Northport Marker
Historical markers--Northport, AL
A marker, called a unity marker by Ben Windham in his Jan. 8, 2006, column in the Tuscaloosa News, can be seen from the walking trail along the Northport, Alabama, levee near the old 1898 M&O Railroad Trestle. Often mistaken for a grave stone, the marker is surrounded by a small iron fence. Research by the late historian Marvin Harper using a hand written manuscript of W.S. Persinger's "Early History of Northport," showed that it is a boundary marker. Persinger wrote that his father Elias Persinger, a cotton warehouser, erected the rough rock slab near the riverbank in 1858 to mark the spot where Sections 15,16,21 and 22 of Township 21 South and Range 10 West meet.
In "Matt Clinton's Scrapbook," he comments on the marker's significance. "Most of Section 15 and nearly all of Section 16 lies on the north side of the river. Nearly all of Section 22 and most of Section 21 lie south of the river. Original Tuscaloosa was built on Section 22 and the Lower Part of the Town of Tuscaloosa (later called Newtown and now called West End) was established on that part of Section 21 south of the river."
Thus the slab marks where historic Tuscaloosa and Northport come together making it what Ben Windham called a unity stone.
The Tuscaloosa News
Tuscaloosa News Archive
The Tuscaloosa News
Jan. 8, 2006
Betty Slowe (Description)
Photograph
2322
Northport (AL)
Northport's Main Avenue, circa 1885
Streets
Downtown Northport
To the far right: Mr. Lucian Strong.
To the extreme right: Christian Store.
In the center of the street: Mr. Wells and Mr. Seales.
Tuscaloosa News Archive
Circa 1885
Jennifer Spraggins (Description)
Photograph
185
Northport in Snow, 1948
Weather
Main Avenue in Northport is shown after a snowstorm on January 24, 1948. The eight-inch snowfall was said to the the heaviest since 1936. While there were three snow storms in 1940, they did not produce as much snow. After one, however, a reading of 10 degrees below zero was recorded on the official government thermometer at the Hargrove Van de Graaff Airport.
The temperature when the Jan. 24, 1948 snow fell was near zero.
The Yellow Front and A&P grocery stores on the west side of Main Avenue in Northport are shown in the photo.
Tuscaloosa News Archive
1948
Betty Slowe (Description)
Photograph
1117
Northport (AL)
Northport Snow Scene
People
Snow
Main Avenue in Northport is covered with snow. Standing in the street are (left) Gordon Darden who sold insurance in Northport and (right) Hamner Patton, who was associated with Oakridge Dairy. The man in the middle is unknown.
Friends of Historic Northport
Betty Slowe (Description)
Photograph
134
Northport (AL)
Downtown Northport, circa 1970
Northport
Tuscaloosa Public Library
A view of downtown Northport at the intersection of 5th Street and Main Avenue. The Northport branch of the Friedman Library which moved to this location in 1968 is on the corner. Other stores include Hamilton's Barber Shop, Anders Hardware which has been in business since February 8, 1909, Faucett's, and Keith's TV.
Tuscaloosa Public Library
Circa 1970
Tuscaloosa Public Library
Photograph
636
Northport (AL)
Downtown Northport
Streets
Main Avenue in Northport looking north
Tuscaloosa News Archive
Betty Slowe (Description)
Photograph
270
Northport (AL)
Northport Flood, 1916
Floods
Northport's Main Avenue under water.
Tuscaloosa News Archive
1916
Betty Slowe (Description)
Photograph
169
Northport (AL)
Northport Flood, 1951
Floods
Restaurants
This photo shows the City Café and Maxwell Tire and Oil Company on Main Avenue in Northport during the 1951 flood.
Personal Collection of Whitney Telle
1951
Betty Slowe (Description)
Photograph
363
Northport (AL)
Northport Flood of 1979
Floods
The O.M. Davis home at 213 Bridge Avenue in Northport flooded on April 13, 1979. The flood level was at 65.7 feet. The record level at that time was a flood in 1961 that reached 66.7 feet.
Bruce Davis
April 13, 1979
Betty Slowe (Description)
Photograph
546
Northport (AL)
Library at Northport Recreation Center
Tuscaloosa Public Library
Public libraries
Recreation centers
A photo of the library in the enlarged recreation center in Northport. The 15-by-34 foot addition has more than doubled space to be used by the library. Mrs. Caroline Dickson, librarian, reported an increase in circulation. The number of adult readers is also increasing as is the use of the library by people from nearby rural areas.
Tuscaloosa Public Library
Tuscaloosa News
April 5, 1963
Elizabeth Bradt (Description)
Photograph
2433
Northport (AL)