The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-06-27
Historic Cahaba Once Aabama Capas Yesterday and Today

pensable 'blaek nanny" gentlemen of leisure, riding spirited and thoroughbred horses. greeted each other with true southern courtesy. This famous drive Way cost many thousands of dollars and only lasted about three years In 1856 cahabais first railroad was built to Ma rion.
 During these years Cahaba reached the height of her glory. Could it be won Gcred at that she held the first place in the south as to culture, wealth and refinement, being surrounded on all sides by rfcll plantataions? North of her lay u large and fertile fields of the Harrells, Moores, Forts, Craigs. Chisolms, Carrs. Gills and Curtises; on the west stretched the large estates of the Pegues Irbys, Rlerbes, Lenoirs. Griffins, Johnsons Har- rplsons, Saunders Beenes, Becks, Orrs Filises. Crocherons Vaughans. Cobbs, Youngs, Hardaways, Hatchers and Ken nerdays on the south lay the rich planta- tions of the Matthews, Dawsons, Molletts. Boykins, James, Olivers and Reeves; while across the broad Alabama, on the east. stretched the vast acres of William l.. King, Thomas M. Matthews, the Hatchers. Saffolds. Milhousos Davises. Pckens. Winters, Calhouns, Wades Vas scrs, Blackwells and McCurdys
 The first church was built in Cahaba in 1889, and was known as the "Cahaba church. Each denomination had a spe- cial Sunday for it's particular worship, and first come first served" took the fifth Sunday. Later on, as they grew. each denomination built church, except the Baptists. which was the weakest and they still used the old church. The Metho- dist church, square brick structure, is still standing, being used today by the negroes. Some of the ministers were: the Revs. MT. Smith, Kegwin and Spar row, Presbyterians; the Rev. MT. Cotton, Methodist; the Rev. MT. Cushman, Epis- oopalian, and the Rev. MT. Bailey, Bap- tist.
 Cahaba furnished one of the bravest and most gallant companies ever organ- ized for the Confederacy-the Cahaba Rifles, Company F, Fifth Alabama The company was one of the first sent to the front, being organized in April, 1S61 She gave the flower of her sons. They were presented with a lovely banner, the pre- sentation speech being made by Miss Anna Vasser, anu the flag was accepted by the captain, c. c. Pegues How nobly those boys in gray defended that flag on many bloody battlefields history relates. On Antetams bloody field this brave lit- tic band was almost annihilataed, only five answering roll call the morning after the terrible carnage These were: Reese D, Galye, F. B. Moseley, Halsey Smith and two others.
 When Alabama left the union a great political banquet was held in Cahaba. and violent speeches were made against the north Prominent among the speak CTS and one who was most bitter in his attacks was George W. Gayle. During the first days of reconstruction. remem- boring his attitude toward the north he vas arrested for treason and confined in Fortress Monroe along with President navs, Judge Campbell and Senator Clay.
 Another Overflow, 1865
 Tn 1865, not content with their two former devastions, the rivers again over flowed and for the third time nearly swept the little towns out of existence. Many of her homes were already in mourning-having given her best both in lives and property-to the cause sho loved so well. Now the angry waters seemed to conspire once more and tried to crush her entirely. Nor was the end Of her misfortunes yet in sight. Wilson's raiders invaded the town and completed the devastation of a heart-broken people. All the inhabitants left hearing of his approach except two people-George Bren- ner, the German timer and a young law yer, Samuel Shepard.
 It seemed that the fates were against her. Disaster after disaster had over taken her. and yet she bravely struggled on. She was just preparing to make an other supreme effort to rise as she had often done before, but her death knell had been sounded. In 1866. by vote of the people, the county seat was moved to Selma. She never recovered from this blow. She struggled bravely to keep her head above the waters of diversity, but the tide was too strong. She gradually lost her old-time importance, and In the 70's she was for the third time indeed and in truth '"The Deserted Village"
 In 1886 and again in 1888 the turbulent waters of the Cahaba on the north, corn- hining with those of the Alabama on the east and Clear creek on the west. met and swept over what was left of this once famous spot. Truly, no city ever l,bored under so many disadvantages. Earassed by waters from the day of her birth it seems rather strange that the water from her overhowing wells Is the only thing that today is preserved in it's entirety They flow as steadily today as they did 100 years ago.
 Today the burr headed" pick-a-ninny plays where once tripped the fairest of so uthern maids; today the red razor aclx, pig roots where formerly cement sidewalks ran: today cotton is being pianted and gathered by descendants of slaves, who waited on their masters in custly homes; today grass and weeds grow where once stood the most elabo- ate houses today only vivid ina gina ton can make you believe that once here was a thriving city, which in its day was the symbol of wealth, refinement and southern chivalry.