The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-03-14
BUILDING IS SCENE
OF MANY ROMANCES
One of Decacur's First Struc-
lures Still Stands
To BE OCCUPIED BY CITY
Many Interesting Stories Are Told
About the Old State Bank Build
ing Near the Banks of the
Tennessee.
TO BE OCCUPIED BY CITY

Decatur, March 13-(Special) -Serving
no better purpose than a restaurant and
lodging house, the old State Bank build
ing at the corner Of Bank and Pond
streets, stands today as one of Decatar's
landmarks, and as one of Alabama's most
historical structures. There is clustered
around the old building enough of his
tory and enough of romance to fill a good
sized volume.
The old building is the property of Mrs
Leila Seaton Wilder of Decatur, and the
city now has under consideratio propo-
siton from her to purchase the property
for a city hall and jail, The building is
of Grecian style of architecture. II is built
of brick and has five massive stone col
umns at the front and large steps of
stone leading up to the front.
Completed in the year 1882, and opened
as branch of the State Bank of Ala
bama in the same year. it was one OF
the four buildings that were left stand
ing in Decatur at the close of the civil
war. Today the massive stone columns
bear the marks of shot and shell, ana
upon their smooth surfaces are engrayen
the names of many soldiers who sought
shelter beneath the protective roof during
the years of the civil war Why the
building was not burned along with many
others is Decatur, no one Is able to an
swer
Quarried By Slaves.
Connected with the five stone columns
of the building is a story of more than
ordinary interest. These columns were
quarried, by five slaves, out of limestone
rock taken from the mountain bluffs near
Trinity, seven miles west of Decatur. The
quarry where the columns were obtained
belonged to the Fennell family, as did
the slaves who quarried them. The col
umns, when completed. were hauled to
Decatur by several yoke of oxen. The
running gear of the wagons on which
the columns were hauled We're made of
rough poles, and the wheels were made
of blocks sawed from large oak trees.
1t was a great day In Decatur when the
bank was opened. 1t was a general holi-
day for all the town people and for the
country people for miles around. Work
on the plantations was suspended for the
day, and the planters, their wives chill
dren and slaves came to Decatur to wit
ness the exercises connected with the
opening of the bank. All the stores and
residences along Bank street were deco
rated in holiday attire. A barbecue was
served under the trees on the river bank
and on the front gallery of the bank
building a number of brilliant speeches
were delivered. The exercises of the day
closed with a speech by the banks pres
ident.
Calls for Slaves.
Just before concluding he called for the
five negroes who had labored for months
to quarry the stone columns of the
bank to step forward. The five slaves
marched to the front and to their great
surprise the president Of the bank placed
within their hands papers which made
them free men the remainder of their
days. The five slaves returned to their
masters home and there labored as free
men the remainder of their lives. Today
their bones lie buried beneath the sod on
the old plantation home not far from
Trinity station on the Southern railroad.
1t is said that during the civil war the
stone columns of the old building were
taken down. and together with cotton
bales were placed across Bank street and
used as breastworks. 1t is said that dur
ing the war a Federal pay train was held
up and robbed neS~Decatur, and that
several thousar >dollars of the money
was buried ut,uer the floor of the old
bank. The story fails TO relate whether
or not this money was ever removed from
its hiding place.
During the civil war Bill Looney. known
as THE Red Fox" was the leader of
gang of bushwhackers who killed many
Confederates. He was born and reared
in Winston county, and like many others
of the mountain stock of north Alabama
was a Union man. During all the years
of the war he and his men terrorzed the
people of north Alabama. Finally
price was set on Looneys head. At last
he was captured and imprisoned in the
old bank building over night pending a
decision on his case. guard was placed
around the building and a strict watch
was kept during the night
Looney Escapes.
At sunrise it was decided that Looney
must die. One of the guard entered the
building to lead Looney out to his fate
but what was the guards surprise when
me found that Looney had made his es-
cane lust above the massive fireplace
there was written with charcoal on the
white plastering Of the wide chimney
these words: 1.-THE Red Fox is gone;
catch him II you can" Looney mad
climbed out the chimney during the night
passed the guard unnoticed and re-joined
his men in their mountain retreat few
miles to the south of Decatur. He proved
a terror to the Confederate army during
the remainder of the war.
A number Of highly dramatical and
ira eical scenes have taken place within
the walls of this historical old building
in years past The last tragedy was en-
acted only a little over year ago. A
man named Johnson shot his father-in-
law in a room on the second floor of the
building. Johnson's wife witnessed the
deed while his young babe lay quietly
sleeping on the bed Johnson was ac-
---..... Ia ha rye nf murder ON nre-