Issue 15, Winter 1990

The image depicts the cover of the Winter 1990 issue of Alabama Heritage magazine. The title “Alabama HERITAGE” is prominently displayed in elegant red and black fonts at the top. Below the title, there’s a subtitle indicating that the magazine is published quarterly by the University of Alabama. The cover features a vintage black and white photograph of people standing on a wooden dock. Their faces are pixelated for privacy. The text at the bottom of the cover states that it’s the “OUR SWIMSUIT ISSUE” and provides the issue number (15) and price (.00). The overall aesthetic evokes nostalgia and captures a sense of historical charm.

Issue 15, Winter 1990

On the cover: An unidentified beauty captures attention at East Lake Park, Birmingham, c. 1922. [Courtesy Birmingham Public Library. Tinting by Laura Woelfel-Madison] 

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Features

Mobile’s Antebellum Volunteer Firemen

By C.A. Spencer, Jr.

In 1818 the small town of Mobile imported from Boston its first fire engine, a small, hand-powered pumper, which was pulled by the firemen to the site of the fire. Firefighting itself remained largely unorganized until 1819, when the first volunteer fire company in Mobile was organized by a former Spanish colonist, Jean Baptiste Tregnier. Soon there were many volunteer fire companies, all competing with each other. This article gives the story of these groups, of the many fires to ravage Mobile, and of Mobile’s place in the development of urban centers in Alabama.

The image displays an antique, cylindrical-shaped container with a handle on its lid, placed against a light background. Specific Elements or Objects: Container: It appears to be made of leather, showing signs of aging and wear. The surface is tarnished with patches of discoloration. Lid: Attached to the top of the container. Features a circular handle for opening. Handle: Made of leather rope, similar in appearance to the container’s body. Connected to the lid through loops. This image showcases an aged leather container with a handle on its lid, interesting due to its antique design and worn appearance indicating historical or cultural relevance.
Leather Bucket. [Photographed by G. LaMar Hubbs]
General Overview: The image is a black and white photograph, seemingly historical, featuring four individuals. They are standing outdoors amidst a natural setting. Specific Elements or Objects: Individuals: Four people are present in the image. They appear to be wearing vintage swimsuit clothing, indicative of an earlier time period. The person on the far left is wearing a hat and holding an object in their hand. Clothing: The attire consists of dresses and one-piece garments that fall above the knee, reflecting fashion from possibly the early to mid-20th century. Natural Setting: The background shows trees and other vegetation, suggesting that this photo was taken in a forest or wooded area. There’s debris on the ground including fallen branches. This image captures a moment from the past with individuals in vintage attire amidst nature; it intrigues viewers with its historical context and anonymous subjects.
E.A. Enderle and three of his six daughters, 1920, in front of the Enderle summer home on the eastern shore of Mobile Bay, between Fairhope and Battle’s Wharf, Alabama. [Submitted photo]

Alabama Takes the Plunge! Swimsuits from Alabama’s Past

By the Editors

The swimsuit is a relatively modern invention. Previous generations had no need for such garments, either because they swam nude (the Romans) or not at all (medieval Europeans). It was not until the Victorian era that people decided–in order to preserve modesty–to bathe in layered costumes of heavy wool or silk. As time passed, these garments became simpler, smaller, and more streamlined. In the short history of the swimsuit, these garments have undergone dramatic changes, none more dramatic than those of the first half of the twentieth century. During this remarkable era, Alabama swimmers kept pace with the times–and they documented it. This special photographic essay charts the evolution of the swimsuit in Alabama.

This black and white photograph captures a family scene from an earlier era. The faces of the six individuals hauntingly look at the camera. The group consists of two adults, one male and one female, along with four children of varying ages. Their clothing suggests a time period around the late 19th or early 20th century. The male adult wears a formal suit, while the female adult dons a long dress or gown. The children’s attire varies, and one child is held by the male adult. The textured backdrop, though faded, hints at an ornate setting.
Henry B. Wood’s son, William Henry, known as Henry as an adult, posed with his family c. 1900.

From Montgomery to Gettysburg: War Letters from Alabama Soldier Henry B. Wood

By Wayne Wood

Wayne Wood tells the story of his great-great-grandfather’s experiences in the Civil War through the letters Henry Wood sent home to his family. Although lacking a formal education, Wood was a keen observer of the events taking place around him, and his letters home offer an evocative first-hand account of the life of a Confederate foot soldier in Robert E. Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia. In his correspondence, Wood relates his own trials during some of the bloodiest battles of the war.

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