Stores, factories, banks, railroads, TVA, commerce.
Florence Fire Department was founded on April 25, 1828 as a volunteer fire company made up of every male in Florence between the ages of 18 and 50. It decreed that each house must have its own ladder and its…
The beginning of Shoals area photographers in the 19th century coincided with a period of immense change and growth. In the Shoals community, a diverse group of individuals embraced this novel technology, capturing the faces, landscapes, and events that shaped our local history. This comprehensive list…
If you had walked down Court Street in Florence during the second half of the 1800s, you probably wouldn’t have needed an address to find the Stafford Block, also called Stafford’s Corner. People simply knew where it was. Today, you’ll…
The McAlester Manufacturing Company was established on March 28, 1889, in Florence, Alabama with a capital stock of $50,000. The officers were Maj. J.H. Field, President; Mr. D. Ledyard, Vice-President; Mr. J.W. McAlister, Secretary and General Manager; Mr. Edward Murphy,…
In the charming town of Sheffield, Alabama, a coffee legacy was born in 1929. The Alabama Coffee Company, founded by Lawson Haynes Blanton, quickly established itself as a beacon of quality and taste in the coffee industry. From humble beginnings…
Throughout Lauderdale County’s industrial history, the story of the Cherry Cotton Mill stands as a testament to the economic challenges faced by the textile industry in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Founded in 1893 on Sweetwater Avenue in…
Florence Ice & Coal Company opened in early 1903 and was located on Aetna Street in East Florence near Sweetwater Creek and Huntsville Road. In 1922, an unusual thing happened: their night watchman was stolen! Let me break the story…
A Helping Hand in Hard Times Unearthing the past reveals a time of hardship in Florence, but also a beacon of compassion: the Florence Benevolent Association. Founded in the early 1890s, and dedicated to aiding residents facing misfortune, this organization…
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…
Florence, Alabama boasts a vibrant past that extends beyond its river heritage and even its musical roots. One intriguing chapter in its history revolves around Robert Wesley (R.W.) Drane, who ignited a revolution in the South’s tobacco and cigar industry.…