Abandoned Alabama

10/02/2024

FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF ANNISTON ⛪︎

The First Baptist Church of Anniston was organized in 1887 and met in a frame house in West Anniston. It is the oldest church in Anniston. A building was built on the corner of 14th and Pine Avenue for worship, but a storm destroyed it in 1900. For the next two years, members met in a tent and then at the Alabama Land Company Building until a second church was completed in 1902 on the same corner as the former church.

The new church was destroyed in a fire on November 18, 1945, causing a loss of $65,000 and a spiritual loss. At the time of its destruction, the congregation numbered 1,800 members. That same day, the Board of Directors met to begin planning to erect a new building, and efforts to fund the construction were underway. Once again, the congregation met in a tent, awaiting their new place of worship.

Construction began on this church building in 1948, the vision of the late Reverend Lewis Napoleon Claxton, who served as pastor of the church for 37 years. On September 15, 2000, it suffered the same fate as their previous churches as a fire erupted that night, spreading quickly through the roof and walls. Investigators determined that the building was deliberately set on fire and that the church was burglarized not long before the fire was set. The building was abandoned and the church moved to Fort McClellan where they still meet today.

https://abandonedalabama.com

09/30/2024

🎶 SWEET HOME ALABAMA 🎶

The Sweet Home in Bessemer is the former home of Henry Wilson Sweet Sr., Bessemer’s first undertaker and a furniture dealer. He had this home built for his family in 1906 for $10,000. The contractor was J. C. Scudder, and designed by architect William E. Benns Sr. When it was built, the three-story, 5,072-square-foot mansion was one of the most impressive in the city. Today, the Sweet Home is listed as a landmark of the Alabama Historical Association, and the marker was erected in 2006.It was last as a filming location for the Syfy movie Truth or Dare.

07/31/2024

The old Birmingham Fire Station No. 16 was built in 1926 and is one of ten fire stations listed on the National Register of Historic Places as part of the Historic Fire Stations of Birmingham Multiple Property Submission. This station, constructed in the Spanish Revival style, was a great example of multi-use functionality. Besides functioning as a fire station, it also housed the community’s police station and jail.

The jail closed in 1939 due to cost-saving measures, and the fire station moved out to a new facility in 1975. You can read more about this historic building by clicking the link below:

https://www.abandonedalabama.com/birmingham-fire-station-no-16/

08/04/2023

Make a road trip this fall to see all of the historic courthouses of Alabama! And make sure to look out for historical markers and historic theaters to be added to our map as well!

🏛️ Introducing Historic Courthouses - A New Feature on Abandoned Atlas Travel Map! 🏛️ https://abandonedatlas.com/map/

We are thrilled to announce the latest addition to our Abandoned Atlas Travel Map - Historic Courthouses! 🌟 With over 310 stunning historic courthouses spanning 6 of our states, we're sure your fall travel season is about to get even more exciting and enriching.

From awe-inspiring architectural marvels to iconic landmarks steeped in history, these courthouses have stood the test of time and hold countless stories within their walls. Immerse yourself in the past as you explore the intricacies of legal heritage, remarkable facades, and captivating tales of justice and intrigue.

But that's not all! We've got even more surprises in store for you. In the coming months, we will also be unveiling two other exceptional categories - Historical Markers and Historic Theaters - to complement our already diverse collection of destinations.

Our Abandoned Atlas Travel Map is nearing an astounding one million views! 🎉 We couldn't have done it without your unwavering support and enthusiasm for exploration.

Happy Travels! 🌎 https://abandonedatlas.com/map/

03/06/2023

The Sadler House in Tuskegee, Ala. Sheriff James Harvey Sadler was the interim sheriff when Samuel Younge Jr., a 21-year-old black man was shot at a nearby Standard Oil gas station in 1966. Marvin Segrest, the white gas station attendant who killed Younge, was acquitted by an all-white jury. Tuskegee University students rioted in the town's downtown following the verdict, hurling rocks and bricks through the windows of white-owned businesses.

Soon after the trial, Lucius Amerson, a 32-year-old black man, a former paratrooper, and Korean War Veteran, was elected sheriff of Macon County, defeating Sheriff Harvey Sadler and becoming the first black sheriff in the South after Reconstruction.

More photos and history can be found here: https://www.abandonedalabama.com/sadler-house/

11/11/2022

The Old Marengo County Courthouse in Linden, Ala. was built in 1850 and was the city's third courthouse after the previous one burned down. The courthouse is remembered for the death of Alabama's most notorious outlaw, Rube Burrow, who was shot dead by a Pinkerton detective in front of the courthouse.

Read more here: https://www.abandonedalabama.com/old-marengo-county-courthouse/

Image 1-Looking towards the southeast corner of the old Marengo County Courthouse; Image 2-Inside the second-floor courtroom of the building; Image 3-the body of Old West outlaw Rube Burrow on display in Birmingham; Image 4-The old Marengo County Courthouse when it functioned as a church

11/04/2022

Known historically as the Sadler House, this home located in Tuskegee was built in 1895 by Charles Woodrolph Hare who was an established attorney and political figure in Macon County. Hare was the editor for the Chilton View before moving to Tuskegee after he purchased the Tuskegee News in 1895. In 1913, he became the president of the Screws Monument Association after publishing a suggestion that Alabama editors should honor the late William Wallace Screws, a confederate soldier, Secretary of State for Alabama, and editor for the Montgomery Advertiser. At the time of Hare’s death in May 1930, he had served two terms as a member of the State Democratic Executive Committee, assistant director of munitions during World War I, and served as director of sales for the state’s war department.

You can find more photos and read more about the home here 👉https://www.abandonedalabama.com/sadler-house/

10/03/2022

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10/03/2022

Forest Avenue Methodist Church in Montgomery, Alabama, was organized in 1903 and started in a small, one-story wooden building. As the congregation grew, the need for a larger place of worship grew as well. In 1912, the original wooden auditorium was moved back and a new brick auditorium was added on. The current Sunday School building located in the rear was built in 1928.

On December 15, 1944, the church burned down. Efforts were immediately made to rebuild with members of the congregation donating what they could. The current building was erected in 1946 and was officially open to the public the following year. It was abandoned in 1984.

You can find more photos and history on Saunders Hall here 👉 https://www.abandonedalabama.com/forest-avenue-methodist-church/

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