1947

1947 was the 76th year after the founding of the city of Birmingham.

Events

• June 26: The 1947 Dairy Month Parade was held in downtown Birmingham.
• The Alabama State Fair Authority was established by the Alabama Legislature as a successor to the Alabama State Fair & Exhibit Association.
• The North American Numbering Plan went into effect, giving Alabama the 205 area code.
• The Birmingham Children's Theatre was founded.
• Fultondale was incorporated.
• Mulga was incorporated.
• Trussville was incorporated.

Business

• The Birmingham Electric Company began using "streamlined" PCC-type streetcars.
• Busch's Jewelers purchased Brackin's.

Establishments

• Belcher Evans Millwork was founded.
• Cobb Theatres was founded.
• The College Theatre opened in East Lake.
• Newman Waters opened the Downtown Club.
• Goodwyn, Mills & Cawood was founded.
• Gus's Hot Dogs opened on 4th Avenue North.
• Induron Protective Coatings was founded.
• Raymond's Five Points Market opened.
• Roy Lumber opened in Bessemer.

Education

• John Carroll Catholic High School opened.
• Wenonah Elementary School opened.

Media

• WVOK-AM went on the air.

Religion

• Garywood Assembly of God was founded as El Bethel Assembly of God.
• Trinity United Methodist Church began holding services in an army chapel building bought as surplus from Camp Sibert near Gadsden.

Individuals

Births

Emmylou Harris

• January 4: Tim Rooney actor / voice actor
• February 1: Ira Chaffin, sculptor and hotel keeper
• February 2: Henry Lovoy, vocalist
• February 4: Wallace Potts, film director / screenwriter / archivist.
• February 11: Roy Moore, Alabama Supreme Court chief justice
• February 22: Richard North Patterson, attorney / novelist
• February 23: George Curry, newspaper columnist
• March 1: Tom Hinson, accountant / embezzler
• March 11: Pat Morrow, high school band director
• March 22: Lamar Green, professional basketball player
• April 2: Emmylou Harris, singer / songwriter
• April 21: Barbara Park, children's author
• April 24: Ann Kelley, vocalist
• May 4: Dick Pigford, architect
• May 12: Patrick Cather, publisher and book collector
• May 18: Gail Strickland, actor
• June 7: Eric Wieschaus, Nobel prize-winning biologist
• June 13: Richmond Flowers Jr, professional football player
• June 18: Sandy Posey, vocalist
• July 3: Mickey Rooney Jr, actor / musician / television producer
• July 23: John Katopodis, Birmingham City Council member
• August 13: Dowd Ritter, CEO of Regions Bank
• October 26: Wade Black, director of the Birmingham Pledge Foundation
• November 18: Saleh "Sol" Bajalieh, restaurateur
• December 7: Garry Unger professional hockey player / coach
• December 28: Spencer Bachus, former U.S. Representative
• Leroy Bandy, Birmingham City Council member
• [[Bill Billits], Graysville City Council member
• Sandra Brown, Birmingham Board of Education member
• Tom Cosby, development director
• Edward Crenshaw, Ramsay High School band director
• John Dedrick, Homewood City Schools administrator
• Scott Douglas, director of Greater Birmingham Ministries
• Carolyn Featheringill, attorney and law professor
• Elias Hendricks, Birmingham City Council member
• Rob Henrikson, CEO of MetLife
• Janet King, nurse
• Robert Luckie III, advertising executive
• Jerry McIntosh, Irondale Police Department chief
• Diane McNaron, cabaret singer
• Joe Meadow, Birmingham Zoo Express conductor
• Mona, Birmingham Zoo elephant
• Larry Naves, judge
• Fred Plump, firefighter and youth sports promoter
• Garth Potts, artist, Levite Jewish Community Center director
• Mike Rasmussen, attorney
• Johnny Robinson, victim of racial violence
• Susie, Birmingham Zoo elephant
• Gwen Sykes, Birmingham City Council member
• Barry Taylor, vocalist / building inspector
• Jack Trawick, murderer
• Jairo Vargas, newspaper publisher
• Ted vonCannon, industrial recruiter
• Bill Waites, Pleasant Grove Police and Fire Department chief
• Mike Warren, business executive
• Sam Wehby, real estate executive
• Ron Yarbrough, concessionaire

Deaths

• January 3: Lewis Barrett, newspaper publisher
• January 8: Dyer Talley, surgeon
• February 6: Oscar Spiegel, First Christian Church pastor
• April 17: Frank Hartley Anderson, architect / artist
• May 16: Robert Aland, founder of New Ideal department store
• July 15: Archibald Carmichael, U.S. Representative
• October 31: Robert Meyer, hotel owner

Works

Buildings

• Ans-O-Phone building on 6th Avenue North
• College Theatre in East Lake
• Crestline Heights Shopping Center in Crestline Village
• Edgewood Elementary School auditorium
• Exchange Bank Building on 20th Street South
• Home Baking Company renovations
• John Carroll Catholic High School
• Wenonah Elementary School
• WJLD building on Bessemer Super Highway

Context

1940s

<< 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 >>

Births - Deaths - Establishments - Events - Works