Historical marker tells of how City of Atmore got its name in 1897

Historical marker in downtown Atmore, Ala.

This week’s featured historical marker is the “ATMORE, ALABAMA / WILLIAMS STATION, ALABAMA” marker in downtown Atmore, Alabama. The marker is located on the north side of U.S. Highway 31, just east of the intersection of U.S. Highway 31 and State Highway 21.

This marker was erected by the Alabama Tourism Department, the Atmore Area Chamber of Commerce and the City of Atmore in October 2010. There’s text on both sides of this marker, and both sides are different. What follows is the complete text from the marker.

----- 0 -----

“WILLIAMS STATION, ALABAMA, 1866-1897: Creek Indians lived in these parts some 200 years ago before trains began stopping here in 1866 to leave supplies for a farmer, William Larkin Williams, who lived nearby. Workers, who came first to build the railroads, were attracted by the vast forests of longleaf pine and rich farmland. As the settlement grew around Mr. Williams’ supply stop, it became known as Williams Station. Saw mills sprang up in this timber-rich area. Abundant resources for lumber and turpentine meant there was money to be made in Williams Station well before the land was cleared for cotton. In 1876, North Carolinian William Marshall Carney moved to the area from Mobile. During the next two decades, Williams Station grew in proportion to Carney’s various business interests. His generous philanthropic gifts helped build a school and three local churches. Because of Carney-generated growth and enthusiasm, residents thought the town deserved a name more refined than that of a mere railway whistle stop. In 1897, the town was renamed Atmore in honor of Charles Pawson Atmore.”

“ATMORE, ALABAMA: In 1897, town leaders wanted to change the name of Williams Station to Carney, in honor of William Marshall Carney, the man who had contributed greatly to the town’s growth. However, Mr. Carney’s brother had already started a settlement in Baldwin County and given it his family name. Having two towns with the same name so close together would create confusion. Determined to honor W.M. Carney, the leaders asked him to select the town’s new name. He honored his good friend, Charles Pawson Atmore, general passenger agent for the Louisville and Nashville Railroad in Louisville, Kentucky. According to the New York Times, C.P. Atmore died at age 66, on May 29, 1900. There is no record that he ever visited the little town named for him. On May 23, 1907, Atmore became an incorporated municipality. The town celebrated this centennial milestone at Heritage Park in May 2007.”

----- 0 -----

If you’re ever in the vicinity of Atmore, be sure to check out this historical marker. It’s located right beside an old railroad depot station and within a short walk of the town’s main street. Also, it’s only a few miles from the Florida state line and just a short drive from the large Creek Indian casino at Poarch.

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.