Articles written by Russell Brown
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Housing the history of logging carts and oxen
Since 1988, The Alger-Sullivan Historical Society has worked to collect and display items that reflect an earlier time. Originally dedicated to the lumber and logging history of Century, the society’s museum now holds relics that also represents th...
Alger-Sullivan Heritage Museum to reopen
A few weeks ago my sister was sitting at home and getting a bit stir crazy as we all get in the age of covid-19, so she decided to take her household on a little ride along the state line. Part of her ride was around the old sawmill area of Century....
Lessons learned from the Emperor's clothes
In 1787, while serving as Minister to France, Thomas Jefferson received a draft of the new constitution from his friend James Madison. Jefferson agreed with the draft, but objected to the non-inclusion of a bill of rights and returned a letter strong...
The humble history of a hometown bank
Families leave a legacy. In this region many were connected to the timber industry, farming, or the railroads. Some legacies are quietly kept in family journals, others are better known. This story is of a well-known family who helped bring much...
An abbreviated history of shaving razors
Among the Alger-Sullivan museums eclectic displays is a small collection of shaving razors called straight razors that date from the mid-19th century to the 20th century. This collection is not only a recollection of the razors former owner, like...
The good deeds of Century's Dr. Sam
If you are not already aware, our society has canceled our Sawmill Day festival and Car Show in May due to the national health threat. The society has held this event every year since 1990 as our major fund raiser and as an opportunity to bring the...
We've been through isolation before
The U.S. today faces a new health challenge, but this is not new to our nation. One hundred years ago, or so, the challenge of unknown illnesses was almost routine. Today a primary recommendation is similar to one used then, isolation. The following...
Things are getting better all the time
Contemplation. In my old dictionary, one of the definitions is “thoughtful inspection”. This seems like an old person’s word. The answer to “what ya doing?” from an old man sitting on the front porch, “Oh, I’m just contemplating....
Burr had connection to local region
The political history of the U.S. is filled with a variety of scoundrels, although few rise to the blatant level of today. One of the nation’s earliest such political scoundrels had a slight connection to this region of the South. His name was...
Burr had connection to local region
The political history of the U.S. is filled with a variety of scoundrels, although few rise to the blatant level of today. One of the nation’s earliest such political scoundrels had a slight connection to this region of the South. His name was...
A brief history of local churches
Often we think of some discovered building seen in our daily travels as simply a structure, but sometimes it is part of a long history. Along Highway 29 near the center of the county are a scattering of churches. Among the variety of denominations...
Christmas party at Alger Sullivan
Hello dear readers. In this note I take the role of one of our society’s past leaders who was well known for her weekly greetings and current news, in order to report on a special event. Last week the society held our annual December meeting and...
The problem is that we lack benches
It seems that there is a general decline of young folks in interest of our country’s past. Some think that Americans have become isolated through the use of the internet and social media. Personally, after much thought, it seems that the problem...
Asboth plays a part in the Civil War
An interesting period in the regional history of the panhandle is the few years during the War Between the States. Although events here merit little historical interest compared to many terrible events during this time, this region was a war area...
Footnotes on a little town called Century
A little town just south of the state line will soon celebrate its one hundred and twenty year anniversary. In the 1800s this area around the town was called Teaspoon, because early river travelers could identify the shoreline here due to its...
On the hunt with the treasure hunter
Escambia County’s premier educator at the end of the nineteenth century was Professor James M. Tate. After he retired about 1914, he wrote several articles about his loved community for a Pensacola newspaper. Some of his early contributions...
J.M. Tate was a truly remarkable man
At one time in Escambia County, Florida, schools were titled with the names of outstanding members of the community, people considered role models. Today, with a need by local governments to not offend, or possibly due to the historical ignorance by...
Powelton had a history in Escambia (Fla.)
The history of the American Era of Escambia County in Florida is now almost two hundred years old. In the early years it is remembered that a few areas in the northern part of the county grew slowly as remote, self-sustaining woodland communities....
Sampley ran the mill; was member of I.O.O.F
At Century’s ASHS Museums treasures abound. Although the monetary value of almost everything here is minimal, the historical merit of many items cannot be measured because they offer unique windows to our past. One artifact placed on a glass shelf...
Coon's store survived the Great Depression
The Alger-Sullivan museums are over-packed with items that recall the history of Century and the surrounding area. Many of these are photos, some are pieces of machinery or tools, others only trinkets, but almost all of these things have a story...
The tale of how Blakeley came to be settled
Let’s take a little history trip, it is not far. A drive along the river roads of the northern part of Baldwin County will reveal many sites that mark points of our regional history. Just north of Spanish Fort is one of our many interesting histori...
County courthouses have regal history
A unique feature of the American landscape is the county courthouse. Take a trip along the old major highways and you will often find at the center of a county seat stands a large, old, sometimes overly elaborate courthouse. At first glance, you may...
Simple items hold a wealth of memories
I was digging around in a box of stuff the other day and came across my old high school class ring. My mind flashed to the people, cars, and places that I knew in those days and I thought it funny how something of little physical value can hold so...
An epitaph to the great Margaret Collier
It is with a sad heart that we announce the passing of our society's matriarch, Mrs. Margaret Collier. Mrs. Collier died after a long and notable life. Her careers included social worker, school...
Remebering a local hero named Fred Jones
In the later part of last year, I was notified that a close friend had passed away. He and I had met at work, developed a good relationship, and by the time that we retired often met for lunch with...