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...
Ask McGehee: Bankhead Tunnel
Ironically, the tunnel was named for a family that never lived in Mobile. And Tallulah had nothing to do with its construction....