Issue 25, Summer 1992

General Overview: The image is a monochromatic photograph that appears to be vintage, capturing a moment from the past. It is featured on the cover of a publication titled “Alabama Heritage.” Specific Elements or Objects: Text: The text “Alabama HERITAGE” is prominently displayed at the top of the image, indicating that this is likely a cover for a magazine or journal focusing on Alabama’s history and culture. Vintage Car: A vintage car, characterized by its classic design with large wheels and open-top structure, occupies the central portion of the image. There are four individuals seated in the car; however, their identities and emotions are not discernible. Background Scenery: The car is positioned outdoors with an expansive landscape in the background, including grassy fields and trees. This image shows a vintage scene of individuals in an old-fashioned car against an expansive landscape, featured on “Alabama Heritage,” making it interesting as it offers a glimpse into Alabama’s historical and cultural past.

Issue 25, Summer 1992

On the cover: Finis St. John, Sr., takes his family for a spin in Cullman County’s first motorcar, c. 1912. [Courtesy Finis E. St. John, Cullman]

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Features

This intriguing optical illusion artwork presents a dual interpretation. On one side, we see the profile of a man’s face, complete with distinguishable features such as hair, an ear, a nose, and a chin. The background is divided into two sections: beige on one side and white on the other. Notably, there is a grey shading beneath what could be interpreted as either the nose of the profile or part of the second figure’s body. The illusion invites us to explore both perspectives, blurring the boundary between the two distinct images
John Tyler Morgan and his wife Cornelia Willis. An avid reader with a photographic memory, Morgan was largely self-taught, having left school at the age of eight when his family moved to Benton (now Calhoun) County, Alabama. [Courtesy Linda Deery, Old Cahawba Preservation Project]

Canal Morgan

By Lawrence A. Clayton

The idea of constructing a canal through Nicaragua became John Tyler Morgan’s lifelong dream. He devoted his sixty-nine years in the United States Senate and almost photographic memory to seeing the fruition of the canal, and the dream of a “two ocean” navy. The idea of a Nicaraguan canal rode a rollercoaster of great victory and irreversible defeat throughout the latter part of the nineteenth century. During one Senate session, though the canal had been set to be built in Panama, Morgan was estimated to have spoken over 200,000 words on the issue of his Nicaraguan obsession.

The image features a vintage convertible car with its top folded down. A man sits in the car, holding the steering wheel. Here are the details: Car Type: The vehicle appears to be a classic convertible car, likely from the early to mid-20th century. Its convertible top is currently folded down, exposing the interior. Car Features: Body Color: The car’s body is dark-colored, suggesting an antique or vintage aesthetic. Wheels: It has large spoked wheels, which were typical of cars from that era. Spare Tire: A spare tire is mounted on the side of the vehicle, indicating its vintage nature. Interior: Inside the car, we can see the steering wheel. Windshield: There appears to be a windshield, which can be either folded down or removed for an open-air driving experience. Photograph Quality: The photograph seems to be aged or sepia-toned, adding to its antique feel. Overall, this vintage convertible exudes a sense of nostalgia and captures the essence of a bygone era.
“My first car, a 1925 Model T Ford, my buddy and I bought together from a farmer in 1941 for $25!” writes Sam N. Silar, Anniston. [Courtesy Sam N. Silar, Anniston]

On the Road

By the Editors

The roads were impassable, the cars were undependable, and spare parts were unavailable. None of it mattered; southerners were ready to take to the road. The car offered people in the South a source of adventure and mobility, and acted as a catalyst to improve state roads. The editors of Alabama Heritage depict the South’s love affair with the car, from the early 1900s to the late 1950s, with snapshots of Alabamians from Birmingham to Prague.

The image features a map with various geographical details. Key observations: Within the silhouette, the word “CLARKE” is prominently displayed in large, bold letters, indicating a focus on Clarke County, Alabama. The background map includes numerous place names, roads, and topographical lines, suggesting it’s a detailed regional map. The color scheme of the map is primarily shades of beige and brown with black text, giving it an aged or vintage appearance.
This map of Clarke County was published in 1891. The shaded area is Mitcham Beat.

The Mitcham War

By Harvey H. Jackson III

Political and class wars came to a head in post-Reconstruction Clark County, with a series of brutal murders known as the Mitcham War. In the area of Mitcham Beat, tenant farming and the crop lien system put many poor farmers in a precarious financial position. Many farmers felt the Democratic government of Clark County did not care about the problems of the working man and were more interested in securing the upper-class’s hold over Alabama politics. When one small-time farmer lost his land to an upper-middle-class store owner, the anger of the community erupted into literal class warfare, the outcome of which left Mitcham Beat an isolated and introverted community.

Departments

Southern Architecture and Preservation

The Rain Porch: Vernacular Architecture at Point Clear

By Waring Inge Holt

The rain porch–a full, extra porch that extends three to six feet beyond the main porch–is a distinctive architectural feature of Point Clear, an area that receives over sixty inches of rainfall annually. Waring Inge Holt discusses the history, design, and uses of this structural innovation.

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