Historic Tuscaloosa

🏛️ Fun Fact Friday: The Legacy of James Shirley

Did you know that one of Northport's oldest surviving commercial buildings traces its roots back to a remarkable local pioneer?

In the mid-1800s, James Shirley (1809–1866) helped shape the future of Northport. A builder, merchant, and town surveyor, Shirley played a key role in the community's development. After a devastating fire destroyed much of Northport's business district in 1850, he rebuilt the town's commercial center with brick structures, the first of their kind in Northport.

More than 175 years later, one of those buildings still stands as the structure many know today as the Five & Dime Store in downtown Northport.

Shirley's influence extended far beyond Main Avenue. Around 1838, he built the historic Shirley Place, one of Northport's most recognizable antebellum homes. Following the deaths of James and his wife, Mary Ann Christian Shirley, the home passed to her brother, William Lewis Christian (1824–1899), a Confederate veteran, merchant (The Cristian & Daniel General Mercantile), and owner of a Northport hat factory that was destroyed during General John T. Croxton's raid in April 1865.

Another fascinating connection to the Shirley family is through Marvin Harper, one of Tuscaloosa's most respected historians and a descendant of James Shirley. In 1979, Marvin Harper acquired Shirley Place and later donated it to the City of Northport in 1997, helping ensure the preservation of this important historic landmark for future generations.

The next time you stroll through downtown Northport, take a moment to appreciate the Five & Dime building. It's more than a storefront—it's a surviving piece of the city's story and a lasting reminder of the craftsmanship, vision, and legacy of one of Northport's earliest builders.

📸 We encourage visitors and natives to take a walk down Main Avenue in downtown Northport, enjoy the small-town atmosphere, and visit our Five & Dime store!

Friends of Historic Northport, Inc.
Anders Hardware
City Cafe Northport Alabama

Join us tomorrow at 11 AM!!

The Liberty Tree dedication will take place tomorrow during a ceremony at the Synergic Center in Northport.

https://tuscaloosathread.com/mary-frances-tuscaloosa-boat-wreck/?utm_source=app_share&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=com.tsm.tuscaloosathread

The Heartbreaking Tale Of Tuscaloosa's 'Mary Frances' 26 lives were lost when a yacht capsized on Black Warrior River over 100 years ago.

🌳 Liberty is taking root in Tuscaloosa County.

As we prepare to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the United States, we invite you to join the Tuscaloosa County America 250 Committee for the dedication of a living Liberty Tree.

Historically, Liberty Trees served as gathering places where citizens discussed ideas of freedom, civic responsibility, and self-government during the Revolutionary era. This local Liberty Tree will honor that legacy while providing a lasting symbol for future generations.

Join us Wednesday, June 17, 2026, at 11 a.m. at the Synergic Center, (across the street from Kentuck Park) at 3650 5th Street, in Northport, as we celebrate this important milestone in our nation's history. 🇺🇸🌳

We will not have tours next week, June 2-5.
This includes the Old Tavern, The Battle-Friedman House and Gardens, and the Jemison-Van De Graaff Mansion!

Historic Tuscaloosa believes that preserving history means telling the full story — even when that history is painful.

"Bloody Tuesday" remains one of the most difficult chapters in Tuscaloosa's past, but it is also an important part of our shared community history. Acknowledging these events is not about assigning blame to people today, nor is it about reopening wounds for division. It is about ensuring that the experiences, struggles, and voices of those who lived through these moments are not forgotten.

Communities grow stronger when they are willing to learn from their history rather than ignore it. Remembering the past helps us better understand one another, honor those who endured injustice, and continue building a more informed and compassionate future for Tuscaloosa.

We encourage the community to attend this important event hosted by First African Baptist Church as we reflect, learn, and remember together.

What an incredible weekend for our 2026 Ramble! We are so thankful to all of our ramblers who joined us this past weekend for three days filled with history, architecture, fellowship, and unforgettable experiences across Georgia. Thank you for making this year’s Ramble such a wonderful success.

A very special thank you goes to Mike Kitchens, who served as our liaison with all of the historic homes and sites we visited throughout the trip. Mike truly put this entire experience together for us — arranging tours, coordinating visits, sharing fascinating stories, and answering countless questions along the way. His knowledge of Athens, Madison, Macon, and the surrounding areas added so much depth to our journey. From detailed house histories to narrated driving tours through historic towns, Mike helped make every stop meaningful and memorable.

Our Ramble began bright and early Friday morning as we departed Tuscaloosa for Athens, Georgia. After arriving and checking into the hotel, we boarded the bus for our first afternoon of tours. Our first stop was the A.P. Dearing House (1856), now the Kappa Alpha Theta House, followed by the historic T.R.R. Cobb House. On our way to the evening’s final destination, Mike narrated a driving tour through Athens, pointing out important historic sites and sharing the rich history of the city.

Friday evening concluded at the beautiful Taylor-Grady House, where we not only toured the home but also enjoyed dinner on the grounds. Despite the rain arriving just as we did, it made for an unforgettable evening filled with wonderful food, conversation, and hospitality. Guests enjoyed a Southern feast featuring hoop cheddar with Piedmont saltines, dog lick soup, roasted hen, braised pork backbones & gravy, collard greens, tomato bread pudding, country green beans, new potatoes, pickled peaches, Dutch oven cornbread, and bread pudding before returning to the hotel for the evening.

Saturday morning, ramblers boarded the bus once again to continue touring homes in both Athens and Madison. In Athens, we visited the Church-Brumby House (1820) and the Ware-Lyndon House (1850). From there, we traveled to Madison, Georgia, where we toured the Madison-Morgan Cultural Center (1895), Bonar Hall (1834), Heritage Hall (1811), Rose Cottage (1891), and the Rogers House (1809).

After returning to the hotel for a short break, we departed again Saturday evening for another special tour and dinner at The Hill (1800–1930). Following our tour of the property, we enjoyed a delicious Southern supper featuring seafood and sausage gumbo with wild rice pilaf, minted fresh peas, fried apples, hot cheese biscuits, and fresh fruit cobbler before heading back to the hotel for our final night.

On Sunday morning, we checked out early and traveled south to Macon to visit the magnificent Hay House (1855–1859), often referred to as “The Palace of the South.” Touring this extraordinary home was the perfect conclusion to an amazing weekend before we began our journey back to Tuscaloosa.

Thank you again to everyone who traveled with us this year. We are grateful for your enthusiasm, curiosity, and support of historic preservation. We hope you enjoy reliving some of the memories from this year’s Ramble through these photos!