Issue 2, Fall 1986

The cover of the “Alabama Heritage” magazine features an intricate historical scene. At the center, a large steamboat is docked near the shore. The steamboat has two tall black chimneys emitting white smoke into the clear blue sky. Its structure includes multiple levels, windows, and details that evoke the era of steam-powered river transportation. The steamboat is anchored near a wooden dock, which extends into the water. The dock appears weathered and sturdy, suggesting years of use. The water around the dock is calm, reflecting the boat’s image. On the shore, there are two individuals: One person is actively working near the dock. Their attire suggests they might be a crew member or dockhand. They seem focused on their task. Another person stands nearby, supervising. Their posture is more relaxed, and they observe the scene. Their clothing indicates a more formal role. The backdrop features lush green trees, their leaves vibrant and full. The trees frame the scene, emphasizing the riverbank setting. Above, the sky is a clear blue canvas with fluffy white clouds, creating a serene atmosphere. Overall, this cover art captures the essence of historical river travel, connecting the viewer to Alabama’s heritage and the era when steamboats played a vital role in transportation and commerce.

Issue 2, Fall 1986

On the cover: The City of Mobile, a stern-wheeler built in Mobile in 1898 and destroyed in that city by the 1916 hurricane, at a landing on the Alabama River. [Illustration by Terry Henderson; original photograph courtesy James K. McNutt]

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Features

The black and white illustration depicts a dramatic scene at sea. A ship named “BEN FRANKLIN” is engulfed in an explosion, with thick smoke and flames billowing around it. Debris, including large planks of wood, is propelled into the air by the force of the blast. The sea appears calm in the foreground, contrasting with the chaos unfolding above. There are no visible people or other ships in this intense illustration.
Near Mobile in 1836, a boiler exploded aboard the steamer Ben Franklin, depicted here. [Courtesy W.S. Hoole Special Collections Library, University of Alabama]

Steamboat Travel in Early Alabama

By Robert O. Mellown

It would be difficult to overstate the importance of steamboats to the development of Alabama, culturally, socially, or economically. The state entered the Union in 1819, at the beginning of the steam era and the period of rapid growth in river transportation in America. Steamboats provided a fast and efficient transportation system, helping the state to build its towns, to move its people, and to transport its crops. The steamboat boom would continue until the Civil War, at which time a fractured infrastructure and an expanding railroad industry finally ended the reign of the Alabama steamboats. 

Is Southern English Disappearing?

By Ann H. Pitts

It is possible for a language, like a species of animal, to become extinct in a generation, but this seldom happens without the destruction of the people who speak that language. It is, therefore, surprising to discover that many people believe that southern US dialects are in decline–particularly while there are still millions of native speakers. Those predicting the decline of southern English base their arguments on seemingly common-sense observations: the decline of agrarian culture and the rise of mass media both seem to forecast the elimination of southern US dialects as the South slowly becomes absorbed into the broader US culture. But do such predictions accurately reflect the future of southern English? In this article, Ann H. Pitts argues that they do not.

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The image depicts a crinkled brown paper bag with the words “BAG,” “SACK,” and “poke” written on it in bold, dark letters. The bag stands out against a light blue background. Below the bag, there is text that provides a definition of the brown paper container: Brown paper container used to carry groceries: (paper) bag, sack, poke. The overall composition emphasizes the simplicity and functionality of this everyday item.
Brown paper container used to carry groceries: (paper) bag; sack, poke. [Illustration by Terry Henderson]
The black and white historical photograph captures Rickwood Field, an old baseball park with classic architectural features. The building facade showcases multiple arches leading to gated entrances or windows. A central sign reads “BLACK BARONS TONIGHT,” indicating an event or game featuring the Black Barons. Above this sign, on the second level, there are two windows with striped awnings. The name “RICKWOOD FIELD” is prominently displayed at the top center of the building. A flagpole extends above the roof, although no flag is attached, and a weather vane is visible on the roof. The image evokes nostalgia for a bygone era of baseball.
Rickwood Field, constructed in Birmingham in 1910, was home field for the Black Barons, who rented the stadium from its white owners on dates with then minor league white Barons were not in town. [Courtesy the Birmingham Barons]

Slidin’ and Ridin’: At Home and on the Road with the 1948 Birmingham Black Barons

By Tim Cary

Birmingham has always been a baseball town, and as far back as the late nineteenth century, white professional baseball was popular in the city. Prevented from competing against whites, African Americans organized their own teams across Alabama. The Birmingham Black Barons was one of these teams. Formed in the 1920s, the Black Barons played until the early 1960s. In 1948 they made a play to win the Negro World Series; this is the story of their struggle. Most of the players never achieved the fame of other players from other teams, men such as Jackie Robinson. But for more than forty years the Birmingham Black Barons were an institution and an inspiration to the city’s black community. 

Little Italy in Rural Alabama

By Rhoda Coleman Ellison

In the mid-1880s, the first immigrants arrived in Blocton, Alabama. Some were Slavic, others Polish, but the majority were Italians. Many came from villages in the hills above Bologna, south of Florence, and from the Italian colony on the island of Corsica. Employed as shepherds, farmers, or gardeners in their native land, they had been lured to Alabama by coal-mining company recruiters looking for cheap labor, and later, by letters from relatives and friends who had preceded them to the Bibb County hills. Unable to speak English, these immigrants met with problems communicating. Largely Roman Catholic, they faced religious intolerance from their Protestant neighbors. Strangers in a strange land, they set up their own community in Blocton. It was known as Little Italy.

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