

06/18/2026

The one, the ONLY, master of storytelling and writing about Arab's history, author, publisher of "Yesterday's Memories," and master of the most popular group on Facebook, 𝙎𝙏𝙀𝙑𝙀 𝙈𝘼𝙕𝙀, will present as guest speaker at the June monthly meeting on Thursday, June 18th, at 6pm at the Rice Church at Arab Historical Village. Y'all come!

06/05/2026

We'll decorate the graves at Downtown Arab's historic 1883 Methodist Cemetery THIS SATURDAY at 2pm. Y'all come!

Join us on Saturday, June 6, 2026 at 2pm at the historic cemetery i...

04/28/2026

Quite the kerfuffle in 1899. Mr. Neely (𝘿𝙚𝙢𝙤𝙘𝙧𝙖𝙩 Publisher) may have needed some space filler for that issue. Or, one might ask, was it that big a deal?

04/21/2026

Y'ALL COME ↦↦ Step back in time this Saturday at 𝐁𝐀𝐂𝐊 𝐖𝐇𝐄𝐍 𝐃𝐀𝐘, happening from 9am to 4pm at the Arab Historical Village in Arab City Park.
Explore the Elvin Light Museum, tour all the historic buildings, watch the grist mill in action, and see our 1930 printing press, Ralph, hard at work. This special invitation was even printed the old-fashioned way by Johnny Tidmore using his own 1910 antique press, Susie. Check out the detail on that copper-engraved cut of an antique thresher. The pre-WWII cut was donated by Renee & Brent Winslett, along with dozens more amazing cuts.
Bring the family and experience history come to life. You don't want to miss it.

04/21/2026

The Society is an official partner with Alabama 250! Celebrate with us at BACK WHEN DAY at the Historical Village on Saturday from 9am-4pm.