Will McKay, Brookwood, Alabama, 1895, Photo 2
Item
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Title
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Will McKay, Brookwood, Alabama, 1895, Photo 2
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Source Type
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Visual Culture
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Author
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Teni Ciby
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Publisher
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Alabama Memory Project
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Publication Place
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Tuscaloosa, AL
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Publication Date
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04/19/2022
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Transcript
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A photo of a sign erected in front of West Brookwood Church. The sign says the following: Brookwood Church. Constructed circa 1895 by the Methodists, this church is the only extant evidecne of the original Brookwood mining village. To the rear, the cemetery contains graves dating from the earliest years of the community. Originally established by the Standard Coal Company, Brookwood was located on a rich coal seam of the same name. Much of the coal mined was processed into coke in bee-hive ovens located near here to fuel the blast furnaces of Birmingham. Nicknamed the Modest City, in its heyday, Brookwood boasted more than 250 houses, a hospital, hotel, lodge, park, lecture hall, and many privately owned stores. The Brookwood Herald newspaper office served as a library with over 800 volumes. Fraternal orders flourished such as the Masons, Odd Fellows, Ren Men, Knights of Pythias, and Eastern Star. Company officials recognized the United Mine Workers of America in 1900.
