1885

1885 was the 14th year after the founding of the City of Birmingham.

Events

• The community of Calera organized its first high school.
• The town of Morris was incorporated.
• Construction of the Highland Avenue Railroad began.
• Powell School graduated its first senior class.

Business

• March 26: Central Bank of Birmingham was founded by William Berney.
• J. Blach & Sons was founded by Julius Blach.
• The City Market was developed by George Raps.
• The Sloss Furnace Company was sold to investors by Colonel James Withers Sloss and became the Sloss Iron & Steel Company.

Religion

• April: The congregation of First Christian Church reorganized.
• Isaac Hochstadter became president of Temple Emanu-El.
• David Purser became pastor of First Baptist Church of Birmingham.
• Warrior Baptist Church and West End Baptist Church were founded.

Sports

• The Southern League of Professional Baseball Clubs was formed.

Works

Buildings

• Avondale Brewing Company building
• Berney National Bank building
• Cowart Drug Company Building
• McLester & Van Hoose warehouse

Individuals

• January 15: Samuel R. Truss became Jefferson County Sheriff.
• Isaac Beatty, Jr and his parents moved to Birmingham.
• Mary Cahalan became principal of the Free School.
• Russell Cunningham was hired by TCI to serve a physician and surgeon for the Ensley Works.
• Jabez Curry became the U.S. Ambassador to Spain.
• Charles Drennen and his family moved to Birmingham.
• F. A. Gafford became chief of the Birmingham Fire Department.
• John Inman became director of the L & N Mineral Railroad.
• Brothers L. Y., S. W. and H. P. Lipscomb settled in the area that would later bear their name.
• Photographer A. C. Oxford retired to Blount Springs.
• Attorney John Terry resigned from the practice of law.
• Architect W. W. Rose moved to Birmingham.
• William Weston and his immediate family emigrated to the United States.

Births

• May 27: Gus Jebeles, Birmingham Barons owner
• June 22: Martha Fort Anderson, artist
• August 10: Lonnie Noojin, coach
• December 1: Paul Pim, cartoonist
• Hugh A. Locke, attorney
• Alburto Throckmorton

Graduations

• Brother Bryan from University of North Carolina
• C. Travis Drennen from Rush Medical College
• Robert Thach from Alabama Polytechnic Institute

Marriages

• December 31: Businessman Tom Ashford to Susie Swoope.

Deaths

• Elizabeth Oliver

1880s

<< 1880 1881 1882 1883 1884 1885 1886 1887 1888 1889 >>

Births - Deaths - Establishments - Events - Works