Page 5 - Birmingham History Center

In this Issue
Page 2
Letter from
the Director
Featured
New
Artifact
Page 3-4
Birmingham History Center
Volume 1, Number 3
May 1, 2011
Don Drennen Buick
Buggy at the History Center
On Exhibit
Drennen
Buggy
Page 5
Book Sale
Speaker
Page 6
Enduring
Companies
Project
Freedom
Ride
Page 7
School Visit
Ward Drennen, of Don
Drennen Buick and
Executive Director Jerry
Desmond stand in front of
the 1880s Abbot style
buggy. (See page 3 for
details about the buggy).
The buggy had been in the
showroom of the 103 year
old company for many years. Following the sale of the company to a firm
in North Carolina, the buggy has been placed on loan to the Birmingham
History Center, leading, hopefully, to a donation
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[email protected]
1731 First Avenue North, Suite 120, Birmingham, AL 35203 Tel. 205-202-4146
Website - www.birminghamhistorycenter.org
Birmingham History Center Newsletter
Page 2
Letter from the Director/Jerry Desmond
I am a big fan of the History Channel show “Pawn Stars,”
about a Las Vegas pawn shop. At the beginning of the
show, Rick exclaims, “If there's one thing I've learned
after twenty-one years, it's that you never know what's
going to come through that door.” I know how he feels.
Over the past two months we have received as donations some Steel Workers Union
memorabilia, two lady’s jackets from the 1930s, a Parker High School football pin, some
,”
back issues of the Shades Valley Sun from 1955, and an 1880s Abbot-style buggy made
originally in my home state of Maine (featured in this issue on pages 3 and 4), just to
mention a few. It is what makes this job interesting and exciting.
It is hard to believe that the Center is now celebrating its 1 st anniversary. We opened
the doors for the first time on April 29, 2010. Although the first thing everyone tells us
when they come through the doors is “I did not know you were here,” we are
slowly gaining recognition. On thing that will help in that department is being
now open on Saturdays from 10:00 – 4:00. Come on down and give us a visit.
There have been a lot of
celebrities who were born,
raised or lived in Jefferson
County. Somehow Dr. Tynes,
our Board Chairman, was
able to acquire this signed
photo addressed to the
Birmingham History Center
from Courteney Cox,
television and movie star.
Many know that Ms. Cox was
raised in Mountain Brook and
graduated from Mountain
Brook High School before
achieved fame for her role as
Monica Geller on the NBC
sitcom Friends.
Featured New Artifact
Birmingham History Center Newsletter
Page 3
On Exhibit – Drennen Buggy
How did an Abbot-style buggy made in Ellsworth, Maine in the 1880s,
end up at the Birmingham History Center? Much of the story is
unknown. It was recently placed on loan to the Center by Ward
Drennen of Don Drennen Buick in Hoover. The two-seater had been in
the showroom of the 103 year old car dealership for nearly 40 years.
It was purchased by Mr. Drennen’s father, Don, to represent the early
days of the family business. The company was founded in 1908 by
Hubert Drennen as an outgrowth of the Drennen and Company
Department Store, which had begun as a general store in the area in
1869. It began selling automobiles alongside its wagons and buggies
in Birmingham as early as 1903. The company was first located at
Avenue D and 20th Street South. It relocated to Hoover in 1972.
(Continued on Page 4)
Birmingham History Center Newsletter
Page 4
On Exhibit – Drennen Buggy
(Continued from page 3)
1932 Birmingham City Directory advertisement for Drennen Motor Car Company.
The buggy itself is an Abbot and Downing style road wagon. Abbot and
Downing of New Hampshire made over 30 types of wagons. They are famous
for their Concord stagecoaches used exclusively by Wells Fargo and for their
invention of elliptical carriage spring. James W. Davis, copied the Abbot style
and began building these small buggies in 1861. In 1880, his sons, William H.
Davis and Henry E. Davis bought out their father’s business in Ellsworth, Maine,
a coastal town located near Acadia National Park. Henry eventually served as
mayor of Ellsworth and oversaw the building of better roads and installed the
first cement sidewalks in the State of Maine. He died in 1912.
Unfortunately, according to the
curator at the Ellsworth Historical
Society, the Davis carriage
company was destroyed in a fire
before World War II, along with all
of the records of the company. So
an accurate date for the Drennen
Buggy can only be estimated. An
appraisal by an official of the
Carriage Association of America
suggested a date between 1880
and 1890. But we may never know.
Plate on buggy: W.H. & H.E. DAVIS, ELLSWORTH, ME
Birmingham History Center Newsletter
Page 5
The History Center has 2nd
edition hardcover copies
of Historic Birmingham
and Jefferson County by
James R. Bennett on sale
for $45.00, tax included.
For an extra $6 we will
ship it anywhere in the
country. Pick one up at
the Center or call 205-2024146 to reserve your copy.
Need a Public Speaker for Your Meeting or Event?
Our Executive Director, Jerry
Desmond, is available to give
talks about the History Center
or other topics in local or
American History. Donations
to the Center are accepted
but not required, last minute
requests are considered. Call
205-202-4146 or e-mail at
[email protected].
Wire Desmond
Birmingham History Center Newsletter
Page 6
Enduring Companies Project
The following companies have agreed to
sponsor our Enduring Companies Project
Cather Publishing
Shaia's
Miglionico and Rumore
Southern Armature Works
Kassouf & Co.
Coca-Cola United
Red Diamond Coffee
Royal Cup
Sterne Agee
Regions Bank
George Wheelock Company
Freedom Ride Exhibit
Transcript of Conversation between
Robert Kennedy and George Cruit
of Greyhound Bus Lines
Dixie Store Fixtures
Vulcan Materials
Brice Building
Engel Realty
Protective Life
Gilmer Drugs
Molton Allen & Williams
Shook Fletcher insulation
Edwards Chevrolet
Berthon's
St. Vincent's
May 15th of this year is the 50th anniversary of the
Freedom Rider’s stop in Birmingham. Following an
attack on the bus in Anniston and another attack at the
Birmingham Greyhound Bus Station, Attorney General
Robert Kennedy talked on the phone with George Cruit,
manager of Greyhound Bus in Birmingham. The History
Center will display a copy of a typed transcript of the
conversation in an exhibit in May. From September 1st to
the 30th of this year, the Center will host a Gilder
Lehrman traveling exhibit entitled “Freedom Riders”
sponsored by the National Endowment for the
Humanities. It will be a free exhibit to the public.
50th Anniversary of the
Freedom Rides
May 15, 1961 - May 15, 2011
Birmingham History Center Newsletter
Page 7
Red Mountain Community School
Students Visit the History Center
They Had a Blast!
We Did Too!
Birmingham History Center
Recently opened in the Spring of 2010, the BHC features
exhibitions of historical events of Birmingham and Jefferson
County from the 18th century to the present. Admission
charged; $4 adults, $3 seniors and veterans, $2 students,
children under 6 free. Visa, Discover, Master Card accepted,
tickets available also by phone. Group rates available, free
parking. Open 9:00 am - 4:30 pm, Monday – Friday, Saturday
10:00 am – 4:00 pm. Located at the corner of 18th Street and
First Avenue North in Birmingham at the historic Young and
Vann Building.
Directions
1731 First Avenue North
Birmingham, AL 35203
Officers
Dr. Bayard Tynes, Chairman
Fox De Funiak, III, Co President
Garland Smith, Co-President
Thomas M. West, Jr., Vice-President
Samuel A. Rumore, Jr., Treasurer
Board of Trustees
William A. Bell, Jr.
William A. Bowron, Jr.
Patrick Cather
Francis H. Crockard, Jr.
Jeremy Erdreich
Angela Fisher Hall
Wyatt. H. Haskell
Thomas E. Jernigan, Jr.
Henry S. Lynn, Jr.
Corey Nixon
Terry Oden
Dr. Dennis Pappas
Kathryn Porter
Erskine Ramsay, II
Carla Roberson
Dr. Edward Stevenson
Alice Williams
Stamp