The Places in Peril entry for Camp Hill includes eight downtown properties.
Settled in the early 1830s, Camp Hill was primarily focused on agriculture in the mid-nineteenth century, but like many small towns in Alabama, it experienced growth and change when the Savannah and Memphis Railroad arrived in 1870. The town was incorporated in 1895. Camp Hill’s downtown shops held numerous stores and businesses, including dry goods stores, a pharmacy, a post office, clothiers, a furniture store, theaters, banks, dining, and fueling stations. African American businesses were housed in the basements of some buildings and accessed through a service road in the back. Once passenger trains ceased operations in the 1970s, the commercial center of town began to see a decline in population, and many downtown businesses closed.
Current commercial buildings are in various conditions, ranging from good to ruinous. A lack of financial resources to repair and maintain the structures is an issue for many property owners. The newfound interest in Camp Hill is attributed to Emberly Zellars. She and her grandfather, John Zellars, are determined to bring awareness to preserve the Camp Hill community. Through the Zellars’ perseverance and dedication, they hope to see Camp Hill’s downtown buildings restored and this historic area revitalized.
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