Hamburg Building, Foley, Baldwin County

​The Hamburg building is nominated by the current owners, the City of Foley. Sometime before 1918 local farmers in Baldwin County formed the Farmers Mutual Cooperative to represent the farms of the area in state and regional markets. The cooperative constructed the multi-functional building as a processer, warehouse, and store front that operated as a feed and seed. It is a frame building with board and batten siding painted red, and a long ell that extends down the length of the railroad tracks. The coop remained open until 1949 when it shut its doors and was bought by former members, H.M. Hamburg and his sons. The co-op’s former members continued to rely on the company. Farmers brought in their crops to be cleaned, graded, packed, sold, and shipped. The proximity to the railroad made Hamburg and Sons an easy shipping point.

The building was an important place for the agricultural community in that part of Baldwin County. Farmers stored their crops there while preparing them for market. Their families relied on the feed and seed for their seasonal farming needs. Hamburg and Sons Inc. operated until 2004, when H.M. Hamburg’s grandson retired. Today, the building sits vacant and several ideas for its use are being considered. Ideally, a community effort is the best path to rehabilitation. A local high school has taken on the project of restoring the floors in the building. However, the City of Foley lacks the funding for a full rehabilitation and needs help planning viable uses and prioritizing work.
 
For more info on the Hamburg and Sons building please contact:
Miriam Boutwell (City of Foley): 251.952.4011, mboutwell@cityoffoley.org