1

Sam Keiser
Dr. Barske
12/8/16
640
Exhibit Script

In Plain Sight:
Seven Sites of African American Achievement in North Alabama

The African American struggle for freedom and equality, both in Alabama and in the US

as a whole, has been a long and difficult one. Many of the stories that dominate this narrative

focus on accomplishments at the national level and are often tied to familiar figures, such as

Booker T. Washington and Martin Luther King Jr. However, in the midst of the story of the grand

struggle of African Americans, it is imperative to not forget the small victories that made the

larger ones possible. Preserving sites of African American achievement at the local level helps

Americans to better understand the contributions of ordinary citizens to the struggle for equal

rights and opportunities. From the home of the first African American doctor to start a practice in

Tuscumbia, to a school that served the African American population in Athens after the Civil

War, each of the seven sites chosen for this exhibit represents part of the larger story, a story that

includes achievements at the local level, as well as at the national level

Fort Henderson:

Overcoming adversity and enduring tragedy has long defined African American history.

This is especially true during the Civil War where blacks first had to fight for the right to fight

for their freedom. The first site embodies the spirit of both enduring tragedy and overcoming

adversity. In Athens, Alabama, Fort Henderson in one moment served as a symbol of progress for

African Americans, but then quickly became a site of tragedy with its fall to Confederate forces

in 1864.
 2

Like many communities in north Alabama, Athens was the site of many confrontations

between Confederate and Union forces. Its location on the Nashville & Decatur rail line (which

connected to the Memphis & Charleston line, the only main east-west line in the south) meant

the town was strategically important to both sides. After their defeat at Shiloh in the spring of

1862, the Confederate forces in Alabama faced a great deal of difficulty in maintaining control

over the northern portion of the state. On April 27, 1862, Union forces moved into Athens to

secure their control of the important rail line. On May 1, Confederate forces came into the town

and pushed the Union forces back towards Huntsville, which the Union had gained control of in

early April. Rumors that the Confederates retook Athens with the help of Confederate

sympathizers within the town led to the Sack of Athens when the Union troops returned to the

town on May 2. Union troops broke into businesses, stole food and supplies from civilian stores,

and invaded the homes of Athens residents.1

After the Union troops had retaken and consolidated their control of Athens, they began

construction of Fort Henderson. The fort would serve as a bulwark against Confederate forces,

while also allowing Union forces to reinforce Union supply lines in the south. African

Americans, both free and enslaved, played an active role in building the fort. An American

missionary named George N White wrote about one of these men who helped build what would

eventually be known as Fort Henderson,

An aged colored man of Athens tells how he helped Union soldiers constructing the fort
by tying twenty foot lengths of tree trunks together with honeysuckle vines. These were
placed on the ground in the form of a circle big enough to surround a barracks of a
considerable size. Then a moat was dug and the dirt from it piled over logs to form a
rampart that remains to this day.2

1 Christopher Paysinger, Sack of Athens Encyclopedia of Alabama (2008)

http://www.encyclopediaofalabama.org/article/h-1819
2 Charlotte S. Fulton, Holding the Fort, a History of Trinity School in Athens, Alabama 1865-
1970 (Athens, AL: Athens-Limestone Community Association, 2014), 117.
 3

The fort was a giant earth-work with five points on each side. The earth was raised up in

order to create a moat that ran underneath the fort. A section of the earthen wall and the moat can

still be viewed today. Originally the fort had buildings on the site in order to house Union troops.

Emplacements were built on top of the embankment to facilitate Union guns and cannons.

Several members of the army who saw the completed fort each noted how difficult it would be

for enemy forces to capture it.3

More than anything, the building of the fort and the occupation of the town by Union

forces ignited a sense of hope and purpose in African Americans. This was apparent in the

recollection of a former slave who later married a union soldier. Reverend William Judson King

remembered how she spoke to him about The blue clad strangers at Fort Henderson who were

kind to black folk, electrifying them with hope and sending them there for protection.4 The fort

represented not only hope for African Americans, it also represented a way to fight back against

their current status as slaves. The 106th, 110th, and the 111th Colored Infantry were stationed at the

fort prior to its fall 1864 to the forces of Nathan Forrest.5 Forrest marched on the fort as part of a

larger campaign to destroy the Nashville-Decatur Railway which was a vital supply line for

General Sherman of the Union army. Forrest managed to trick Union forces into believing he had

more forces than he had by taking Forts commanding officer Col. Wallace Campbell out to view

the Confederate forces. During this period of inspection, Forrests men would constantly change

positions both mounting and dismounting at intervals to give off the illusion that the army was

much larger than it actually was. That along with the large casualties sustained by the Union

forces led to the quick surrender of the fort. The remaining Union forces were taken prisoner and

3 Fulton, Holding the Fort, 118-119.

4 Fulton, Holding the Fort, 118.
5 Fulton, Holding the Fort, 120.
 4

the African American soldiers who manned the fort were sold back into slavery. The fort was

eventually retaken by Union forces toward the end of the war. However, there is very little

information about the fort after its recapture.

Trinity High School:

Trinity High School is one of the most important African American sites in Athens. This

is primarily due to the strong community bonds that have been formed by residents of the town,

which has resulted in the continued protection and preservation of the memory of this school to

this very day. The location of the school site lies in the middle of the ruins of Fort Henderson.

Currently, Fort Henderson and Trinity High School are being actively preserved together.

Therefore, it is impossible to talk about the preservation of one site without talking about the

other.

The end of the Civil War left millions of former slaves in a state of flux. While the former

slaves were now free, the infrastructure and protections were not in place to help them advance

in this country. One of the most important needs was the education of African American youth,

who had long been forbidden from learning to read and write. In Athens, Mary Fletcher Wells

sought to address this need. Wells, who was born in New York in 1825, had a strong teaching

background and was a staunch abolitionist6 She opened Trinity School on May 28, 1865. During

the following years, hundreds of people of various ages and backgrounds attended the school.

The school dealt with a variety of difficulties including: adverse weather, poor building

equipment, and finding suitable locations for the school in its various iterations. In 1907, a fire

forced the relocation of the school to Fort Henderson. Thanks to the local African American

communitys involvement, many of the costs of building a new school were covered. In 1908,

6 Fulton, Holding the Fort, 4-5

 5

the school building was completed. As the years went on, Trinity would host a variety of

educational and recreational opportunities for its students and the wider community. Fairs,

Christmas celebrations, and sports brought the community closer together with the goal of

creating an educational environment where African American youth could succeed. The school

remained in operation until 1970 when the last class graduated from Trinity.

Trinity and Fort Henderson are currently in the process of being preserved by the local

community. The Alabama Limestone Community Association (ALCA) has taken the lead in this

task. The site has been officially named the Lincoln-Pincham community center and the ALCA

has tentative plans to form a museum which focuses on the history of the school and the larger

history of African Americans in the south.

WZZA and Bob Carl Bailey:

African American sites of achievement often find their roots in an entrepreneurial spirit.

This spirit is embodied in a small radio station that has served African Americans in the Muscle

Shoals area since 1972.

Robert Bob Carl Bailey was born in Leighton, Alabama on October 13, 1935 to a

family entrepreneur. He was raised by his grandmother while his father Eli Bailey, went to

pursue business opportunities. Bailey attended the segregated Leighton Training School during

his childhood. During his early years Bailey was constantly working and looking for

opportunities to further his entrepreneurial spirit by working in various occupations including:

shoe-shining, paper carrier, a gas station attendant, and a grocery store clerk.7

In 1972 Bailey and four other investors purchased the WZZA radio station. Under his

management the radio station focused on playing black soul style music. His willingness to play

7 A Look at Bob Carl Bailey, unknown date. From the personal collection of
Tori Bailey.
 6

music for the African American community in the Shoals earned Bailey a large following. His

continued success allowed him to eventually become the sole proprietor of the station. This

achievement was not without issue. Bailey faced pushback from the white community for

operating a fully black owned radio station, which resulted in him losing some business and

being refused service at white businesses. However, the community at large didnt abandon

Bailey. He continued to run WZZA until his death in 2001.

WZZA continues to exist and operate to this very day. Robert Baileys daughter, Tori

Bailey, has now taken over the operation of the radio station, providing a voice for African

American issues in the Shoals. WZZA remains engaged with the people of the Shoals through a

variety of means, as they provide information on subjects including registering to vote, sickle

cell treatment, and education. WZZA has continued to give back to the community and the

community has continually supported them for over 44 years and counting.

The W.C. Handy Home:

The W.C. Handy Home is one of the best-preserved sites of African American

achievement in Florence Alabama. The home and museum tells the story of W.C. Handy and his

fantastic music career that led him to be called the Father of the Blues. The museum also

coordinates a music festival in Handys honor that involves the entire Shoals community, taking

the preservation of Handys legacy outside of the physical structure of the museum.

Handy was born November 16, 1873 to Charles Bernard Handy and Elizabeth Brewer,

both of whom were former slaves. The Handy family resided in a log cabin built by W.C.

Handys grandfather on the corner of Cherokee and Bell Street in Florence. It was from his

grandfather and a fiddler known as Uncle Whit that Handy gained his appreciation for music.8

8 W.C. Handy, Father of the Blues an Autobiography (New York, New York: Macmillan, 1941),
5-6.
 7

The Handy family had a long tradition in ministry. Both Handys father and grandfather served

as ministers. Growing up, Handy was expected to follow in their footsteps to become a minister.

However, young Handy felt that his calling was to create music.

W.C. Handy spent several years traveling across America with various troupes, in addition to

picking up several teaching jobs. However, what set him apart from many other talented

musicians is his composition of the famous song The Memphis Blues. This song cemented

Handy as the Father of the Blues across the world. It was after this song became a hit that

Handy was able to travel across the world playing music with famous troupes while continuing

to compose and write his own music.

After a long and successful life, Handy passed away in 1958. In the late 1960s a

community organization formed to preserve Handys legacy, which took the form of the W.C.

Handy Museum. The museum charts the course of Handys life from his birth to his death,

featuring various photographs and artifacts to better tell his story, including the piano on which

Handy wrote the famous St Louis Blues. One of the biggest features of the Handy museum is

the log cabin where Handy grew up. The Dogwood-style cabin has largely been recreated from

the original logs from Handys childhood home. Although the cabin does not necessarily reflect

what the Handy home would have looked like when he was growing up, it does reflect the time

period of his youth. All of the artifacts that can be found in the cabin have been donated in order

to recreate the atmosphere of the time.

Handys home and museum are not the only ways in which his legacy has been

preserved. The W.C. Handy Music Festival is one of the largest events in the Shoals. The festival

takes place in over 200 locations throughout the Shoals, and serves to preserve and promote the
 8

musical heritage of the Shoals. In this way, the Music Preservation Society and the festivals

sponsors continue to honor not just the man but the very music that shaped his life.

Trenholm High School:

Trenholm High School served the African American population in Tuscumbia, Alabama from

1877 to 1969. This site proves that not all aspects of preservation require the preservation of an

actual building. Sometimes the most important thing to preserve is the memory of the site and

the people who were affected by the site.

Trenholm High School opened in 1877 as Osbornes Colored Academy. For a short time,

the school was renamed the Tuscumbia Colored Public School. In 1921, the school was again

renamed, this time becoming Trenholm High School.9 The name Trenholm was chosen as it

honored one of the schools most beloved and well known principals, G.W. Trenholm. Trenholm

High School offered unique experiences both for the students and the local community.

Trenholm gave students the opportunity to explore sports, music, art, and other recreational

activities outside of regular schooling. Newspaper articles indicate that Trenholm had a variety of

athletic teams that competed against other African American schools, including the Sheffield and

Trinity high schools.10 Students were not the only group to benefit from the creation of the

school. The local community who helped support and build the school also reaped the benefits of

the establishment. The school became a meeting place for many kinds of organizations and

hosted events that were specifically tailored to give back to the community that supported its

mission of education.

9 The Colbert County Heritage Book Committee, The Heritage of Colbert County, Alabama
(Clanton, AL: Heritage Pub. Consultants, 1999), 64.
10 "Trenholm Encounters Strong Sterling Tonight," Florence Times, January 22, 1954.
 9

As is the case with many African American schools, Trenholm High was closed down in

1969 due to school integration. Even though the school building no longer remains, the memory

of Trenholm High School is still strong within the community. Where the school once stood, a

small memorial has been placed. This small marble memorial lists every principal of Trenholm

over the years. In addition, a historic marker located near the site details the history of Trenholm.

The marker and memorial indicates how important this school was to the African American

community in Tuscumbia. To this day a reunion is held at this site to commemorate the

opportunity Trenholm High School offered to create a future for its students.

Shady Dell

Also in Tuscumbia, Shady Dell was the home of Dr. Arthur Willis Davis. A.W. Davis was

the first African American doctor to practice medicine in the Tuscumbia area. To this day his

home still stands as a testament to the man who pioneered the road for African American doctors

in Tuscumbia.

Unfortunately, not much has been written about A.W. Davis or his work in the field of

medicine. Most sources of information on his life in Tuscumbia come from contemporary

newspaper articles. What is known is that Davis was not a native of the Tuscumbia area. He was

born in Marion, Alabama in 1875.11 Little is known about his early life. It can be assumed that

like many other African American children he was most likely born from slaves recently freed

after the Civil War. Unfortunately, information about his early schooling is virtually nonexistent.

After receiving his lower level education, Davis attended Talladega College where he

graduated with a bachelors degree in science. From there, he attended Meharry Medical College

11 "Full Text of "The National Cyclopedia of the Colored Race;"" Full Text of "The National
Cyclopedia of the Colored Race; accessed December 08, 2016,
http://www.archive.org/stream/nationalcycloped01richrich/nationalcycloped01richrich_djvu.txt.
 10

from which he graduated in 1903.12 That same year, Davis moved to Tuscumbia and opened his

medical practice. Davis quickly made a name for himself in the community. So much so, that he

treated both black and white patients at his practice. He was successful enough that in 1920, he

and his wife had Shady Dell, a two story Dutch colonial revival home, constructed across from

his office at 606 E 8th Street. Additionally, Davis was a successful businessman. He owned a drug

store and was well known for the nativity scene he set up each year. Davis continued to practice

medicine until his death in 1941 leaving behind a life of achievement and service to his

community.

Today, Davis office no longer stands. There is a sign that shows where his office once

stood. His home is the only remaining physical structure tied to his legacy in Tuscumbia.

Currently the site is in a state of flux. The owners of the site were recently able to secure a grant

to repair and revitalize the home. However, due to extenuating circumstances, the site has not

been able to retain the grant. The home, while still standing, is in need of major repairs.

P.B. Swoopes Tailor and Dry Cleaners

The P.B. Swoopes Tailor and Dry Cleaners store is a rare example of an African

American business in northern Alabama where the physical site remains intact. Unfortunately,

there has not yet been a movement to preserve this important site of African American history.

P.B. Swoopes was a pillar of the community in Sheffield, Alabama. Much like A.W. Davis, there

has not been a lot written about Mr. Swoopes and his life in Sheffield. Most sources of

information on his life come from a few newspaper articles and family remembrances. Therefore,

it is difficult to accurately speak about the impact he had on the community outside of

generalities.

12 Ibid
 11

Paris Baker Swoopes was born on February 26, 1902. He was the son of former slaves John and

Eliza Swoopes. As a young man, Swoopes attended Sheffield Colored School and then Trenholm

High School.13 Shortly after graduating, Swoopes attended the Tuskegee Institute in order to

further his studies. The famous college known for teaching trades to young African Americans

was the perfect environment to foster Swoopes business ambitions.

After finishing his studies at Tuskegee, Swoopes opened up his first shop in downtown

Sheffield. The first Swoopes Tailors and Cleaners opened in 1928, in the old Sheffield Hotel.14 In

1941, the shop moved to its permanent location on Montgomery Avenue. Swoopes Tailors and

Cleaners was by all accounts a successful business. Swoopes Tailors and Cleaners remained in

business for 63 years before P.B. Swoopes decided to sell the business in 1991.

P.B. Swoopes was more than just a successful businessman. He was also an outspoken

community leader and gained the respect and admiration of many people in Sheffield. He was a

noted supporter of the war effort in World War Two, helping to sell war bonds. Swoopes also led

the Sheffield March of Dimes, an event that was organized to fund research devoted to curing

the polio virus. Swoopes was also the first black man to sit on the grand jury in Sheffield.15 These

only constitute a few of the ways in which, Mr. Swoopes served hic community.

The P.B. Swoopes Tailor and Laundromat shop is an example of a site that has not been

preserved over the years. The store, while still standing, is a poor reflection of what it used to be

during its time of operation. The faded orange sign is a reflection of the inside of the shop, which

is in a state of dilapidation. There are several items of clothes that are still hanging on a rack in

13 The Colbert County Heritage Book Committee, The Heritage of Colbert County, 323
14 Ibid.
15 Lucille, Prince. "Swoopes Targets 'soul of Community'" Times Daily
(Florence), February 19, 1994. 6B
 12

the back of the store. Also, the floor has been uprooted in spots due to plants growing through the

foundation of the building. The store seems as though it was abandoned shortly after it was sold.

Currently, there are no known plans to renovate or repurpose the building. However, the fact that

the site still remains provides a measure of hope that the revitalization of the downtown area

might reach this important site.

African American sites of achievement are a small but important part of the grand

narrative of African Americans in this country. Each site tells a story of achievement that helped

to shape the lives of African Americans in their communities. While some sites are the sites of

preservation projects, not every site is being preserved due to a variety of reasons. Each of these

sites has a story that deserves to be told. Whether this means preserving a physical location or

preserving the memory of the site, such preservation adds to the national story of African

Americans throughout the United States.

Bibliography

1. Bailey, Tori. Interview by Sam Keiser. October 18, 2016.

2. Stewart, Carolyn. Interview by Sam Keiser. October 15, 2016

3. Davis, Rebekah. Interview by Sam Keiser. September 20, 2016.

4. Graves, Arthur. Interview by Sam Keiser. November 11, 2015.

5. A Look at Bob Carl Bailey Unknown date. From the personal collection of Tori Bailey.

6. Fulton Charlotte. Holding the Fort, a History of Trinity School in Athens, Alabama 1865-
1970. Athens, AL: Athens-Limestone Community Association, 2014.
 13

7. "Full Text of "The National Cyclopedia of the Colored Race;"" Full Text of "The
National Cyclopedia of the Colored Race; accessed December 08, 2016,
http://www.archive.org/stream/nationalcycloped01richrich/nationalcycloped01richrich_dj
vu.txt.

8. Frederick Lorene. Sheffield Businessman Endures 54 Years of Ups and Downs in

Downtown District Florence Times. April 26 1981.

9. Frederick Lorene. Florence Features Historical Handy Home Florence Times. June 17,
1973

10. Handy W.C. Father of the Blues an Autobiography. New York, New York: Macmillan.
1941.

11. National register nomination. W.C. Handy home and birthplace. Florence, Lauderdale
county, Alabama.

12. Prince Lucille. "Swoopes Targets 'soul of Community'" Times Daily. (Florence), February
19, 1994.

13. Rice, Sarah Doctor set up popular Nativity at home, office Times Daily. December 23
1993.

14. (Shady Dell) Application for the historic rehabilitation tax credit program

15. The Colbert County Heritage Book Committee. The Heritage of Colbert County,
Alabama. Clanton, AL: Heritage Pub. Consultants, 1999.

16. Tuscumbian A.W. Davis Remembered Courier Journal. December 18, 1991.

17. Widely Known Negro Physician Succumbs January 24 1941. Located in Sheffield
public library.

Works Cited

1. A Look at Bob Carl Bailey Unknown date. From the personal collection of Tori Bailey.

2. "Full Text of "The National Cyclopedia of the Colored Race;"" Full Text of "The
National Cyclopedia of the Colored Race; accessed December 08, 2016,
http://www.archive.org/stream/nationalcycloped01richrich/nationalcycloped01richrich_dj
vu.txt.
 14

3. Fulton Charlotte. Holding the Fort, a History of Trinity School in Athens, Alabama 1865-
1970. Athens, AL: Athens-Limestone Community Association, 2014.

4. Frederick Lorene. Sheffield Businessman Endures 54 Years of Ups and Downs in

Downtown District Florence Times. April 26 1981.

5. Handy W.C. Father of the Blues an Autobiography. New York, New York: Macmillan,
1941.

6. Prince Lucille. "Swoopes Targets 'soul of Community'" Times Daily. Florence. February
19, 1994.

7. The Colbert County Heritage Book Committee, The Heritage of Colbert County,
Alabama. Clanton, AL: Heritage Pub. Consultants, 1999.