Title
Model School Class, Alabama Central Female College
Subject
Women's colleges
Old State Capitol
Description
Teacher Miss Belle Strickland is standing behind her model class at the Alabama Central Female College which was housed in the old state capitol building owned by the University of Alabama.
The Alabama State Capitol was located in Tuscaloosa from 1826 until 1847. The stone foundation of the capitol was laid in 1827 and work was completed in the late fall of 1829.
After the seat of government was moved to Montgomery in 1847, the Tuscaloosa Capitol and its furnishing were deeded to the University of Alabama to be used for educational purposes. In 1857, the University Board of Trustees leased the building for ninety nine years to the newly formed Baptist-affiliated Alabama Central Female College. At this time, a large brick four story dormitory was constructed at the west of the building. The capitol building was used by the Alabama Central Female College until it was destroyed by fire on August 22, 1923 when a construction worker accidentally set it ablaze. He was soldering a piece of flashing while repairing the dome and the building caught fire. The historic building was totally destroyed by fire. In the 1930's, the site was cleared for use as a park.
Archibald John Battle was president 1860-1862 (he later served as president of Mercer University from 1872-1889). Joshua Hill Foster was joint principal from 1869-71 and president from 1871-1873 (then became faculty member at University of Alabama until 1892). John F. Lanneau served as president from 1873-79 (later serving as president of Baptist Female College in Lexington, MO and Pierce City College also in MO).
The ruins of the old Alabama State Capitol building can still be seen in Capitol Park in Tuscaloosa.
The note on the reverse of the photo states:
The Alabama State Capitol was located in Tuscaloosa from 1826 until 1847. The stone foundation of the capitol was laid in 1827 and work was completed in the late fall of 1829.
After the seat of government was moved to Montgomery in 1847, the Tuscaloosa Capitol and its furnishing were deeded to the University of Alabama to be used for educational purposes. In 1857, the University Board of Trustees leased the building for ninety nine years to the newly formed Baptist-affiliated Alabama Central Female College. At this time, a large brick four story dormitory was constructed at the west of the building. The capitol building was used by the Alabama Central Female College until it was destroyed by fire on August 22, 1923 when a construction worker accidentally set it ablaze. He was soldering a piece of flashing while repairing the dome and the building caught fire. The historic building was totally destroyed by fire. In the 1930's, the site was cleared for use as a park.
Archibald John Battle was president 1860-1862 (he later served as president of Mercer University from 1872-1889). Joshua Hill Foster was joint principal from 1869-71 and president from 1871-1873 (then became faculty member at University of Alabama until 1892). John F. Lanneau served as president from 1873-79 (later serving as president of Baptist Female College in Lexington, MO and Pierce City College also in MO).
The ruins of the old Alabama State Capitol building can still be seen in Capitol Park in Tuscaloosa.
The note on the reverse of the photo states:
Miss Belle Strickland
In the photograph on the other side of this picture, Miss Belle Strickland is the teacher standing at the back of the class at the Alabama Central Female College located in the Old State Capital Building.
Later Miss Strickland joined the Stafford School Staff located on 9th Street and 21-22 Avenur. She was my 4th grade teacher at Stafford (circa 1900.).
Since Miss Strickland lived in the Strickland house on 24th Ave. and 15th Street and since this building is now located on the Old State Capital grounds I thought that it would be apropos to now place it in her old original house.
Fred R. Maxwell, Jr.
Source
Tuscaloosa County Preservation Society
Date
Circa 1900
Contributor
Lee Rawlinson (Description)
Type
Photograph
Letter
Identifier
2312
Coverage
Tuscaloosa (AL)
Original Format
Photograph
Text
Physical Dimensions
10 inches x 10 inches