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JEFFERSON, Alabama in the 1890s: 1 through 5 of 5

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  1. Massachusetts Cotton Mills Move South
    date January 23, 1895map JEFFERSON, Alabamatags Agriculture, Economy

    On January 23, 1895, the Alabama Birmingham Age-Herald published a front page article titled “Beyond Any Doubt, Two leading Cotton Mills of Lowell, Mass. Will Come South and Build.' The Massachusetts legislative committee on mercantile affairs heard the petitions of two cotton mills, Boott and Merrimac, to manufacture goods outside of the commonwealth. The mills were created in 1835 for the...

  2. Birmingham's Great Day
    date July 22, 1897map JEFFERSON, Alabamatags Economy

    On the 22nd of July, 1897, the first successful run of steel was accomplished in Birmingham, Alabama. Excitement grew throughout the entire state as it seemed that the good old Iron Age was finally passing them by and the Age of Steel was upon them. In their eyes, it was a true advance guard of prosperity.The paper described this excitement and the bright implications of producing steel, saying,...

  3. California Oranges in Alabama
    date January 1, 1900map JEFFERSON, Alabamatags Agriculture, Economy, Migration/Transportation

    Was the California fruit market ripe for expansion? Horticulturist, W. G. Fraser spent four weeks in the South during the winter of 1900 testing a new market for Californian oranges. Upon returning to California he reported to the Los Angeles Daily Times, The result of my trip was most satisfactory. I found a very active demand for California fruit... Fraser attributed this demand to the remarkable...

  4. Captain O’Brien Gives Birth to Theatre in Birmingham
    date 1890 to 1910map JEFFERSON, Alabama, NEW YORK, New Yorktags Birmingham, Alabama, Theatre, New York City

    The citizens of Birmingham lived without art. That was until Captain Frank O’Brien, Birmingham, Alabama’s fourteenth mayor, leased the upper floor of a small brick building in the city’s Southside in 1872. It was named Sublett’s Hall in honor of a Confederate Major from Mississippi and was the first theatre in Birmingham. Captain O’Brien is best remembered for his other contribution to the...

  5. From Peddlers to Grocers: A look into Lebanese Immigration
    date 1890 to 1914map JEFFERSON, Alabamatags Immigration, Lebanese

    In the late 19th and early 20th centuries numerous Lebanese people migrated to America and many found homes in Birmingham, Alabama. On arriving, the most common job for the Lebanese men to do was “peddling”, which entailed delivering goods from one place to another by bike.  At times, these men would spend days or weeks out on deliveries and the hours were filled with tireless traveling.  Peddling...