Murder, cigars, McFarland Bottoms, toys, and more! Robert Wesley Drane was born on October 25, 1886, in Lauderdale County, Alabama. He is best known for the Drane-Young Tragedy, in which he was charged with the murder of G.W. Young. On…
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.…
The Idea Billed as the biggest opportunity North Alabama ever saw, Allentown was to become a new industrial development powered completely by hydro-electric power from two dams built on Cypress Creek. The “City Without A Chimney”, read a tagline used…
Sweetwater Mansion in Florence, Alabama (also known as Sweetwater Plantation, the Weeden Home, or the Gov. Robert Patton House) is a plantation house designed by General John Brahan of the Alabama Militia. The 8-room home was built of bricks manufactured on the…