Woke up early at Jaymees and we were out by 10am grabbing a much needed cup of coffee at starbucks. Jaymees breathes a tall cup every morning and just isnt the same without one. ha. We headed back downtown and the light was super bright today but freezing cold. Oh the winter and its odd weathers. We went to the Hank Williams museum and talked to Jeff for awhile about the amazing story of the father of rock n roll music (disputed with Elvis, ?) or at least creating that modern wave to country (the good country!). Jeff was super nice and talked to us for awhile on America and his love of Montgomery and its comeback downtown. We then went over the Rosa Parks museum and then to museum of tolerance and civil rights memorial. You cant not shed a tear when you go here and see the amazing strength of of the civil rights pioneers and those who lost their lives sadly. This is truly an awe inspiring exhibit. Please go if you can. We then went and talked to Shirley over at the Martin Luther King jr.s parsonage museum. She told us amazing things and was just cute as a button. We achieved all of these things pretty early in the morning, went back to Jaymees house and packed up in her ride (she is being super awesome and driving mr. Hailey around Alabama this week) and headed off to Birmingham (after meeting her lovely photographer friend Josh, the world is full of photo Joshs). We made it into the Magic city and Pittsburgs sister right as the sun was setting on the lovely downtown building. Checked into a hotel and went to meet up with friend of a friend Clay at his restaurant Little Savannah and had a lovely meal. We then went for drinks and called it an early night so we could get up tomorrow and shoot up Birmingham!
Another great post and series of photos, Josh. I was thrilled to see the three shots of that building with the clock on the corner. Once I found out more about it online, I got even more excited. Here’s what I found at the Web site for Klein and Son Jewelers: It was in 1923 that Klein and Son moved to the legendary building on Dexter Avenue and Court Square. The Italianate Landmark Building was designed by the architect of the Alabama State Capitol Building, Stephen D. Button, and is now an historical Landmark in downtown Montgomery. In the early 1920’s Klein and Son acquired the old Central Bank building and modified it’s windows and interiors. In 1930 Klein and Son purchased a large four faced street clock, placing it on the corner of Dexter Avenue and North Court street. The clock gradually became the time piece of downtown Montgomery and a symbol of the city.
It was the Italianate style that rang my bell because there are several buildings of that beautiful style in downtown Portland. Thanks for tying Montgomery to Portland for me!
Here’s a bit more about that great building, found at the Alabama Historical Association Marker Program Web site.
Central Bank Building
Designed by Philadelphia architect Stephen Decatur Button for William Knox, president of Central Bank of Alabama, this Renaissance Revival building emulated the Venetian palaces of the 16th century. Completed in 1856, it was praised by state newspapers as the first ironfront in Alabama. Central Bank, which generously supported the Confederacy, was bankrupt at the end of the Civil War. Other banks occupied the building until jewelers Klein and Son acquired and occupied it from 1923-1983. The building was restored for the Arts Council of Alabama in 1985.
[Court Square, Montogmery]
Well, I don’t mean to ignore the civil rights and Hank Williams stuff–informative, great photos, and that interview at the MLK JR parsonage museum must have been remarkable.
Can we see these videos you keep shooting anywhere online, Josh? I’m dying to know, honey!