Way Back Wednesday in Calhoun County---May 10-16
In this edition, May 10-16, of the Way Back Wednesday in Calhoun County blog we look back at some of the people and places in both Anniston and Calhoun County. Remember to click on the links in the blog to see many of the photos seen in Images of America series books: Anniston Revisited, Anniston, or Calhoun County.
Upcoming Events:
Kimberly O’Dell will be a vendor at the Freedom Riders National Monument Celebration on Gurnee Avenue this Saturday, May 13th. Anniston Revisited books will be available for purchase at the event (cash or check only).
We are excited to announce that author and local historian Kimberly O’Dell will be conducting the May Makers Market Historic Tour of Downtown Anniston on Friday, May 26th. Nunnally’s Noble Frame and Gallery will host an Anniston Revisited book signing at the conclusion of the tour. Check our website events page and on Facebook for more information on this month’s event.
May 10, 1936: Anniston, AL. Roy C. Owens of the Chiropractic Health Clinic attended the Alabama Chiropractic Research Society meeting in Gadsden on this day. The clinic was located in the Anniston National Bank Building at 1101 Noble Street.
May 11, 1883: Anniston, AL: The First National Bank of Anniston was established. This was the oldest and largest of the banks in Anniston. The founders of the bank included Samuel Noble, Alfred Tyler, and Duncan Parker. The bank was located on the southeast corner of 11th and Noble Streets.
May 12, 1915: Birmingham/Anniston, AL. It was announced James Keith had been elected President of the Alabama Bankers’ association. Keith, a native of Virginia, was the husband of Josephine Noble, Samuel Noble’s daughter.
May 13, 1927: Anniston, AL. The Liles Building “billed as Anniston New Skyscraper” was dedicated at 2:00 PM on this date. The building was known as the Wilson Building in the later part of the 20th Century. The building sat was built on the site of the original Woodstock Iron Company Commissary.
May 14, 1961: Approximately 5 miles outside Anniston, AL. The Freedom Riders, who were attempting to integrate the interstate transportation system, had the bus they were riding in forced off the road at Forsyth and Sons Grocery on the Birmingham Highway. The bus was surrounded by a mob and a bundle of burning rags was tossed through the vehicle's broken windows. As the riders escaped the burning bus, they were beaten by the mob. Nine men were indicted for the crime but none were ever convicted.
May 15, 1938: Shady Glen, AL. An ordination service under the direction of Reverends John Doss and S. M Peak took place at the Shady Glen Baptist Church at 11:00 AM. Shady Glen was an area located in an unincorporated area of Calhoun County that was taken over, along with Peaceburg, in 1940 to create Pelham Range. All that remains today are the cemeteries that predate the military’s arrival.
May 16, 1957: Anniston, AL. The annual Anniston High School Spring Band Concert was held at the auditorium of the high school at 7:30 PM. The school and auditorium were built in 1921 on Leighton Avenue between 16th and 17th Streets. The building closed in the 1970s and was torn down in the 1980s. The aches from the auditorium were saved and site in the memorial park on Quintard Avenue.
