Historian

Historian

Florence Alabama’s Fort Willingham Armory

Fort Willingham Armory in florence alabama

From WPA Project to Community Hub The armory’s origin story goes back to 1935. The brainchild of W.H. Cromwell of the American Legion, the project secured President Roosevelt’s approval as a Works Progress Administration (WPA) initiative. The WPA, a cornerstone…

Waumanona Indian Mound

waumanona florence alabama indian mound

A tale of an Indian mound on the bank of the Tennessee river at Florence, Alabama. This mound is centuries old, and one of the largest and most impressive left by the North American Indians. Waumanona Waumanona, brave young chieftain,…

The Keeley Gold Cure

The Keeley Cure Florence Alabama

In the late 19th century, as opium and alcohol addiction rates soared in America, a novel treatment emerged: the Keeley Gold Cure. This revolutionary approach, developed by Dr. Leslie E. Keeley promised to cure alcoholism and other addictions through the…

R.W. Drane & Murder Among Friends

RW Drane murder of george will young

R.W. Drane, a prominent local merchant and the proprietor of a cigar store and pool room, and Mr. George (Will) Young, a prominent furniture merchant, were thrust into a harrowing drama that played out in downtown Florence on East Tennessee…