Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-12-24
THE RUINS OF ST. STEVENS.
Aiabama's First Capital City and the Leg
end of Its Decay.


Years ago, when our grandfsthers were
babies. the capital Of Alabama was the
beautiful little city Of ST. Stevens. 1t was
the first capital of the state, and each year
there assembled there the men who started
the good old ship OF state so safely on her
tourney. But not alone did these old
worthless 90 there TO make laws. Like the
statesmen Of this day and time, they mixed
considerable frolio with their labors. Most
of them were rfeh and lived in opulence in
their lovely country homes. When they
went TO the capital, therefore, they pro-
cceded to get out OF town life all there was
IN it. In consequence, old ST Stevens was
fast aud goddess place. The biggest
gamblers In the state collected there and
feeced the rich and unsophisticated plant
ers and lawmakers.
II is related that II was unwritten law
that no preacher should invade the pre-
cipcts Il Sc. Stevens One day Baptist
minister reached there and proposed to
preach. He was unoeremeniously seized,
put In u skff and rowed across the river,
where howa left with the injunction that
IL he returned he would DO tarred and
feathercd. Tradition says the good man
uplifted his hands and in honest indigna-
ton prophesied the decay and ultimate
abandonment Of St. Stevens. His proph-
ecy was fulfilled, for nothing now remains
of old st. Stevens except some rock foun-
dations, some marble columns, some grave
stones and some memories. Fifty years
ago the town was abandoned, the capital
was moved 10 Tuscaloosa, the center OF
the state, and the present St. Stevens, tho
seat OF Washington county, was bui!tupon
the river.
A visit TO the site Of the first capital of
Alabama is full OF interest AS you APP
proach 1t you discover the ruins OF once
handsome dwellings. The stone founda-
tons show that they were massive and Ia
dictate that they wero built with no regard
for economy.
Coming to thetown proper, one can cas-
ily trace the streets and thoroughfares..
They were carefully surveyed and laid Off,
and many OF them were paved with stone.
Near the center Of the old capital city are
found the remains OF the old state bank
and these OF the leading hotel. About ell
that remains of the former institution is
the stone vault, in which was kept the
money Of the state and of the rich legisla-
tors. The CELLAR is about all that remains
Of the principal hostelry, and from the
bottom of this massive oaks are now grow
ing. The cellar is laid in solid stone ma
sonry, but some so years ago acorns bur-
led beneath the floor shot little sprigs up be
tween the blocks OF stone, and as the twigs
grew and strengthened into trees the rocks
were pushed aside to let them spread.
a.. - int
however, is the foundation Of the first cap
itol That it was handsome building for
those times is evident from the masonry
OF the foundation. The building was small,
not, If the foundation is not misleading,
exceeding IS feet square. just in front OF
1t is one OF the grandest old oaks in the
world, under whose shade did our old
great grandfathers most probably sit, dis
cuss affairs Of state, swap negroes and
play poker
The boundaries of old st. Stevens would
indicate city Of some 5000 people, but
the population was never more than half
that large
One of the most interesting things about
the ruins of old st. Stevens Is the ceme-
terry. Probably not n spade nor hoo nor
rake has touched its soil for more than
half u century, and yet the choicest flow
ers and vines and trees grow there in rank
profusion. Cape myrtle, Ivy and ever
green, honeysuckle, grape vine and wild
rose mix up aud embrace each other as no
florist on earth could make them do.
/ Handsome marble shafts shoot high up In
the air, but each Ia covered with mat
ting of ivy. Tho names on the shafts are
unknown to this generation, although
many men of history are buried there IN
unmarked graves.--Birmingham ala
| Cor. Atlanta Constitution.