The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-07-26

one of the heroes of the cholera epidemic of 1873. It was a matter of much amuse- ment to members of the faith to see with what great curiosity crowds would con- gregate on every occasion to witness the "Romish" service, as the aboriginees called each celebration of the mass. The original organizers of St. Paurs congre- gation were the families of Michael Ca halan, James O'Conner. M. T. Smith and Frank P OBrien. with a few scattering members numbering in all thirty-one souls
 The first Baptist church was organized early in November, 1871 by the Rev. J. c. Hillier, who came here from Atlanta Ga. Services were held for the first time in frame store house located on the lot upon which the office of the Birmingham Railway, Light and Power company is at present situated The organizers of this congregation were MT Frank Miles Christian F. Enslen, George w. Allen, B. F. Riley and DTS. Galley and Day
 The Church of the Advent was organ lzed In December, 1871. by the families of Messrs. William Ketchum, George R. Ward, Ellis Phelan and others. A neat little church was erected on the rear end of the lot upon which now stands the magnificent stone structure, corner Of Sixth avenue and Twentieth street. Rev. Phillip Fitts one of the most popular elergymen Birmingham has ever known, was rector.
 The First Presbyterian church was or ganlzed in November 1S71 with Rev. MT Kennedy as pastor A small house of worship was erected on the corner of Twenty-first street and Fourth avenue This was one of the most hourishing con gregations in the city.
 The First Methodist church was organ ized In November, 1871, and a small frame r1,aa aT.a1a fn6 m ha n Sixth avenue and Twenty-frst street; later the congregation built brick church on the lot upon which the Hill man hotel now stands this congregation was the largest and strongest, financial ly, In the city. The Rev MT. Davenport another hero of cholera fame, was pastor.
 The first Hebrew Congregation was or ganized during the summer of 1886, in the Cumberland Presbyterian church build ing on Fifth avenue and Eighteenth street, by young rabbi from Cincin- natl
 1 The first city hall and mayors court room was located on the corner of Second alley and Twentieth street, on the lot upon which the Patton drug store now stands. The building was the property of MT. J. B. Webb The water works was finished by Captain Traverse Daniel, and water was turned on the city mains for the first time May 15, 1873. Prior to the building of the water works by the Ely ton Land company water for private use was taken from wells on the property of the citizens, and for public use, from wells located at the intersection of Nineteenth street and Second avenue, Twentieth and Second, and Twentieth and Third avenue A number of lime sinks, or wells on the south side, also afforded water for the public Parties made a regular business of carting water around to regular GUS toners.
 Fire Engine.
 The first fire engine Ca side brake) was purchased and delivered by the Rumsey Engine company early in 1872 and was named the From Tate" The first munic- ipal board, provided for in the charter granted by the legislature in November, 1871, and appointed by Governor Robert Lindsey, was composed of the following named gentlemen: Hon. Robert Henley, mayor; aldermen, Messrs. T. S. Tate, J. B. Francis, Thomas Woods, William F. Majors, Wm. P. Barker Andrew Mar ra, Jack McDonald and Andrew C.. Chambers. It Is a strange coincidence