The majority of Andalusia residents don’t know they’re fascinated by the past of Covington County until the subject is brought on the table in conversations. It’s like they are interested in learning details about how the first train to come through the town and blow its whistle, or about the first cinema which was within the Prestwood Building around 1910. Perhaps when the first drug store located on Court Square owned by J. D. McPherson operating within a wooden structure is envisioned and placed as a vital element of the downtown business district. It’s interesting to think about that first location, which was that is the Hester Law Office of the firm.
Did boardswalks and hitting posts actually located around on the non-paved square with the courthouse in the middle? The story goes that good ladies had to be cautious not to leave dirt upon their gowns and were often led away to avoid those drunks on the street after having quit the bar.
Did saloons actually prominent on the Court Square? Ladies were invited through the Millinery Department of the Dry Goods business to check out the latest trends and styles? What would you like to buy bacon, lard sugar, flour,and the coffee at the exact same dry Goods shop?
Imagine this – just four brick shops located in town, around 1901 The Sentell, Milligan, Henderson, and Shreve buildings. Interesting and real is the story of the initial four acres in the area where Andalusia would later supposed to be situated. The land was sold to the Covington County on the 1st of June in 1845, in accordance with Gus as well as Ruby Bryan, authors of Covington County History 1821-1976. There were some earlier disagreements over where the courthouse was situated and the location of the courthouse was River Falls or the settlement of Silver Springs, located a few miles from Andalusia. A majority of voters favored “Newsite,” according to a poll conducted by the public. Researchers are still trying determine the reason Andalusia was named.
Did the Covington Times, the local newspaper? The Covington Times, in the 1880’s in the final years, written by W. P. Howell, advertise the slogan for the Tillis and O’Neal store on the square “Live And Let Live?” Old stories of Rev. E. E. Cowan mention the fact that the Post Office moved to Montezuma in the Charles G. Lynch store on the 18th of July in 1844. Lynch was the first person to manage a store higher up the hill than the town by the river Montezuma plagued by fever and mosquitoes following the tiny town of wilderness that was that was being swept away in”Harrison Freshet. “Harrison Freshet.”
Are the typical businesses operating in downtown Andalusia described as livery stables, blacksmith shops and a dry goods/mercantile store and drug store, saloon and doctor’s offices, a newspaper office, church, hotel and boarding house shoe shop and the jailhouse and post office and a lawyer’s office Based on the Map made by L. F. Adams which he named, “ANDALUSIA as it appeared in 1889.” Andalusia was described as the county seat of Covington County, located just east of the Conecuh River, on a elevated hill overlooking the surrounding area, including the watershed boundary between the Conecuh and Yellow River waters. One old-fashioned adage was, “Stand on the steps of the courthouse. You can spit towards the right and you will strike the Conecuh River. Spit to left and you will hit the Yellow River.” That was obviously following the county courthouse that was completed in the year 1917.
Do you see what you can imagine as rows of Chinaberry trees which bordered the perimeter of the public square? “Under these trees, children would play in the daylight hours, and men laid their horses under the shade of the trees. Then at night, the wild hogs and cattle would be drawn from the forests around to spend the night beneath their shaded branches.” Editor Howell wrote these words.
When you drive along East Three Notch Streettoday Can you imagine the streets that were not paved, with ruts for wagons that were several inches deep? It’s no wonder that the main roads were paved in the 1920’s to allow for the emergence of carriages without horses. Horses or buggies together with wagons and mules continued to transport individuals for many years to be.
A lot of discussion has been held in relation to one of the more fascinating aspects of the past of Andalusia which is the massive three-story building located on South Three Notch Street, the center for entertainment and socializing for the region from the beginning of 1900. It was referred to for its role as”the” McArtan Opera House, which was a venue for operas and shows for people of all ages It was constructed through the efforts of McArtan along with McRainey who also worked to create one of the country’s first banks which was that of the Andalusia Bank and Trust that was merged together with the Bank of Andalusia. Piano recitals, as well as school graduations were held at the Opera House prior to the construction of the East Three Notch School Auditorium. The interest of Andalusia in performing arts as well as theatrical and musical entertainment has been around for more than 100 years ago.
It is recalled that the firefighting efforts were most likely to be done on a voluntary basis, however city clerk’s files show that from 1904 there were steps taken to buy apparatus for fighting fires. In 1905, the city was able to purchase a the fire alarm was erected in the town. In 1912, Lon Gillis was named as the Captain for the Fire Department.
The history of the police department begins in the year 1884 when the first Marshalwas appointed at a pay that was $12.50 monthly. The main responsibility of marshalls was to ensure that the streets were in good condition and pay the tax. Numerous names of the early citizens who were employed in these roles are recorded in the city’s official records.
H . Lewis was elected as the inaugural mayor on 1884. We can only speculate what transpired between in 1844 when the residents relocated to the top of over the hills to Montezumato 1884 as the small village was well-organized and populated.
Covington County affairs went a bit more smoothly with the new judicial system after Covington County’s first Probate Judge in Covington County, William T. Acree was elected by a votes of the population in 1850. George Snowden, his assistant succeeding him in 1854.. Other names that were in the management are Thomas Cottle, 3rd Probate Judge, A. J. Fletcher, 4th Probate Judge Malachi Riley 5th Probate Judge and J. M. Robinson who served continuously for 28 years. Did you ever wonder how Robinson Memorial Park was named?
If you’re not aware of what one of the most well-known forms of social gatherings were back in the past I’ll mention the log rollings as well as the barn raisings. My grandfather once asked my sister, who was dressed in a fancy dress and adorned with eye shadows, “Sally, have you attended the log rolling?” Born in the late 1890’s, Dad Brunson certainly had been to the log rolling! There could have been some fiddlin’, picking and square dancing happening simultaneously and maybe shooting turkeys or having a fighting rooster. We’ll discuss more of the history in a future Remember When column.
Sue Bass Wilson, AHS Class 1965, a local real estate agent She was a former teacher of choral music and a long-time participant in the Covington Historical Society. She can be reached at [email protected].
The article COLUMN: Remember When: Looking back to the past was first published in The Andalusia Star-News.
