Browne-Randall House, 903 Greensboro Avenue, 1879 (Now at 2902 6th Street)
Houses and homes
This simple, one-story Gothic style house was built in the 1870s when Alabama was still under a Reconstruction government and attempting to overcome the aftermath of the Civil War. It was the first new structure built in Tuscaloosa after the war.
The house was located at 903 Greensboro Avenue at 9th Street. Built by Newbern Hobbs Browne, in the shape of a cross, the house faced the street and featured a deep bay window below the gable of the roof. This bay window has three windows, each with a raised paneled section below, Gothic molding around the sides, and a paneled cornice with supporting brackets. Porches extended on both sides, each decorated with millwork arches between the delicate columns. An interesting balustrade ties the columns together, and the porch is crowned by the bracketed, paneled cornice of the bay window.
A highly significant example of Victorian architecture, this cottage has been untouched by time for over a century and is a reflection of 19th century life.
The house was given to the Tuscaloosa County Historical Preservation Authority on Jan. 5, 1978. The structure had to be moved to make room for Central Bank. It was moved to 2902 6th Street near the Capitol School on land donated by the Pettus Randall family. It is used for offices and classrooms for the Capitol School.
The builder of the house, Newbern Hobbs Browne, was born in Georgia in 1824 and died in Tluscaloosa in 1891. He graduated from the University of Alabama in 1846 and entered law practice in Tuscaloosa.
From 1851-1853, he edited the Tuscaloosa Observer, a strong democratic newspaper.
In 1862, he enlisted as a private in Lumsden's Battery of the Confederate army where he served for two years until forced to retire because of ill health. He rejoined the battery and served until the end of the war.
Browne was a four-term state representative (1853-1859 and 1873) and served as Probate Judge for Tuscaloosa County from 1874 until his death.
He married Mary Eliza Prude in 1874 and they had five daughters and one son. The son left Tuscaloosa at an early age to work on newspapers in Illinois. (Some material from Past Horizons, Tuscaloosa Historic Preservation Society, 1978)
Union Furniture Company
Union Furniture Company
Union Furniture Company
1996
Tuscaloosa Public Library
Betty Slowe (Description)
Union Furniture Company
Drawing
1025
Tuscaloosa (AL)
Buck Boarding House in Snow, 1816 Broad Street
Houses
The Old Buck Boarding House, located at 1816 Broad Street (now University Boulevard) just west of Queen City Avenue, was built around 1820. Ownership of the house changed many times over the years, but the Buck family owned it for many years. Records show it was deeded to Nellie Buck Morris in 1926. The house provided boarding for state dignitaries when Tuscaloosa was the state capitol and was later used for apartments.
Originally it was a handsome, elegant mansion with beautiful draperies and antiques from abroad.
The house was demolished in 1950 and the lot sold to Owen Meredith & Sons.
The slave house still stands at the site.
John T. Harris
Circa 1940
Betty Slowe (Description)
Photograph
515
Tuscaloosa (AL)
Central Drug Store - Harco, 2315 Broad Street, circa 1970
Drugstores
Central Drug Company - Harco was located at 2315 University Blvd in Tuscaloosa. This picture shows the store's Rexall affiliation.
In 1941, 16 years after receiving an Auburn University pharmacy degree, James Harrison and his wife, Elizabeth, were able to open the first family-owned store, Central Drug Store in Tuscaloosa.
When his son, Jim Jr., graduated from pharmacy school in 1955, the elder Harrison acquired a second store, Druid Drug, on the campus of the University of Alabama that Jim Jr. and his brother, Ben, managed. Druid Drug was the favorite coffee hangout of Coach Paul “Bear” Bryant and his staff.
Later more drugstores were added and the Harco Drug Company was formed. The company was sold to Rite Aid in 1997.
This original location of Central Drug on University Blvd. is still associated with the Harrison family and currently houses Harrison Galleries (2013).
Personal Collection of Jim Harrison III
Circa 1970
Brenda Harris (Description)
Photograph
1044
Tuscaloosa (AL)
Central Drug Store, 2315 Broad Street, circa 1950
Drugstores
Soda fountains
Central Drug Store was located at 2315 Broad Street (now University Blvd) in Tuscaloosa. This picture shows the original mosaic tile flooring along with the store's soda fountain on the right side.
In 1941, 16 years after receiving an Auburn University pharmacy degree, James Harrison and his wife, Elizabeth, were able to open the first family-owned store, Central Drug in Tuscaloosa.
When his son, Jim Jr., graduated from pharmacy school in 1955, the elder Harrison acquired a second store, Druid Drug, on the campus of the University of Alabama that Jim Jr. and his brother, Ben, managed. Druid Drug was the favorite coffee hangout of Coach Paul “Bear” Bryant and his staff.
Later more drugstores were added and the Harco Drug Company was formed. The company was sold to Rite Aid in 1997.
This original location of Central Drug on University Blvd. is still associated with the Harrison family and currently houses Harrison Galleries (2013).
Personal Collection of Jim Harrison III
Circa 1950
Brenda Harris (Description)
Photograph
1047
Tuscaloosa (AL)
Central Drug Store, 2315 Broad Street, circa 1955
Drugstores
Soda fountains
This photo of the Central Drug Store shows the original mosaic tile flooring along with the store's soda fountain and booths on the left side.
Central Drug Store on Broad Street (now University Boulevard) was a landmark. In 1941, 16 years after receiving an Auburn University pharmacy degree, James Harrison and his wife, Elizabeth, were able to open the first family-owned store, Central Drug in Tuscaloosa.
When his son, Jim Jr., graduated from pharmacy school in 1955, the elder Harrison acquired a second store, Druid Drug, on the campus of the University of Alabama that Jim Jr. and his brother, Ben, managed. Druid Drug was the favorite coffee hangout of Coach Paul “Bear” Bryant and his staff.
Later more drugstores were added and the Harco Drug Company was formed. The company was sold to Rite Aid in 1997.
This original location of Central Drug on University Blvd. is still associated with the Harrison family and currently houses Harrison Galleries (2013).
Personal Collection of Jim Harrison III
Circa 1955
Brenda Harris (Description)
Photograph
1045
Tuscaloosa (AL)
Central Drug Store, 2315 Broad Street, circa 1955
Drugstores
Soda fountains
Central Drug store's soda fountain shown in this photo was a very popular meeting place for university students who shopped downtown.
Central Drug Store on Broad Street (now University Boulevard) was a landmark. In 1941, 16 years after receiving an Auburn University pharmacy degree, James Harrison and his wife, Elizabeth, were able to open the first family-owned store, Central Drug Store in Tuscaloosa.
When his son, Jim Jr., graduated from pharmacy school in 1955, the elder Harrison acquired a second store, Druid Drug, on the campus of the University of Alabama that Jim Jr. and his brother, Ben, managed. Druid Drug was the favorite coffee hangout of Coach Paul “Bear” Bryant and his staff.
Later more drugstores were added and the Harco Drug Company was formed. The company was sold to Rite Aid in 1997.
This original location of Central Drug on University Blvd. is still associated with the Harrison family and currently houses Harrison Galleries (2013).
Personal Collection of Jim Harrison III
Circa 1955
Brenda Harris (Description)
Photograph
1046
Tuscaloosa (AL)
Central Drug Store, 2315 Broad Street, circa 1975
Drugstores
Jim Harrison, Sr. and his son, Ben Harrison, are shown after Central Drug Store was remodeled in the mid-1970s. The soda fountain and booths were removed and a large photography center was added.
In 1941, 16 years after receiving an Auburn University pharmacy degree, James Harrison and his wife, Elizabeth, were able to open the first family-owned store, Central Drug in Tuscaloosa.
When his son, Jim Jr., graduated from pharmacy school in 1955, the elder Harrison acquired a second store, Druid Drug, on the campus of the University of Alabama that Jim Jr. and his brother, Ben, managed. Druid Drug was the favorite coffee hangout of Coach Paul “Bear” Bryant and his staff.
Later more drugstores were added and the Harco Drug Company was formed. The company was sold to Rite Aid in 1997.
This original location of Central Drug on University Blvd. is still associated with the Harrison family and currently houses Harrison Galleries (2013).
Personal Collection of Jim Harrison III
Circa 1975
Brenda Harris (Description)
Betty Slowe (Description)
Photograph
1048
Tuscaloosa (AL)
Dearing-Swaim House, 2111 14th Street
Houses and homes
This home, originally known as the Alexander B. Dearing Mansion, was built between 1831 and 1842 by Alexander Dearing, who made his fortune in slaves and cotton in Mississippi before moving to Tuscaloosa. Although Dearing owned a plantation in Columbus, Miss., he chose to live in Tuscaloosa for its educational opportunities.
With several daughters in the Dearing family, the house became a center of social activities. The Dearings furnished their home with appropriate and beautiful French furniture. Some of that furniture has been loaned for use at the Battle-Friedman House by descendants of the Dearing family.
Built with slave labor and an "educated slave" foreman, the structure is said to be the best example of Greek Temple-type (with columns around three sides) architecture remaining in Alabama. It has never had to be restored. The original sheet metal roof lasted about 125 years and was duplicated exactly when replaced. The house has marble mantles, silver door knobs, and plastered frescoes.
In 1864, the home was not burned by Federal troops because the lady of the house scrambled her last "setting" of turkey eggs and fed the tired, hungry youths in the group sent to burn her home. For her kindness, they thanked her and left her and her children untouched.
The house was at one time the home of Dr. W.S. Wyman, once president of the University of Alabama, and is the boyhood home of the late Congressman Walter Flowers. Dr. Wyman was the son-in-law of the builder and Congressman Flowers was the grandson of the last owner.
The building represents a period in the development of the South that is important to America's history. It was built while Tuscaloosa was the state capital and Tuscaloosa was the head of navigation of the Black Warrior River at the time.
The 2nd owner of the house was Major James A. Spence. Spence, a Scottish immigrant, and his wife bought the home from the Dearing family in 1888. The Spences' most notable contribution to the home was the extreme Victorinization.
In 1919, after the death of Major Spence, Samuel G. Swaim bought the house.
The home is now commonly known as the Dearing-Swaim House. Many of the Victorian features have been removed.
(The Graphic, May 15, 1969; "Past Horizons," The Tuscaloosa County Preservation Society, 1978)
Betty Slowe
Betty Slowe
Jan. 17, 2014
Betty Slowe (Description)
Photograph
1086
Tuscaloosa (AL)
Early Tuscaloosa Fire Station, circa 1888
Fire departments
City halls
Horse-drawn fire equipment was on the ground floor with Tuscaloosa Town Hall on the second floor. The building stood facing Greensboro Avenue at the site of the Bama Theatre.
Union Furniture Company
Union Furniture Company 2003 Calendar
Betty Slowe (Description)
Photograph
1130
Tuscaloosa (AL)
Fire Prevention Parade, 1939
Fire Department--Equipment and supplies
Fire prevention
The Tuscaloosa Fire Department 1923 LaFrance pumper in a fire prevention parade on University Boulevard in 1939. Waddell Bailey was a firefighter who had died earlier that year.
In 1939, the Tuscaloosa Fire Department had 18 firefighters and 423 fire hydrants in the city.
Union Furniture Company
Union Furniture Company 2003 Calendar
Betty Slowe (Description)
Photograph
1134
Tuscaloosa (AL)