Go East, Young Man. Then Go West.
Posted on September 2, 2010 by bob in AroundMtgy
The Western Railway of Alabama developed from a plan to build a railroad line going East. Geographic irony aside, the plan, as envisioned in 1832, was to build a rail line from Montgomery to the Chattahoochee River. Two years later the plan was modified to move the eastern end of the line further east, across the river to West Point, Georgia. Eight years later, after a host of financial issues, rails stretched from the Capital City eastward, but only a dozen miles. Not a good sign for those waiting on completion of the rails to carry goods and passengers.
Eleven years later, overcoming even more financial roadblocks, the connection with West Point was completed. Thus, the re-organized Montgomery and West Point Railroad was finished. But not for long. Columbus, Georgia was connected to the line in 1856.
Having linked Montgomery with its Eastern neighbors, sights were set on moving westward and a new entity emerged; the Western Rail Road Company of Alabama. By 1870, a rail line to Selma was established.
This high-relief marker in the photograph graces the corner of the building that once held offices for the Western Railway of Alabama. As you can see, the building was erected in 1898, but in a masterful stroke of historical preservation and modern adaptation, it now holds offices more suitable to loading bases than loading freight. The transformation was a real team effort and a home run for the city.
In an on-going salute to the still-viable rail system that traverses our city, passing trains, with their noisy horns raising a ruckus, come within sight of this structure, and their passage has been incorporated into the family-friendly surroundings of the building’s new incarnation.
I’ll bet you a doughnut to a biscuit you know exactly where this is. If you do, take a photo of yourself near the sign and e-mail it to primemontgomery@gmail.com. Your photo could be in a future issue of Prime Montgomery.
(Special thanks to Carole King at Old Alabama Town for suggesting this location.)
