UPDATED WITH PODCAST -Fairhope, Alabama was established as an experimental colony [photographs]

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(Picturesque city of Fairhope, Alabama has a unique story about how it was established)

Fairhope, Baldwin County, was established in 1894 on the site of former Alabama City as a single-tax colony by the Fairhope Industrial Association, a group of 28 followers of economist Henry George who had incorporated earlier that year in Des Moines, Iowa.

Fairhope is a pretty town with flowers on every corner-photographer Carol Highsmith 2010

It was to be a model community based on what Ernest Berry Gaston, a young Iowa journalist and Populist Party officer, called “cooperative individualism,” a term he introduced to the lexicon of American reform.

United Methodist Church built in 1949-50, Fairhope, Alabama by photographer Carol Highsmith May 2010

Their corporate constitution explained their purpose in founding a new colony.

“to establish and conduct a model community or colony, free from all forms of private monopoly, and to secure to its members therein equality of opportunity, the full reward of individual efforts, and the benefits of co-operation in matters of general concern”

Fountain in Fairhope, Alabama by photographer Carol Highsmith 2010

They pooled their funds to purchase land at “Stapleton’s pasture” on the eastern shore of Mobile Bay and then divided it into a number of long-term leaseholds. The corporation paid all governmental taxes from rents paid by the lessees, thus simulating a single-tax. The purpose of the single-tax colony was to eliminate disincentives for productive use of land and thereby retain the value of land for the community.

Downtown Fairhope

Fairhope Avenue” was one of the properties on the 1910 version of the board game The Landlord’s Game, a precursor of Monopoly.

Downtown Fairhope 1946 (Alabama State Archives)

Fairhope – oldest business PineQuat Shop since 1899 taken ca. 1920

Dedication of Fairhope high school ca. 1920

Colonial Inn in Fairhope ca. 1900

“Early history of the colony was fraught with disappointment and decisions that would eventually make fulfillment of its goals impossible. Unable to raise sufficient funds from national single taxers or other reformers, the colonists could not purchase enough contiguous land for their model community. Unable to attract enough members to live and work on the lands they did have, they were forced to open their settlement to nonmembers, many of whom opposed the founding principles.

Fairhope Courier Staff and Printing Press ca. 1939

Their complaints about rent charges, among other things, led to the incorporation of the Town of Fairhope in 1908. The new town encompassed both colony and deeded land along with two different forms of government and revenue collection.”

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Vista View of Wharf, Fairhope, Alabama ca. 1900

Swimmers diving off a pier in Fairhope, Alabama ca. 1920

The Fairhope Single-Tax Corporation still operates, with 1,800 leaseholds covering more than 4,000 acres in and around the current city of Fairhope. Despite the ideals of the corporation, the town has transitioned from utopian experiment to artists’ and intellectuals’ colony to boutique resort and affluent suburb of Mobile.

Cottages along the shore line Fairhope, Alabama ca. 1930

For over 50 years, fishermen and residents of Fairhope have experienced the “jubilee” phenomenon. During a jubilee along the shores of Mobile Bay, some aquatic animals, including blue crabs, flounder, stingrays, and eels, come to the shallow water. At those times, it is possible to catch the fish, crabs, and other sea life near the water’s edge.

Jubilee – Fairhope, Alabama – crabs, flounders on shore

SOURCES

1. Encyclopedia of Alabama
2. Wikipedia

Bestselling novel RIBBON OF LOVE: 2nd edition – A Novel of Colonial America (Tapestry of Love Book 1) is the story of a first family in colonial America who eventually migrated to Alabama. 

One historic small community in Alabama had three names, Crocketsville, Crawford and Tuckabatchee.

Named Crockettsville in honor of Davy Crockett

The community of Crockettsville was settled at about the time Russell County was formed in 1832. Among the first settlers were Jerry Sagar and Green Sewell. It was named in honor of David “Davy” Crockett who served as a scout in Andrew Jackson’s Tennessee Militia at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend in 1814.

Named Crawford for a distinguished Georgian

The name of the city was changed to Crawford in 1843 by Act of the Alabama Legislature. This was done to honor the family of William Harris Crawford (1772-1834), a distinguished Georgia teacher, lawyer, duelist and statesman. The city served as the seat of government for Russell County from 1833 to 1868.

S. H. Baldwin laid out Crockettsville in 1840, complete with lots and streets. The city limits extended about one-half mile in every direction from the courthouse which stood facing east on the present site of Crawford United Methodist Church.

Crawford United Methodist

The jail was across the street to the east.  “Golgotha Hill,” located one-half mile north of the city and east of the cemetery, was the site of executions by hanging.

Sir Charles Lyell – Geologist

“Crawford, during its heyday was on the stagecoach route running from Clayton in Barbour County, to Salem, which was then in Russell County.” In 1846, the town was visited by Sir Charles Lyell, a noted British geologist. He wrote in his journal of a small log hotel, where he dined on “Roast turkey, venison steak, partridge pie, and a jug of milk.”

What appears to be a Post Office document reads as follows: Alabama – No. 3728- From Clayton, by *Feagan’s Store and Crockettsville, to Salem, Russell County 50 miles and back, one a week.
Leave Clayton every Thursday at 5:00AM; arrive at Salem next day by ll AM. Leave Salem every Friday at 1PM- arrive at Clayton next day at 7 PM -Contractor E. V. Lamdingham $500.00.

W. N. Manning, Photographer, May 14, 1935 FRONT AND SIDE VIEW N.E. – Tuckabatcha Masonic Lodge No. 863, U.S. Highway 80 & County Road 79, Crawford, Russell County, AL built 1848

A two story, Greek temple-front wooden frame building with four original tapering square columns and outside “dog-leg” staircase in front is located at the eastern edge of the town of Crawford.

W. N. Manning, Photographer, May 14, 1935 Interior of Tuckabatcha Masonic Lodge No. 863, U.S. Highway 80 & County Road 79, Crawford, Russell County, Alabama

It was the original Masonic Lodge and was named for one of the four mother towns of the Muscogee Creek Confederacy, Tuckabatchee.

W. N. Manning, Photographer, May 14, 1935 REAR AND SIDE VIEW, S.W. – Tuckabatcha Masonic Lodge No. 863, U.S. Highway 80 & County Road 79, Crawford, Russell County, AL

Tuckabatchee was the home of Big Warrior

The pre-removal tribal town was located on the Tallapoosa River in Alabama. The town is believed to be the first site of the ancient busk fire which began the Green Corn Ceremony. Tuckabatchee was the home of Big Warrior, one of the two principal chiefs of the Creeks until his death in 1826. Chief Opothleyahola was born here in 1780.

Tecumseh addressed Creek leaders in Tukabatchee town square

In 1811 Tecumseh and Tenskwatawa (better known as the Prophet) addressed Creek leaders in the Tukabatchee town square. Tecumseh was so disappointed in Big Warrior’s response at the end of his speech against American expansion that he said upon reaching Chalagawtha the Prophet would “…stamp his foot and all of Tuckabatchee’s cabins would fall.” The town was leveled by the New Madrid Earthquake a month later.

“The original weatherboarding and wood shake roof are intact on the old Masonic Lodge beneath asbestos siding and asphalt shingles.”

W. N. Manning, Photographer, May 14, 1935 Interior. – Tuckabatcha Masonic Lodge No. 863, U.S. Highway 80 & County Road 79, Crawford, Russell County, AL

Crawford Masonic Lodge no. 863, F & M (originally Tuckabatchee No. 96) was built in 1848 and served intermittently for Lodge meetings, school classes and church services.

W. N. Manning, Photographer, May 14, 1935 Interior. – Tuckabatcha Masonic Lodge No. 863, U.S. Highway 80 & County Road 79, Crawford, Russell County, AL

Only one of seven pre-Civil fraternal halls surviving

“The Masonic Lodge is one of only seven pre-Civil War fraternal halls surviving in Alabama. It is also the most notable structure remaining from 1839-1868, when Crawford served as the seat of Russell County. Several years ago, the lodge was almost lost when the Masons decided to replace it with a new building.

Historic American Buildings Survey W. N. Manning, Photographer, May 14, 1935 CLOSE- UP OF DOOR ON EAST SIDE OF UPPER PART OF BLDG. – Tuckabatcha Masonic Lodge No. 863, U.S. Highway 80 & County Road 79, Crawford, Russell County, AL

As the demolition date approached, a local philanthropist intervened and moved the structure a short distance to its current location.” Recently, the Russell County Commission has accepted bids for repair of the historic building.

This beautiful historic building has been restored. Check out these updated photographs on their facebook page.

SOURCES

1. Eugenia Hobday – Ancestry.com
2. The Phenix Citizen – Phenix City, Alabama
3. Alabama Heritage Fall 2012
4. Wikipedia

Read about early Freemasons in Alabama in The Grand Masters of Free & Accepted Masons of the State of Alabama 1811-2011

The Grand Masters of Free & Accepted Masons of the State of Alabama 1811-2011