Historical marker describes Selma building built by freemasons in 1847

Smitherman Building Historical Marker

This week’s featured historical marker is the “JOSEPH T. SMITHERMAN HISTORIC BUILDING” marker in Selma, Alabama. The marker is located in front of the building at 109 Union Street in Selma.

This marker was erected by the Selma-Dallas County Historical Society in 1979. There’s text on both sides of this marker, but both sides are identical. What follows is the complete text from the marker.

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“JOSEPH T. SMITHERMAN HISTORIC BUILDING: Central Masonic Institute of Alabama acquired property 1847 and erected building. Confederate Hospital during War Between the States. Dallas County Courthouse (1866-1901) on removal of County Seat from Cahaba. Presbyterian High School for Boys in early 1900s. Acquired by Vaughan Estate 1904. Vaughan Memorial Hospital (1911-1960) in memory of Samuel Watkins Vaughan, M.D. City of Selma under Mayor Joseph T. Smitherman purchased property 1969. Dallas County & City restored original structure 1973. Building renamed Joseph T. Smitherman Historic Building April 9, 1979. ERECTED 1979 BY THE SELMA-DALLAS COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY.”

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I encountered this historical marker during a historic walking tour of Selma that I took several months ago. Selma is said to have the largest historic district of any city in the state, and there are a number of historical markers like the one above scattered around the city. If you ever get the chance to take the historic walking tour of Selma, I recommend that you do so. It’s pretty cool.

The Smitherman Building dominates the end of Union Street and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1975. I think it’s interesting that the building was originally constructed in 1847 by the members of Selma Fraternal Lodge No. 27 for use as a school for orphans and the children of Masons. Selma Fraternal Lodge No. 27 no longer exists, but Selma Fraternal No. 926 is still going strong with a lodge building located not far from the Smitherman Building at 910 Water Ave. in Selma.

I didn’t actually go inside the Smitherman Building during my recent trip to Selma, but I plan to visit the building again some day because it’s the home of the Vaughan-Smitherman Museum. The museum contains displays of Civil War items and old documents (including a pardon signed by Abraham Lincoln four days before his death). The museum’s entire third floor has also been restored to the way it looked when the building functioned as a hospital in the 1800s. For more information, visit http://www.selma-al.gov/buildings/vaughan_smitherman.html.

Also, as you might have guess about a building this old, it’s reputed to be haunted. Listed among the 59 locations detailed in “Haunted Alabama Black Belt” by David Higdon and Brett Talley, the Smitherman Building was also included on Alabama Front Porches’ “Ghost Trail.” Other Selma locations mentioned in “Haunted Alabama Black Belt” included the Baker House, Brownstone Manor, Kenan’s Mill, the Old Depot Museum, the St. James Hotel, Sturdivant Hall, the Tally Ho Restaurant and Weaver Castle.

In the end, visit this site next Wednesday to learn about another historical marker. I’m also taking suggestions from the reading audience, so if you know of an interesting historical marker that you’d like me to feature, let me know in the comments section below.