Montgomery Alabama Streets
Historical Streets of Montgomery, Alabama as displayed through the Traveling Exhibits
Postcards showcased on the Traveling Exhibits
Montgomery - Lee Street
Montgomery is the seat of Montgomery County and the capital of Alabama. The county was formed in 1816. The first settlements were Alabama Town and New Philadelphia. The two towns merged in 1819 and became the city of Montgomery. This is a postcard of Lee Street, originally Washington Street, in the early 1900s. The street name was changed after the Civil War.
Transcription
Dear Bro. - Here is a card but not a Thanksgiving card but it will show you a little of the town. How is hunting now are you good at caring the game. I'll bet you are well I won't get to hunt any this year. Love from Oiris Addressed to: Mr. Lawrence Fryburger Cozaddale, Ohio
Montgomery - Court Street
A legacy of the towns' merger can be seen today in the alignment of downtown streets: streets to the west of Court Street are aligned parallel and perpendicular to the Alabama River, while streets to the east are aligned in a north-south and east-west grid. This is a postcard of Court Street in the 1890s.
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March greetings from Montgomery: Hope you are having a pleasant winter. Sincerely, Larues Pray Addressed to: Mrs. Charles Jeffroy, Bristol, New Hampshire
Montgomery - Commerce Street
Lee Street, Commerce Street, and Montgomery Street were originally located in Alabama Town. Commerce Street was once the heart of Montgomery's business life. This is a postcard of Commerce Street in the early 1900s.
Montgomery - Montgomery Street
In 1886, Montgomery became the first city in the United States to convert the entire horse-drawn streetcar system to electricity. The car line, fondly known as the "Lightning Route" operated for exactly 50 years, when it was retired in a big ceremony and replaced by buses. This is a postcard of Montgomery Street in the late 1890s.
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You won't know me when I get back Ed. Write Addressed to: Miss Mannie [illegible] 812 Monroe St Newport, Ky
Montgomery - Dexter Avenue
Court Street, Court Square, and Dexter Avenue were originally located in New Philadelphia. When Andrew Dexter, Jr., founded New Philadelphia, he envisioned a prominent future for his town. He reserved a portion of his property known as 鈥淕oat Hill,鈥� for the location of the state capitol building. His dream became a reality when Montgomery became the state capital in 1846. Dexter Avenue, originally Market Street, was renamed in honor of Mr. Dexter.
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Well, this is Montgomery, Alabama, but I keep thinking its Burlington, Vermont instead, for there is a great similarity! This is going to be the pleasantest part of my trip - Traveling from place to place & seeing new things each day. Will try to write you letter from Birmingham tonight. This morning I visited the base. [illegible] old state House, the birthplace of the Confederacy, and sat out on the balcony overlooking the city where Jefferson Davis was inaugurated president in 1861. Spent the night at the Gay Teague Hotel here - no more foreign countries for me - I prefer travel in the U.S.!! Very wide streets in the city so you see! Sincerely Raymond 7/18/22 Addressed to: Dr. & Mrs. J. C. Gable 46 S. Beaves Street, York, Pennsylvania.
Montgomery - Court Square
Court Square Fountain was built in 1885 on top of an artesian well, which Native Americans used long before the area was settled. The fountain features statues based on Greek mythology. This postcard is from the 1890s and shows both the fountain and the electric streetcar system. The prominent building is the Moses Building, built in 1888, it was Montgomery鈥檚 first skyscraper.
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Addressed to: Miss Anna Cleveland. c/o DeLaval Separator Co. Chicago, Ills. Randolph & Canal
Montgomery - Cloverdale
One of the trolley routes ended at the Cloverdale neighborhood which made Montgomery one of the first cities to 鈥渄epopulate鈥� its city center through transportation-facilitated suburban development. Much of Cloverdale was built in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. This postcard shows why this neighborhood is considered one of Montgomery's 鈥済enteel鈥� areas. The Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald Museum is located in Cloverdale.
Montgomery - South Perry Street
Perry Street is one of the main streets in Montgomery鈥檚 Garden District. In the 1850鈥檚 Perry Street was referred to as the 鈥淔ifth Avenue of Montgomery,鈥� a reference to that luxurious Manhattan street. The Governor鈥檚 Mansion is on South Perry Street. This postcard shows an example of residential houses on South Perry Street.
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Montgomery, Ala Oct 26/19 This is a pleasant [illegible] -you think, like here quite-well. People dont work as they do in B- like more time to enjoy life. and ____ there's [illegible] Mrs. [illegible]. Addressed to: Mr. Arthur White Cor Park Ave and Shellhorn Road, Burlington, V.