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…
In the late 19th century, the city of Florence in Alabama was rapidly growing, and with it came a need for new commercial buildings. In July 1889, local businessmen J.M. Garlington and W.P. Campbell announced their plans to erect a…
Originally printed in the Florence Gazette, Feb 19, 1853. Reprinted here without edits or commentary. Something over three years ago, a young man, apparently about 25 or 30 years of age, stopped at Bainbridge, a noted landing, situated at the foot of…
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,…
The Lauderdale Hotel was located approximately two and a half miles East of downtown Florence, Alabama, on a high hill with a commanding view of the Tennessee Valley. The hotel was built in 1889 and was one of the most…
The Sweetwater Opera House was an iconic landmark in the city of Florence, Alabama. Built by Thomas Hollingsworth in the late 1800s, the opera house stands as a testament to his success and entrepreneurial spirit. However, there is a dark…
Meet J.P. Phelps, a man who made significant contributions to the world of photography in the late 1800s. Born in Muscatine, Iowa in 1848, Phelps quickly gained a reputation for producing superior-quality photographs and even ventured into the world of…
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…
In the late 19th century, amidst the bustling streets of Florence, a former barber named Winfield Scott Canaday of Indiana embarked on a fascinating new venture. He opened a unique establishment on South Court Street that caught the attention and…
Ferdinand Sannoner was born in Tuscany, Italy in 1793. He was a highly educated individual who was a multilingual master at the age of sixteen. Sannoner was a highly regarded engineer at the age of eighteen. He worked as an…