The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-02-19
MONTEVALLO is
TOWN OF CULTURE
Its People Are Hospitable and
Wide Awake
MINING A GREAT INDUSTRY
Girls Industrial School an Excellent
Institution and Is In Need of a
Larger Appropriation, But
Is Doing Great Work.
MINING A GREAT INDUSTRY
BY FRANK v. EVANS.

Montevallo, February 1S.-(Special)-
Most appropriately named is the goodly
old town of Montevallo. "Old' 1 write it
because it is the outgrowth of Wilson
HILL" its cognomen of the 4O's when there
were only one or two stores at the top of
one of the hills. "Montevallo'-how Sig
nificant the name, and that is the fact
that the scattered buildings and the peo-
pie appear on hill and in valley! Unlike
Rome 1t is city yet small, but builded
upon more than seven hills and in as
many valleys.
Birmingham, the Elyton Of old, and JEFF
ferson county, know full well of Monte
vallo. For many years this was the rail-
road station-the depot-for the old timers,
and the wagons, carriages and stage
coaches came here to discharge and re-
ceive freights and passengers This one
railroad in the early fifties was the Ala
bama and Tennessee River road, after
wards the Selma, Rome and Dalton; then
the East Tennessee, Virginia and Geor
gia, now the Southern. How time does
change events as well as names!
Settlers Made Wise Choice.
1t was a goodly people who first set
tied Montevallo; for they saw at Will
sons Hill' all that nature could bestow
for beauty of surroundings, health and
natural comfort. and here they came to
make their homes, If not a big town or
city.
All things needful to make happy the
home jewellers were here Perhaps no 9TH
er place in the great state of Alabama
presents to the eye more natural beauty
from the door and window of all homes
than does Montevallo Mountains, hills
and dales, sparkling streams OF water,
fertile valleys and woodland rich and
rare, please the eye; the health giving at
mosphere is all that mind and body could
desire and the waters which flow nearby
afford health and strength to all who par
take of the refreshing flow
If there be one feature about Monte
vallo which more forcefully impresses the
visitor than any other it is the hospitality
of her people. There are as yet only
few newcomers here, the population be-
Ing to the manner born" but they wei
come the incoming of all who wish to
join them in their effort to build up, to
enlarge. to strengthen to make brighter
and better still. and more active the spot
which they have chosen to make their
home.
Montevallo cannot be denominated a
town of wealth-though here is wealth.
convenience comfort and even retirement
i
town of refinement and culture-a COM
munity OF schools and churches, and Of
absolute order and safety. Liquor is not
sold here; and l, have just been informed
by the mayor that-'t is not more than
one case of Even disorder before him In
any one month Yet there are about
twelve hundred inhabitants here, white
and colored; and this town is near the
coal mines, too,
City Government.
The city government consists of
mayor, council clerk and town marshal,
and the tax rate'is only one-third of per
cent which, with a very small special
tax on merchants, pays all expenses. The
Hon. j. M. Reynolds is the efficient
mayor, and the councilmen are II. c.
Reynolds, A. M. Cross, E. G. Givhan and
F. w Rogan. M. p. Jeter is the clerk
and the venerable Captain John Garner
is marshal Mayor Reynolds pays spe-
cial attention to all details of city work,
and can always be found at the helm,
pulling for the Improvement of his town.
The Churches.
The Methodist Baptist, Presbyterian
and Episcopal churches all have organiza-
tions. buildings and ministration here and
are well ATTENDED under able pastors
The Masons, Knights of Pythias and
|
lodges here.
..e medical, legal and dental profess
sions are well and ably represented
Montevallo has presented only two cam
didates for county office this year. The
Hon. e. G. Lyman, present representa-
tive in the legislature. is announced for
probate judge of Shelby, and the friends
of Captain II. c. Reynolds have induced
him to allow the use of his name for
county commissioner
TINS section of Shelby county is we'll
represented In a journalistic way by the
Montevallo Sentinel, ably edited and pub
lished by e. II. Whitaker. BY the way,
the Sentinel unlike most county papers,
is printed entirely at home, and Mr.
Whitaker with wonderful energy, indus
try and talent, does all of his own work.
avoiding and discarding the burdensome
luxury of a payroll. He has a good pa
per and best of all, good patronage.
Montevallo is in the very heart of the
great coal field Of this section, and Mon
tevaIlo coal' mas done much to advertise
this town to the users of domestic coal
1t is these mines and miners. together
with the agricultural and railroad indus
tries so near, which give the town i'm
portance as a. business point.
Perhaps no town of like size in the