History of Alexandria,Alabama

06/23/2025

05/26/2025

11/12/2024

Gone with the Wind: The Effect of the Civil War on the Green Family of Alexandria, AL.
One has to look no further than Alexandria to find an example of the ED saga depicted in the book "Gone with the Wind" written by Harriett Beecher Stowe in 1936. In 1842 Jacob "Ross" Green purchased 150 acres from 0.E. Burt on which he built his Greek Revival home with gigantic Doric and Ionic columns on the Alexandria Jacksonville Road and started cultivating this rich land to grow cotton and other crops to supply family needs. Prior to the War, Ross Green and other landlords had become prominent citizens of the Valley for their contribution to agriculture and to society in general. The 1860 census showed Ross Green had attained a real estate value of $14,000 and a personal property value of $5,000. After the War, the 1870 census listed the real estate value as $2,000 and a personal property value as $700. Although most of the value in the family's personal property and real estate was gone, he was able to sustain his antelllum home "Greenwood" until his death in 1875. Upon Ross Green's death, Samuel Lafayette Green, his son and veteran of the 10th Alabama Infantry, Co. D (Alexandria Rifles) assumed ownership.

02/11/2022

For whom or what was the community of Alexandria named? That is a good question. The first inhabitants of the Valley, the Creek Indians, called their village "Tallasseehatchee." When the white pioneers settled in the valley, they called the community "Old Town", an English translation of Tallasseehatchee. In 1813, General Coffee and his soldiers massacred the Creeks in the Battle of Tallasseehatchee, and it was said the community was named Coffeeville in his honor. However, the Jacksonville Republican newspaper referred to the community in 1833 as "Houston's store." Matthew Houston was the first postmaster and a store proprietor in 1834. A 1954 issue of the Alexandria (Ala.) Gazette stated as there was already another post office in an older county called Houston's store, the new post office was given the name Alexandria, "for what reason, no one knows." Frank Little, a former principal of Alexandria High School, stated in his book that he had learned from a former resident in 1936 that the name Alexandria was for her Alexander family. However, a thorough review of records, books, etc. failed to find any Alexander family of any prominence or notoriety who lived in the valley during the 1830's or 1840's. Postal Service records do show the name of the Alexandria Post Office was changed to Boydville, presumably for the family of Samuel Boyd, from October 19,1889 but was rescinded November 12, 1889.

11/07/2021

This monument was erected to serve as a reminder that you can do anything or go anywhere you want to in life from Alexandria, Alabama. With the consent of the Alexandria Volunteer Fire Department and support of Commissioner J.D. Hess and the Calhoun County Commission, the Alexandria Preservation and Historical Society was instrumental in the er****on of this monument on the NE corner at the 4-way intersection of the Alexandria-Jacksonville and Alexandria-Wellington Roads. According to Bob Field, former Calhoun County District Attorney, the proverb originated in Page's store, a local gathering spot at the time, at the 4-way stop after Alexandria won its first Football State Championship in 1985. A Birmingham sportswriter interviewing Woody Woodruff, a local icon, inquired about Alexandria's success to which Woody, pointing to the X-roads, responded "you can go anywhere in the world from these crossroads." The sun dial configured monument whose shadow is cast in all directions from the Alexandria crossroads was designed by local architect Bill Whitaker.

09/16/2021

With all the problems in NY, Chicago, LA, Portland, Atlanta, etc., we need to take a minute and thank God we live or have lived in Alexandria, Alabama. This Billboard was placed on Highway 431 looking north near the Valley Vet Clinic by the Alexandria Historical and Preservation Society.

09/14/2020

These mounuments denoting the location of the battle of Tallasahatchee can be found on McCullars Lane which is off of Highway 144, west of Alexandria.

09/14/2020

This monument reads in part: This stone marks the site of the Tallasahatchie battle field. On this spot Lieut. Gen. John Coffee with Gen. Andrew Jackson's men won a victory over the Creek Indians, Nov. 3,1813.

03/18/2020

Another little known fact about Alexandria. A man from Alexandria was one of the delegates representing the counties of Alabama to vote for withdrawing the State of Alabama from the Union. John M. Crook, a planter from Alexandria, who was elected as a secession delegate from Calhoun County voted to adopt the Ordinance of Secession of Alabama from the United States of America at the State Conference held in Montgomery on Jan. 11, 1861. By a vote of 61 to 39, the ordinance was approved to "withdraw Alabama immediately and unconditionally from the Union" as "the election of Abraham Lincoln to the office of President of the United States, by a sectional party," is "hostile to the domestic institutions, and the peace and security of the people of the state of Alabama."

01/29/2020

In reference to "Anniston Star" article "affordable housing project" coming to Alexandria. I have done an extensive amount of inquiry and have been told this. The project is not in JD Hess's district but Eli Hendersons But as we do not have "home rule" in the county we don't have any control of or say as to what occurs. Nobody appears to want to talk about, calls not answered, etc. Calls to the "Star" about this important matter were not returned. We do know from our commissioners that they have no direct control and that does appear to be the case. From what I can obtain the decision is up to the owners of Foodland. Will they let Vantage group from Fyffe tap into their sewage line? I talked to manager Erick Prickett today and he told me he was 95% sure it wasn't going to happen. He appeared to be up and forthright. His dad Sam, owner, has a reputation as being an upright Christian man. The money ($800,000) comes through the city of Anniston's grant money from the federal government for affordable housing. According to a reliable source a survey done years ago showed Annistons most viable option for expansion is though Saks, Alexandria. There is a proposed meeting Feb. 6 at 6:30 at the Alexandria Middle School. This meeting is contingent on Vantage's agreement. I will confirm the date and time. I have been told the decision will be up to the community. Hope you be there to express your opinion.