Download/print Driving Tour Guide

Twelve historical sites in Gardendale, Alabama, are
featured on a driving tour April 22-May 6, 2016.
Signs with brief descriptions of historical significance
are placed at each address.
DRIVING TOUR
Driving tour maps will be available at the Gardendale
Martha Moore Public Library April 22 - May 6, at the
Magnolia Festival Welcome Tent April 23, and online:
magnoliafestival.org.
SITE 1: 205 Fieldstown Road
Former Site of James Kimmons’ Store (current site of CVS)
The store was one of the first stores in Gardendale, originally
constructed in 1890. The original structure no longer stands.
This store had many historical ties to the local community.
Jugtown Turnaround, an original play about how Gardendale
changed its name from Jugtown in 1906, centers around this store.
SITE 2: 100 Fieldstown Road
KIMMONS’ STORE
Former site of James Kimmons Home (current site of Walgreens)
Built in 1890, the house was home to the Kimmons family. It was
eventually demolished when a shopping center was built in the
fifties.
KIMMONS’ HOME
SITE 3: 939 Main Street
Established with 27 members on September 30, 1876, the church
was originally named Chalybeate Springs Baptist Church, then
named Gardendale Baptist Church. The church was renamed on
October 19, 1956 to Gardendale First Baptist Church.
The congregation moved three times and now has two locations
in Gardendale. The first is across the street, GFBC’s South campus.
The second, GFBC’s North Campus, is located at 316 Mountain
Crest Parkway.
SITES 1-3 OF 12
GARDENDALE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH
DRIVING
TOUR
SITE 4: 704 Main Street
First Gardendale Post Office
The first Gardendale post office opened its doors in 1935. It was
originally located on Main Street where Gardendale High School
currently sits.
Prior to the establishment of this post office, the citizens of
Gardendale had to send and receive mail through the post office
in the town of Morris, just north of Gardendale.
GARDENDALE POST OFFICE
SITE 5: 489 Tarrant Road
Moore Home
Well known for the large stone structure in the front yard of the
property, the structure was created as a cistern for an irrigation
system by Mr. William Moore. The tank, made of fieldstones,
collected rainwater as well as run-off water from the house and
gutter which was piped out to his turnip fields. William and his
wife, Mary, were instrumental in starting Pineywood Baptist
Church. The Moore’s son, Ray Moore, served two terms as a
Jefferson County Commissioner. He was also a Baptist minister.
SITE 6: 795 Tarrant Rd.
MOORE HOME
Mickwee Store and Home
Built in 1902, the general store doubled as a home for the
Mickwee family. Kahlil
Mikwee purchased the
property from Mr. Frank
Cole in 1920. Steven and
Jeanie Phillips renovated
the house in 1989 and it
serves as their current
MICKWEE STORE AND HOME
residence.
A school teacher changed the last name to Mickwee because she felt it
was a more correct spelling.
KAHLIL MIKWEE
THIS PICTURE IS IN AN EXHIBIT IN
THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTE
ABOUT ARABIC IMMIGRANTS
OWNING BUSINESSES IN AMERICA
The Mickwee’s were known for their generous hearts. Mr. Mickwee was a
peddler who rode the train between cities and took orders for goods he
sold in his store. While riding the train, he would make friends with the
homeless and other travelers on the train. Often, he would send them to
the side of his house where Mrs. Mickwee would leave food on a window
sill in their home to help folks that were down on their luck eat without
having to ask for food. Mama Mickwee would serve lunches on the
counter, and accounts were “carried” through the depression.
SITES 4-6 OF 12
DRIVING
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continued:
SITE 6: 795 Tarrant Rd.
Mickwee Store and Home
Daughter, Feiza Mickwee, ran the store alone after Nazeria “Mama” Mickwee died in 1949 where she continued
her parent’s generosity toward the community.
While restoring the buildings, the current owners of the property, the Phillips family, discovered several letters to
Feiza Mickwee, who lived in the home after the passing of her parents. The letters were written by Ursuline nuns
all over the country thanking Feiza for her support.
SITE 7: 1236 Main Street
One of the Earliest Homes
One of the oldest homes still standing in Gardendale, located at
the corner of McCarty and Main Street. The house was built in
1875 and remodeled around 1959. This photograph shows the
original house.
ONE OF THE EARLIEST HOMES
SITE 8: 116 Payne Road
Thompson Home
A man of German descent that lived in Cullman, Alabama,
constructed the home in 1910. However, the gentleman
who built the home never lived in it. Instead, S.T. Thompson
acquired and was the first occupant of the home beginning
in 1919. The home has remained in the Thompson family
and is currently owned by Katherine Thompson Grimes.
THOMPSON HOME
SITE 9: 2328 North Rd
Elkhead Tourist Court
Formerly an important service station with a restaurant attached
to it and cabins on the hill. Many travelers that passed through
the city relied on service stations similar to Elkhead in order to
have a place to stay and rest before continuing on their travels.
Carys Tourist Court and Elkhead Tourist Court faced each other.
ELKHEAD TOURIST COURT
SITES 7-9 OF 12
DRIVING
TOUR
SITE 10: 2436 Ebenezer Lane
Former Ebeneezer Methodist Church (currently occupied by
Revealed Word Worship Center)
This church was constructed in 1860 on Snow Rogers Road.
Built on an acre of land, the site for the church building was
donated by John and Susan Belcher to the trustees of the
Methodist Episcopal Church.
EBENEEZER METHODIST CHURCH
SITE 11: 2636 Snow Rogers Rd
Snow Rogers Community House
This facility was the result of the Work Progress Administration
(WPA) established by Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1933. The
community house, constructed in 1939, was built by many of the
9,000 unemployed people of Jefferson County. The government
created jobs for the unemployed by having them work to improve
school buildings, roads, and to help improve the National Park
areas. The government invested $2 million into Public buildings
and grounds.
SNOW ROGERS COMMUNITY HOUSE
SITE 12: 7027 Church Rd
Former Friendship United Methodist Church (currently owned
by Friendship Community Church)
This was the first church within the city limits of Gardendale,
established in 1837. This is the fourth building the church
occupied since its establishment. The original church building
was constructed in log cabin style. It was used as a school
building during the weekdays and as a church on Sundays.
When the church was originally built, John Belcher donated
land for the church at $1 an acre. In addition, the L&N Railroad
Company donated land to the church for its cemetery.
SITES 10-12 OF 12
FORMER FRIENDSHIP UMC
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TOUR
There are many historic sites in the Gardendale area,
and here are two more! If you would like more information on interesting
sites in Gardendale, visit the Gardendale Historical Society Museum at 175 Bell Street
or contact Gardendale Historian Kermit Dooley at [email protected].
Snow Rogers School: 2636 Snow Rogers Road
Gardendale’s oldest school, established in 1915. The students
first met at Friendship Church on Church Street, then moved to
a building on Old Hwy 31 in North Gardendale. The school was
called Frog Pond School because it was located near a pond. Mr.
Snow Rogers later donated land on Snow Rogers Road to build
an A-frame schoolhouse. The present Snow Rogers school stands
in the same location, the playground being the exact spot where
the older school stood. Snow Rogers Elementary celebrated their
100th Anniversary in 2014.
SNOW ROGERS SCHOOL
Gardendale Methodist Church
(Currently Gardendale Mt. Vernon United
Methodist Church): 805 Crest Drive
Gardendale Methodist Church was established in 1860. The
congregation first met in a brush arbor. The church was called
Schugarts’ Chapel. Later, a log structure was built in 191415, then remodeled in 1945. A new structure was built beside
the original in 1960. These were both located where Publix is
today. In 1974, Gardendale Methodist Church and Mt. Vernon
Methodist in North Birmingham merged to become Gardendale
Mt. Vernon United Methodist Church. The church constructed
the large brick building off Hwy 31 (Decatur Hwy) in use today.
ADDITIONAL SITES
GARDENDALE METHODIST CHURCH
12
7027 Church Rd - END HERE
Rd
Former Friendship United Methodist Church, currently owned by Friendship
Community Church. First church in the city limits of Gardendale, established
in 1837. The original church building was constructed in log cabin style and
John Belcher donated land for the church for the price of $1 an acre.
11
2636 Snow Rogers Rd
Snow Rogers Community House was the result of the Work Progress
Administration (WPA) established by Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1933.
The community house, constructed in 1939, was built by many of the
9,000 unemployed people of Jefferson County.
10
Former Ebeneezer Methodist Church , currently owned by Revealed Word
Worship Center. This church was built in 1860 on Snow Rogers Road. The
church was constructed on an acre of land donated by John and Susan
Belcher to the trustees of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
Go to:
MAGNOLIAFESTIVAL.ORG
for more information
on these Trail of History sites.
2436 Ebenezer Lane
9
2328 North Rd
Elkhead Tourist Court was an important service station with a restaurant
attached to it and cabins on the hill. Many travelers that passed through
the city relied on service stations similar to Elkhead in order to have a
place to stay and rest before continuing on their travels.
8
116 Payne Road
A man of German descent that lived in Cullman, Alabama, constructed the
home in 1910 but never lived there. Instead, S.T. Thompson acquired and
was the first occupant of the home in 1919. The home has remained in the
Thompson family and is currently owned by Katherine Thompson Grimes.
7
1236 Main Street
One of the oldest homes still standing in Gardendale. The house was built
in 1875 and remodeled around 1959.
6
795 Tarrant Road
Built in 1902, the general store doubled as a home for the Mickwee family.
Steven and Jeanie Phillips renovated the house in 1989 as their current
residence. Kahlil Mikwee purchased the store/home from Mr. Frank Cole in
1920. The Mickwees were known as a generous family to the community.
5
489 Tarrant Road
Moore Home. Well known for the large fieldstone structure in the front yard
of the property, the tank was created as a cistern for an irrigation system
by Mr. Ray Moore. The water collected was piped out to his turnip fields.
He served as both a Jefferson County Commissioner and Baptist minister.
4
704 Main Street
The first Gardendale post office opened its doors in 1935. It was originally
located on Main Street where Gardendale High School currently sits. Prior
to the establishment of this post office, the citizens of Gardendale had to
send and receive mail through the post office in the city of Morris.
3
939 Main Street
Former Gardendale First Baptist Church. Established with 27 members on
September 30, 1876, it was originally named Chalybeate Springs Baptist
Church. The church was renamed on October 19, 1956 to Gardendale First
Baptist Church. J.I. Kimmons donated the land for this location.
2
100 Fieldstown Road
Former site of James Kimmons Home (Current Site of Walgreens). Built in
1890, the house was home to the Kimmons family. It was eventually
demolished when a shopping center was built in the fifties.
1
205 Fieldstown Road - START HER E
Former Site of James Kimmons’ Store (Current Site of CVS). The store was
one of the first in Gardendale, originally constructed in 1890. Jugtown
Turnaround, an original play about how Gardendale changed its name from
Jugtown in 1906, centers around this store.
Start your Trail of History Driving Tour with Kimmons store (#1), where the city’s name was changed from
Jugtown to Gardendale in 1906, and end in North Gardendale at the former Friendship Church. Enjoy!