1937: Difference between revisions

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[[File:TCI guard at Wenonah.jpg|right|thumb|450px|A [[Tennessee Coal, Iron & Railroad Company]] guard stands watch over the mining village of [[Wenonah]] in 1937. Photograph by Arthur Rothstein for the Farm Security Administration]].
'''1937''' was the 66th year after the founding of the City of [[Birmingham]].
'''1937''' was the 66th year after the founding of the City of [[Birmingham]].


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* [[August 30]]: A "Reunion of Former Slaves" was held at [[Avondale Park]], featuring sing-alongs and sermons.
* [[August 30]]: A "Reunion of Former Slaves" was held at [[Avondale Park]], featuring sing-alongs and sermons.
* [[October 15]]: The [[1937 Mulga Mine explosion]] cost 34 workers their lives.
* [[October 15]]: The [[1937 Mulga Mine explosion]] cost 34 workers their lives.
* October 15: The [[Elyton Civic Club]] opened the [[Elyton Community Center]] in a renovated house.
* [[Montgomery Highway]] was improved, utilizing sections of [[Independence Drive|East Avenue]] with gentler grades and curves on the slopes of [[Shades Mountain]], and leaving bits of "[[Old Montgomery Highway]]" off of the main route.
* [[Montgomery Highway]] was improved, utilizing sections of [[Independence Drive|East Avenue]] with gentler grades and curves on the slopes of [[Shades Mountain]], and leaving bits of "[[Old Montgomery Highway]]" off of the main route.
* The [[Revolutionary War Veterans Memorial]] was moved to [[Linn Park|Woodrow Wilson Park]] from [[Five Points Circle]].
* The [[Revolutionary War Veterans Memorial]] was moved to [[Linn Park|Woodrow Wilson Park]] from [[Five Points Circle]].
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* [[William Leslie Welton]]'s collection of 1,500 mounted photographs of architectural subjects was donated to the [[Birmingham Public Library]] by his widow.
* [[William Leslie Welton]]'s collection of 1,500 mounted photographs of architectural subjects was donated to the [[Birmingham Public Library]] by his widow.
* [[Hosea Hudson]] founded the [[Right to Vote Club]] to educate black citizens about their voting rights and coordinate efforts to defeat practices set up by poll workers to disenfranchise them.
* [[Hosea Hudson]] founded the [[Right to Vote Club]] to educate black citizens about their voting rights and coordinate efforts to defeat practices set up by poll workers to disenfranchise them.
* A new cluster of [[Live oak]]s was planted at [[Toomer's Corner]] in [[Auburn]].
* The [[Periclean Club]] hosted an appearance by author and activist James Weldon Johnson at [[16th Street Baptist Church]].
* The "[[Alabama waterdog]]" (''Necturus alabamensis'') was first described as a species by biologist Percy Viosca.
* The [[Southern Negro Youth Congress]] was founded in Richmond, Virginia.


===Business===
===Business===
* The [[Tennessee Coal, Iron & Railroad Company]] recognized the [[International Union of Mine, Mill and Smelter Workers Local No. 123]] under pressure from the National Labor Relations Board.
* The [[Southern Natural Gas Company]] acquired the [[Alabama Gas Company]] and the [[Birmingham Gas Company]].
* The [[Southern Natural Gas Company]] acquired the [[Alabama Gas Company]] and the [[Birmingham Gas Company]].
* [[A. L. Gilliland]]'s [[Alabama Ride Company]] debuted a new touring carnival, dubbed the, "Garden of Rides and Congress of Dare Devils."
* [[A. L. Gilliland]]'s [[Alabama Ride Company]] debuted a new touring carnival, dubbed the, "Garden of Rides and Congress of Dare Devils."
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* [[Parisian]] department store moved into the renovated [[Caheen Building]] and adjoining [[Roden Block]] at [[20th Street North|20th Street]] and [[2nd Avenue North]].
* [[Parisian]] department store moved into the renovated [[Caheen Building]] and adjoining [[Roden Block]] at [[20th Street North|20th Street]] and [[2nd Avenue North]].
* [[Ed Norton]] and [[Thad Holt]] purchased [[WAPI-AM]] and boosted its broadcast power to 50,000 Watts.
* [[Ed Norton]] and [[Thad Holt]] purchased [[WAPI-AM]] and boosted its broadcast power to 50,000 Watts.
* [[Mercer Grayson]] opened [[Grayson's Spinning Wheel|Grayson's Delicious Ice Cream]].
* [[Huffstutler's Hardware]] moved from [[18th Street Homewood]] to [[29th Avenue South]].
* [[Huffstutler's Hardware]] moved from [[18th Street Homewood]] to [[29th Avenue South]].
* The [[Little Southerner Supper Club]] opened on [[29th Avenue South]].
* The [[Little Southerner Supper Club]] opened on [[29th Avenue South]].
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* [[Bob Williams]] opened the [[Little Savoy Cafe]].
* [[Bob Williams]] opened the [[Little Savoy Cafe]].
* [[Jane Speed's Book Store]] opened on [[5th Avenue North]].
* [[Jane Speed's Book Store]] opened on [[5th Avenue North]].
* The [[New Florence Hotel]] reopened at 406½ [[18th Street North]].
* [[John Gazes]] opened the [[War Eagle Supper Club]] in [[Auburn]].
* [[Johnny Cassimus]] opened the [[Windsor Castle Restaurant]].


===Education===
===Education===
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* The [[Alabama State Training School for Girls]] opened on the former "[[Matsuyama]]" estate in [[Chalkville]].
* The [[Alabama State Training School for Girls]] opened on the former "[[Matsuyama]]" estate in [[Chalkville]].
* [[Ullman High School]] was created from the former [[Ullman School|Ullman Grammar School]].
* [[Ullman High School]] was created from the former [[Ullman School|Ullman Grammar School]].
* [[Charles Glenn]] served a term as president of the National Education Association.
* [[Stillman College|Stillman Institute]] was accredited as a junior college.


===Government===
===Government===
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* The [[Alabama State Legislature]] passed a law allowing public entertainments to be staged in [[Jefferson County]] on Sundays. (Birmingham already had an exemption to the [[blue laws]]).
* The [[Alabama State Legislature]] passed a law allowing public entertainments to be staged in [[Jefferson County]] on Sundays. (Birmingham already had an exemption to the [[blue laws]]).
* [[Richmond Hobson]] succeeded [[William Oliver]] as U.S. Representative for the [[6th District of Alabama]].
* [[Richmond Hobson]] succeeded [[William Oliver]] as U.S. Representative for the [[6th District of Alabama]].
* [[John Sparkman]] succeeded [[Archibald Carmichael]] as U.S. Representative for the [[8th District of Alabama]].
* [[Luther Patrick]] succeeded [[George Huddleston Sr]] as U.S. Representative for the [[9th District of Alabama]].
* [[Luther Patrick]] succeeded [[George Huddleston Sr]] as U.S. Representative for the [[9th District of Alabama]].
* The [[Birmingham City Commission]] relieved [[Birmingham Motion Picture Council]] chief inspector [[Harriett Adams]] of her responsibility to prohibit the screening of films which violated community standards.
* The [[Birmingham City Commission]] relieved [[Birmingham Motion Picture Council]] chief inspector [[Harriett Adams]] of her responsibility to prohibit the screening of films which violated community standards.
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* [[United Church of Birmingham]] merged with the [[Congregational Community Church]] to form [[Pilgrim Congregational Church]].
* [[United Church of Birmingham]] merged with the [[Congregational Community Church]] to form [[Pilgrim Congregational Church]].
* [[John Goodgame Jr]] succeeded his father as pastor of [[Sixth Avenue Baptist Church]].
* [[John Goodgame Jr]] succeeded his father as pastor of [[Sixth Avenue Baptist Church]].
* The [[Birmingham-Easonian Baptist Bible College]] moved from [[16th Street Baptist Church]] to its own building.


===Sports===
===Sports===
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* [[Satchel Paige]] recruited several Negro Leagues stars as ringers for "Los Dragones" of Ciudad de Trujillo, a baseball club owned by Dominican dictator Rafael Trujillo.
* [[Satchel Paige]] recruited several Negro Leagues stars as ringers for "Los Dragones" of Ciudad de Trujillo, a baseball club owned by Dominican dictator Rafael Trujillo.
* The [[1937 Alabama Crimson Tide football team]] won the [[Southeastern Conference]] championship, earning a spot in the 1938 Rose Bowl.
* The [[1937 Alabama Crimson Tide football team]] won the [[Southeastern Conference]] championship, earning a spot in the 1938 Rose Bowl.
* Boxer [[Petey Sarron]] suffered his only knockout, unsuccessfully defending his featherweight belt from challenger Henry Armstrong.
* [[1937 Legion Field schedule]]


==Works==
==Works==
[[File:Harpers Magazine Aug 1937.jpg|right|thumb|175px|Harper's Magazine cover with the feature, "Birmingham, Alabama: The City of Perpetual Promise"]]
* ''[[Black Earth]]'', novel by [[Thomas Rowan]]
* ''[[Black Earth]]'', novel by [[Thomas Rowan]]
* ''Somewhere to Be Had'', collected columns by [[Raimundo de Ovies]]
* "For My People", poem by [[Margaret Walker]]
* "For My People", poem by [[Margaret Walker]]
* "[[Birmingham, Alabama: The City of Perpetual Promise]]", ''Harpers Magazine'' feature by [[George Leighton]]
* "[[Birmingham, Alabama: The City of Perpetual Promise]]", ''Harpers Magazine'' (August 1937) feature by [[George Leighton]]
* [[Carrie Hill]] completed the "[[Storybook mural]]" at [[East Lake Library]].
* [[Richard Blauvelt Coe]] began painting the [[Sidney van Sheck]]-designed mural "[[Youth's Strife in the Approach to Life's Problems]]" on the proscenium of [[Woodlawn High School]]'s auditorium.
* [[Richard Blauvelt Coe]] began painting the [[Sidney van Sheck]]-designed mural "[[Youth's Strife in the Approach to Life's Problems]]" on the proscenium of [[Woodlawn High School]]'s auditorium.
* The [[WPA Writers Project]] published an indexed typescript of [[Mary Gordon Duffee]]'s ''[[Sketches of Alabama]]''.


===Buildings===
===Buildings===
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* [[S. H. Kress & Company Building]]
* [[S. H. Kress & Company Building]]
* [[Caheen Building]] and [[Roden Block]] renovations for [[Parisian]].
* [[Caheen Building]] and [[Roden Block]] renovations for [[Parisian]].
* Auditorium and classroom addition at [[Springville High School]].
* [[Works Progress Administration]] projects:
* [[Works Progress Administration]] projects:
** [[Alabama State Training School for Girls]]
** [[Birmingham Jail]]
** [[Birmingham Jail]]
** temporary classrooms at [[Glen Iris Elementary School]]
** [[Locust Fork High School]]
** [[Locust Fork High School]]
** [[Mortimer Jordan High School]] gymnasium
** [[Mortimer Jordan High School]] gymnasium
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===Music===
===Music===
* [[Bogan's Birmingham Busters]] recorded a handful of singles on the Vocalian label in Birmingham.
* [[Erskine Hawkins]] signed a record contract with RCA Victor's Bluebird label.
* [[Erskine Hawkins]] signed a record contract with RCA Victor's Bluebird label.
* [[Hank Penny]] formed the [[Radio Cowboys]] swing band.
* [[Hank Penny]] formed the [[Radio Cowboys]] swing band.
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* [[Stanleigh Malotte]] began his tenure as house organist at the [[Alabama Theatre]].
* [[Stanleigh Malotte]] began his tenure as house organist at the [[Alabama Theatre]].
* [[Alf Brown]] succeeded [[B. O. Hargrove]] as [[Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service#Chiefs|Chief]] of the [[Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service|Birmingham Fire Department]].
* [[Alf Brown]] succeeded [[B. O. Hargrove]] as [[Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service#Chiefs|Chief]] of the [[Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service|Birmingham Fire Department]].
* [[Harvie Branscomb]] was made chair of the Division of Ancient Languages and Literatures at the Duke University School of Divinity.
* [[Arthur Shores]] was admitted to the [[Alabama State Bar]].
* [[Richard Foster]] succeeded [[George Denny]] as [[List of University of Alabama presidents|president]] of the [[University of Alabama]].
* [[Guy Snavely]] resigned from [[Birmingham-Southern College]] to become executive director of the Association of American Colleges and Universities.
* Architect [[Lawrence Whitten]] joined the firm of [[Charles McCauley & Associates]].
* [[Coleman Hudson]] resigned from the [[Tutwiler Hotel]] to manage the Bentley Hotel in Alexandria, Louisiana.
* [[Carl Bottenfield]] was made general superintendent of the [[Tennessee Coal, Iron & Railroad Company]]'s newly-built [[Fairfield Tin Mill]].


===Births===
===Births===
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* [[February 22]]: [[Sid Ingram]], school administrator
* [[February 22]]: [[Sid Ingram]], school administrator
* [[April 12]]: [[J. D. Weeks]], health officer and author
* [[April 12]]: [[J. D. Weeks]], health officer and author
* [[April 27]]: [[Robert Kaufmann]], antiquarian and art librarian
* [[June 1]]: [[Ellen Simonton]], interior designer
* [[June 1]]: [[Ellen Simonton]], interior designer
* [[June 2]]: [[Jimmy Jones (singer)|Jimmy Jones]], R&B singer
* [[June 2]]: [[Jimmy Jones (singer)|Jimmy Jones]], R&B singer
* [[June 8]]: [[Joe Grzenda]], baseball pitcher
* [[June 18]]: [[Gail Godwin]], novelist
* [[June 18]]: [[Gail Godwin]], novelist
* [[July 2]]: [[Polly Holliday]], actor
* [[July 2]]: [[Polly Holliday]], actor
* [[July 31]]: [[T. C. Cannon]] bar owner
* [[July 31]]: [[T. C. Cannon]] bar owner
* [[August 13]]: [[Charles Crowder]], judge
* [[August 13]]: [[Charles Crowder]], judge
* [[August 25]]: [[Aubrey Edwards]], music minister
* [[August 29]]: [[Robert Slaughter]], gastroenterologist
* [[September 27]]: [[Billy Jack Holcombe]], musician and business owner
* [[October 5]]: [[Delores Hodgens Howard]], pianist and educator
* [[October 20]]: [[William Cobb]], novelist
* [[October 20]]: [[William Cobb]], novelist
* [[October 27]]: [[Alma Powell]], speech pathologist
* [[December 1]]: [[William F. Walker]], president of [[Auburn University]]
* [[December 3]]: [[Bobby Allison]], race car driver
* [[December 3]]: [[Bobby Allison]], race car driver
* [[December 26]]: [[Gene Ubriaco]], hockey player and coach
* [[Martin Bell]], private investigator and Episcopal priest
* [[Martin Bell]], private investigator and Episcopal priest
* [[Keith Blayney]], [[UAB]] administrator
* [[Keith Blayney]], [[UAB]] administrator
* [[Ed Boutwell]], recording studio owner
* [[Ed Boutwell]], recording studio owner
* [[Jane Comer]], owner of [[The Elegant Earth]]
* [[Jane Comer]], owner of [[The Elegant Earth]]
* [[Jim Douglass]], author and activist
* [[George Ellis]], art historian and museum director
* [[Thomas Hearn]], president of Wake Forest University
* [[Thomas Hearn]], president of Wake Forest University
* [[Burl Lawson]], furniture designer
* [[Burl Lawson]], furniture designer
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* [[Rex Shotts]], electrician
* [[Rex Shotts]], electrician
* [[Edna Snow]], [[Homewood City Schools]] administrator
* [[Edna Snow]], [[Homewood City Schools]] administrator
* [[Wayne Spradley]], mason and watercolorist
* [[Scott Vowell]], federal judge
* [[Cleve Wester]], [[Auburn Tigers football team|Auburn football player]] and tire dealer
* [[Cleve Wester]], [[Auburn Tigers football team|Auburn football player]] and tire dealer
* [[William Wilson]], Anglican bishop
* [[William Wilson]], Anglican bishop
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===Marriages===
===Marriages===
* [[October 9]]: [[Caroline Roberson|Caroline Allen]] to [[Lee Roberson]].
* [[Alice Chalifoux]] to John Gordon Rideout.
* [[Alice Chalifoux]] to John Gordon Rideout.


===Awards===
===Awards===
 
* [[Erskine Ramsay]] was awarded the William Lawrence Saunders Gold Medal of the American Institute of Mining and Metallurgical Engineers.


===Graduations===
===Graduations===
* [[Aaron Aronov]] graduated from Sidney Lanier High School.
* [[Virginia Pounds Brown]] graduated from Randolph-Macon Woman's College.
* [[Kenneth Daniel]] earned an engineering degree at the [[University of Alabama]].
* [[Kenneth Daniel]] earned an engineering degree at the [[University of Alabama]].
* [[Jessie Hale Downs]] earned a teaching certificate at [[Livingston State Teacher's College]].
* [[Jessie Hale Downs]] earned a teaching certificate at [[Livingston State Teacher's College]].
* [[Marvin Harper]] graduated from [[Tuscaloosa County High School]].
* [[Marvin Harper]] graduated from [[Tuscaloosa County High School]].
* [[James Martin]] graduated from the [[Birmingham School of Law]].
* [[George Seibels]] earned a history degree at the University of Virginia.
* [[George Seibels]] earned a history degree at the University of Virginia.
* [[Barbara Dorough Thomas]] graduated from [[Birmingham-Southern College]].
* [[Barbara Dorough Thomas]] graduated from [[Birmingham-Southern College]].
* [[Evelyn Williams]] graduated from [[Ensley High School]].
* [[Evelyn Williams]] graduated from [[Ensley High School]].
* [[Richard S. Woodruff]] earned his bachelor's in engineering at the [[University of Alabama]].


===Deaths===
===Deaths===
* [[January 24]]: [[J. M. P. Otts Jr]], investment banker
* [[April 17]]: [[Bill Foxen]], pitcher
* May: [[Leon Friedman]], ''[[Birmingham News]]'' editor
* May: [[Leon Friedman]], ''[[Birmingham News]]'' editor
* [[May 30]]: [[Russel Luquire]], president of the [[Family Reserve Insurance Company]]
* [[September 26]]: [[Bessie Smith]], blues singer
* [[October 15]]: 15 workers died in the [[1937 Mulga Mine explosion]].
* [[October 15]]: 15 workers died in the [[1937 Mulga Mine explosion]].
* [[November 17]]: [[Charles Rice]], former [[Mayor of Homewood]]
* [[December 9]]: [[Frances Nimmo Greene]] author
* [[Edna Gockel Gussen]], music educator
* [[Edna Gockel Gussen]], music educator
* [[M. D. Smith Jr]], owner of [[WBRC-AM]].
* [[M. D. Smith Jr]], owner of [[WBRC-AM]].

Revision as of 17:22, 7 May 2019

A Tennessee Coal, Iron & Railroad Company guard stands watch over the mining village of Wenonah in 1937. Photograph by Arthur Rothstein for the Farm Security Administration

.

1937 was the 66th year after the founding of the City of Birmingham.

Events

Business

Education

Government

Religion

Sports

Works

Harper's Magazine cover with the feature, "Birmingham, Alabama: The City of Perpetual Promise"

Buildings

Demolitions

Movies

Music

Individuals

Births

Marriages


Awards

  • Erskine Ramsay was awarded the William Lawrence Saunders Gold Medal of the American Institute of Mining and Metallurgical Engineers.

Graduations

Deaths


1930s
<< 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 >>
Births - Deaths - Establishments - Events - Works
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