Tag: History
The Black Warrior Affair
In the winter of 1854, a steamer out of Mobile sparked a diplomatic incident that threatened war between the United States and Spain over Cuba.
The Lost Boys of Mardi Gras
For decades, the Catholic Boys Home in Mobile fielded the most entertaining marching band in Mardi Gras.
Lost at Sea: The Men of SS Azalea City
In February 1942, a merchant vessel with a Mobile connection disappeared without a trace.
A Little Garden of Eden
Historian John Sledge leads us on a stroll through the streets of Spanish Mobile.
Ask McGehee: What’s the story behind Downtown’s long-forgotten St. Andrew Hotel?
Like other hotels in Mobile, the St. Andrew flourished during severe housing shortages during World War II.
Ask McGehee: What’s the history of the Catholic Church that is closed on Springhill...
St. Joseph’s Church was dedicated in 1908 and has been vacant since 2018. The parish itself has a much longer history, however.
George Gauld: A Man of Ability
Maritime historian John S. Sledge recounts the story of a Scottish cartographer’s 18th-century visit to Mobile Bay and the stunning map it yielded.
Ask McGehee: What’s the history of the fountain in Bienville Square?
Historian Tom McGehee explores the history of the Ketchum fountain that was recently removed from Bienville Square for restoration.
Signs of the Time
Pick apart a 1920s-era photograph of a gang of local youths outside a corner grocery store.
Ask McGehee: What is the history of the lost waterfront resort Frascati?
In 1866, Henry Nabring, an owner of the Battle House Hotel, purchased a 15-acre site at the end of Conception Street and dubbed it Frascati.
