Wilcox Historical Society

06/11/2026

Enjoy this spotlight on a historical marker in Wilcox County commemorating the postal routes. Thanks Rambling The Alabama Black Belt!

06/11/2026

Thanks for the spotlight of the First Presbyterian Church in Camden Welcome To Rural SW Alabama! ⛪️

This church congregation was organized in 1845. The original church building was erected in 1856. It burned on September 17, 1869 and the present building was constructed in the mid-1880s. It features an open shingle covered belfry with “stick-style” trim and bracketed cornice. The interior wall...

06/08/2026

📸 Can you help us identify these ladies? *️⃣EDITED! We have the group of ladies identified by Robbie Purser, and she so enjoyed reliving this day - a bridal shower held on 28 May 1964 at the home of Mrs. Preston (Sam) Morgan on Hwy 43 in Sunny South. L to R: Mrs. Laurie (Hattie) Englett, Mrs. Gene (Cammie) Finley, Mrs. Lonis Shoultz, Mrs. Horace (Doris) Sheffield, Mrs. Preston (Gladys) Morgan, Mrs. Robert Eades (Kate) Cook, Mrs. Larimore (Dorothy Westbrook) Aydelott, bride-elect Robbie Frye Cook, and Mrs. Judson Westbrook Purser. Mr. Alonzo and Mrs. Robbie were married almost 57 years; Mr. Alonzo passed away in 2020.

This wonderful photograph, shared by Bob Lowry on the Old Alabama Family Photos page, shows the Ladies of the Sunny South Baptist Church in Wilcox County in 1964.

We’re hoping our followers can help identify the ladies in this photo and preserve a piece of Wilcox County history.

Do you recognize anyone? If so, please leave a comment with names and, if possible, identify where they are standing in the photo (left to right).

Every identification helps us document and preserve the stories of our communities for future generations.

📍 Ladies of the Sunny South Baptist Church, Wilcox County, Alabama — 1964

Please share this post with family and friends who may remember these ladies! ❤️

This wonderful photograph was shared by Bob Lowry, who has graciously given us permission to share it in hopes of identifying some of the ladies pictured.

06/01/2026

🌿 Thank You for Joining Us at Liberty Hall! 🌿

Nearly 50 members and guests gathered yesterday for a wonderful Wilcox Historical Society meeting at historic Liberty Hall, one of Wilcox County's treasured Century and Heritage Farms (and the newest!).

A special part of the afternoon was the presentation by Amy Belcher of the Alabama Department of Agriculture & Industries, who officially recognized Liberty Hall as an Alabama Century and Heritage Farm and presented the family with signage commemorating this important distinction. The program honors farms that have remained in the same family for more than 100 years and recognizes their contributions to Alabama's agricultural heritage.

We enjoyed a fascinating look at the history of this beautiful Greek Revival home and the generations of family stewardship that have preserved it for more than 170 years. Thank you to Julia and Dudly for welcoming us and sharing the remarkable story of Liberty Hall.

During the meeting, members received updates on several exciting upcoming WHS projects and events, including future day trips, an America 250 trip, meetings, guest speakers, plans for our 2027 Tour of Homes in Pine Apple, the continued growth of our social media outreach, and an update on the Society's brand-new website, which is currently under development and scheduled to launch in August.

A special highlight of the afternoon was hearing Julia Handly read the nomination that led to the selection of her aunt, Lt. Col. Sara Harris, USAF (Ret.), as an inductee into the Alabama Women's Hall of Fame. It was an inspiring tribute to a remarkable Alabama woman whose accomplishments continue to make our state proud.

Guests also enjoyed wonderful refreshments prepared by Mary Glen and Ginny, along with a beautiful and delicious patriotic cake created by Melissa Boroughs of Sweet Melissa's in Monroeville, which added the perfect touch to an afternoon of fellowship and celebration.

Thank you to everyone who attended. We look forward to seeing you at our upcoming events as we continue to preserve, share, and celebrate the rich history of Wilcox County.

📸 Enjoy a few photos from the afternoon!

Liberty Hall Bed and Breakfast Sweet Melissa’s Alabama Department of Agriculture & Industries

05/30/2026

We hope you'll join us this Sunday, May 31, at 2:00 p.m. for a special Wilcox Historical Society gathering at Liberty Hall.

Recently recognized through Alabama's Century & Heritage Farm Program, Liberty Hall is one of Wilcox County's treasured historic places and one of a select number of farms in our county to receive this distinction.

In addition to celebrating this special recognition, we'll be sharing plans for upcoming WHS meetings, special events, day trips, and exciting updates on our 2027 Pine Apple Tour of Homes.

Come enjoy an afternoon of history, fellowship, and conversation in a beautiful setting. And yes, there will be cake as we celebrate this important milestone!

📍 Liberty Hall Pavilion
627 Highway 221, Camden

🕑 Sunday, May 31
2:00 p.m.

Guests are always welcome. We look forward to seeing you there!

.hall.bnb Liberty Hall Bed and Breakfast

05/27/2026

Thank you to the wonderful team at Welcome To Rural SW Alabama for sharing the beautiful photo and history of the historic Sterrett–McWilliams House in Camden.

We always appreciate those who help highlight and preserve the stories, architecture, and heritage of Alabama’s Black Belt. Partnerships and shared history posts like these help bring attention to the remarkable historic treasures found throughout our region.

Be sure to follow their page for more wonderful photos, history, and places that make rural southwest Alabama so special!

The Sterrett-McWilliams Home at Camden, AL (ca.1851)

This beautiful antebellum home was built in 1851 for Judge David W. Sterrett, lawyer, planter, and trustee of the Wilcox Female Institute. The house is an excellent example of architectural eclecticism, blending elements of both the Greek Revival and Italianate styles. The structure features a two-story front porch supported by four tall decorative lattice-style wooden posts. Intricate cutout woodwork decorates the porch railings, while an unusual decorative feature along the roofline gives the house a distinctive appearance. An upstairs balcony extends across the front of the home and is enclosed by matching decorative railings. The interior of the home also has several impressive features. Inside the foyer of the home, there are twin spiral cantilevered stairways. Beyond the foyer, there are double parlors that are adorned with intricate decorative plasterwork.

In 1870, the home was sold to Richard Ervin McWilliams and wife Amelia Lindsay Coate. More than a century and a half later, this historic residence remains in the care of McWilliams family

See More:
www.ruralswalabama.org/attraction/sterrett-mcwilliams-home-1851/

05/24/2026

On this Memorial Day weekend, we pause to remember the men and women who gave their lives in service to our nation — those who never came home, but whose sacrifice helped preserve the freedoms we enjoy today. 🇺🇸

This powerful illustration, published in the Wilcox Progressive Era in May 1925, reminds us that even a century ago, Americans understood the importance of remembrance. The image references the famous words from In Flanders Fields, written during World War I:

"To you from failing hands we throw the torch — be yours to hold it high."

Memorial Day began after the Civil War as a time to decorate the graves of fallen soldiers. Originally known as Decoration Day, communities across the country gathered each spring to place flowers on graves and honor those lost in war. Over time, it became a national day of remembrance for all Americans who died in military service.

As we enjoy time with family and friends this weekend, may we also take a moment to reflect with gratitude on the courage, sacrifice, and patriotism of generations past. Their legacy lives on not only in monuments and cemeteries, but in the freedoms and opportunities we cherish every day.

May we never become, as the cartoon warns, “a busy, forgetful generation.”

We remember. We honor. We are grateful. 🇺🇸

05/22/2026

🌿 Wilcox Historical Society Meeting at Liberty Hall 🌿

The Wilcox Historical Society will hold its regular meeting on Sunday, May 31, 2026, at 2:00 PM at Liberty Hall, 627 Highway 221 in Camden.

The meeting will be held under the pavilion on the grounds of Liberty Hall. Guests will enjoy fellowship and a special program about this remarkable historic property and its recent recognition as part of Alabama’s Century & Heritage Farm Program.

Built in the 1850s by John Robert McDowell, Liberty Hall remains one of Wilcox County’s most significant historic homes and is still cared for by descendants of the original family.

The public is welcome, and we hope you will join us for an enjoyable afternoon celebrating Wilcox County history and heritage.


Liberty Hall Bed and Breakfast Alabama Department of Agriculture & Industries

05/18/2026

We are pleased to share this wonderful video by our friend Jackson Knight Rambling The Alabama Black Belt, highlighting Coy in Wilcox County — formerly known as Black’s Bluff and Black’s Bend.

According to Jeannette Smith in 1969, granddaughter of Robert Alexander Smith, the story of how Coy received its name dates back to the 1890s. Before that time, residents of Black’s Bend traveled about five miles to Black’s Bluff on the Alabama River to collect their mail, which arrived by steamboat from Mobile, Selma, Montgomery, and other river landings.

After the Southern Railroad was extended to Pine Hill across the river from Black’s Bend, Robert A. Smith decided the community needed its own post office. He wrote to Washington, D.C. and was asked to submit possible names for the new office. Among the names he suggested was “McKay” (pronounced McCoy), a name he had seen while waking through the Smith family cemetery. The shorter form “Coy” was adopted, and the community has carried that name ever since. Th post office was established in 1891.

Thank you, Jackson, for helping preserve and share the stories of Wilcox County’s communities and history.

Story of Coy's name courtesy of The Heritage of Wilcox County, Alabama.

05/15/2026

🏡 Save the Date 🏡
Wilcox Historical Society Tour of Homes
📍 Pine Apple, Alabama
📅 March 20, 2027

Step inside the history, charm, and beauty of Alabama’s Black Belt during the 2027 WHS Tour of Homes in Pine Apple.

Historic homes.
Beautiful architecture.
Historic churches.
Southern hospitality.
Local history and preservation.

This special event only comes to Pine Apple once every four years — making it a rare opportunity to experience some of Wilcox County’s most treasured historic properties.

Featured homes will include Greenleaves, Oak Hall, the Hawthorne-Dobson Home, the Melton Hotel, and more.

✨ Plus a full weekend of special events, shopping, food, and exciting announcements still to come!

🎟️ Tickets available October 1, 2026 on Eventbrite.

Follow along as we begin sharing featured homes, stories, and behind-the-scenes preparations for this unforgettable weekend.