Life Aquatic
Dip into Mobile’s favorite water spots of the past.
Bay Stumpers
1. How many vehicles crossed the Cochrane Bridge on its first day? 2. When and where was the first modern street pavement...
Bay Stumpers: The Answers
Click here for the Bay Stumper questions. 1. Five hundred and fifty automobiles made the trek across the bridge. 2. Mayor...
Ask McGehee: A “Warehouse District” in Mobile?
While it was not officially called the warehouse district, there was, beginning in the 19th century, a small city of...
Shrimp Boat Revival
Skip Jones flips through a photo album of before-and-after pic-tures of the shrimp boat he has spent the past four years resurrecting. The...
Ask McGehee: What ever happened to the Bienville Hotel?
In 1900, it was announced that Mobile would soon have a new hotel on the northwest corner of St. Francis and St....
Ask McGehee: Mobile buildings had a lot more ironwork in years past. What...
In 1839, the popular architect Asher Benjamin recommended cast iron in his book, “The Builder’s Guide.” He noted its low cost...
Ask McGehee: The former Higgins Mortuary
The building had a storied past as both a social club and a mortuary. One of the most well-respected funeral homes, Higgins...
Port City (Trivial) Pursuit
1. Legend has it the Copeland outlaw gang buried ____________________ in water-proof kegs in Wragg Swamp, the name of the area where...
Ask McGehee: How has Santa Claus visited Mobile in the past?
Throughout the 19th century Santa developed from the Dutch tradition of a “jolly old elf” to the robust, bearded man described by...