Alger-Sullivan Historic District Historical Marker Dedicated

April 22, 2018

For the first time in decades, a new state historic marker was dedicated Saturday in North Escambia.

The marker near the corner of Jefferson and Front Streets  commemorates the Alger-Sullivan Lumber Company Residential Historic District.

For more photos, click here.

The text of the historic marker is as follows:

In 1901 one of the largest and most advanced southern pine sawmills east of
the Mississippi River was built here. In the tradition of the era, the lumber
company built its own town to house and supply the families of workers
needed to operate the mill. By 1915 the mill town of Century included a hotel,
hospital, commissary, post office, executive club, business district, schools,
churches, and separate housing districts for black and white families. Housing
ranged from small shotgun houses to large two-story executive homes.
Standing along Church St. is one of the lumber company’s last built town
structures – a large theatre and recreation hall completed in 1922. After
remodeling in 1946, it became lumber company offices. The deteriorated
black residential district along Pond St. was largely demolished and the homes
replaced in 1986 through a state block grant. The remaining residential
district along Front, Church, Fourth, and Mayo Streets, and Jefferson and
Pinewood Avenues represents a rare intact example of an early twentieth
century planned company town. The district, consisting of 45 historic
structures and a formal garden site, was added to the National Register of
Historic Places in 1989.

NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.

Comments

2 Responses to “Alger-Sullivan Historic District Historical Marker Dedicated”

  1. Citizen on April 22nd, 2018 7:32 pm

    Very nice!! Keep on Keeping on! The House in the background is one of the Beauties!!

  2. Chelleepea on April 22nd, 2018 3:10 pm

    Looks great!

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News