This Carpenter Gothic church is located in Prairieville, Alabama. The congregation of St. Andrews Episcopal Church was founded in 1834. Enslaved laborers built this incredible church in 1856. These builders were loaned to the church by members who were slaveholders.
The cemetery contains a significant amount of ironwork and fencing. Many posts featured common symbols found in a cemetery. The upside-down torch represents a life that has ended or snuffed out. The arrows represent mortality. If you look closely at the road, you will see three leaves, and that represents the Holy Trinity of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Outside of Carlton, Alabama, Mt. Nebo Baptist Church’s cemetery contains death masks created by Isaac Nettles. Nettles created these masks by making molds of the subjects’ faces while they were still alive, which is different than the traditional death mask which are made after someone passes. The three person marker represents Isaac and Cora’s three daughters, and it rests atop Cora’s grave. There are two other markers made by Nettles. These are deteriorating quickly. In 2020, Hurricane Sally caused significant damage to the masks. These are incredible pieces of folk art. At one point, there were four death masks. One was made for Isaac’s mother Selena/Celina. It was damaged by Hurricane Frederick in 1979. The markers were added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2000.
Located on a dirt road new Livingston, Alabama is the Coatopa Church. When I first saw a photo of the church, I knew I needed to document it one day. If you visit, just do it post mosquito season.
The front facade of the Leighton County Training School sits just off the edge of town in Leighton, Alabama. It was a five-teacher type school built by Rosenwald funds. Built in 1928 for $10950, it served the Black community until 1970. It closed and reopened as the local middle school. It stayed open until 1994.
Singer Percy Sledge is a graduate. It’s on the Alabama Historical Register.
In 1919, Anthony Townsend donated 3 acres of land to start this Rosenwald School in the county. The architect was W.A. Hazel. It remained open until 1967 once integration happened. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2001. It is the last known Rosenwald still standing in the county.
Built in 1923, the Tankersley School is a two-teacher type Rosenwald school located in Hope Hull, Alabama. It was one of fourteen Rosenwald schools built in Montgomery County. It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2009.
Built in 1920, the Merritt School is a two-teacher type Rosenwald school built in Midway, Alabama. It originally cost $2600 to build on land donated by a local citizen. The school expanded twice in the early 20th Century. It was put on the National Register of Historic Places in 1998.
Located in the once thriving town of Fredonia, this store, also known as the Cumbee General Store, is one of the few remaining buildings left in the town.
If you were a fan of S-Town, you likely wondered about the final resting place for John B. McElmore. I visited a few years ago and was impressed with the handmade headstone. I believe this was made by Tyler Goodson. He rests in the cemetery behind Green Pond Presbyterian Church in Bibb County.
Abby Ann Whiting, 1820-1866James Whiting, 1828-1870
Both monument stand next to each other with the words, “Erected by their mother.” Their mother, Susan, passed away in 1876. The poignant angel weeks and the clocks, with their hands inching towards midnight, illustrate Victorian iconography.
These monuments can be found in the Church Street Graveyard in Mobile, Alabama. While a small cemetery, there are many interesting monuments contained within its walls.
Founded in 1829 and expanded in 1877, Live Oak Cemetery features many original markers. It is a contributing property to the Selma Historic District on the National Register of Historic Places. It’s noted for the dozen or so Victorian monuments in the cemetery. It earned its name after Colonel Dawson donated 80 Live Oaks and 80 Magnolia trees to be planted in the cemetery.
Eulalie Herrin, 1859-1865Lucien Clay, 1872-1878Elodie Breck Todd Dawson, 1840-1877. She was the sister of Mary Todd Lincoln and a staunch Confederate.
