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| 'Carrollton Short Line Railroad' Historical Marker |
This week’s featured historical marker is the “CARROLLTON
SHORT LINE RAILROAD” marker in Carrollton, Ala. The marker is located on the
south side of State Highway 86, which is also called Tuscaloosa Street, a short
walk from the courthouse square in downtown Carrollton.
This historical marker was erected by the Alabama Historical
Association in 2001. There’s text on both sides of this marker, but both sides
are the same. What follows is the complete text from the marker.
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“CARROLLTON SHORT LINE RAILROAD: The Mobile & Ohio
Railroad Company in 1897 announced plans to build a line from Artesia,
Mississippi through Pickens County to Tuscaloosa and on to Montgomery. Leading
citizens in Carrollton sought to persuade the company to bring the line through
the county seat, but M&O officials chose a route through Reform and Gordo
to ensure faster mail service as required by the U.S. postal service. Led by
W.G. Robertson, Judge O.L. McKinstry, E.R. Calhoun and M.L. Stansel, Carrollton
residents organized a corporation to build a railroad from their community to
Reform to connect there with the M&O. Called the ‘Carrollton Short Line,’
the track eventually was completed by Tuscaloosa entrepreneur John Taylor
Cochrane, who brought the first train into Carrollton in 1902. The depot was on
this site.
“Cochrane built the line steadily southward, establishing
the town of Aliceville (named for his wife, Alyce Searcy) along its route,
which eventually extended to Mobile. Rechristened the Alabama, Tennessee &
Northern Railroad soon after, Cochrane’s line prompted a social and economic
boom for Carrollton and Southwest Alabama. Vast timber holdings were tapped by
‘dummy lines’ connecting to the ‘Carrollton Short Line,’ creating many jobs to
boost the local economy. The line operated until June 29, 1976, when the last
train made its run.”
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I encountered this historical marker when I swung through
Carrollton a few months ago while on the way to Tuscaloosa. For years, I’d
wanted to see Carrollton’s famous “Face in the Court House Window,” and after I
saw that attraction, I proceeded on toward Tuscaloosa. A short distance from
the courthouse, I spotted the “Carrollton Short Line Railroad” marker, hopped
out of the truck and snapped a picture.
If you look closely at the picture above, you’ll see the Old
Pickens County Courthouse in the background. If you ever find yourself in
Carrollton, I highly recommend that you take a few minutes to see the “Face in
the Court House Window,” which is easy to find. In fact, if you look at the
north side of the building, you’ll see where a white highway sign has been
affixed to the building beside the attic window with a black arrow pointing to
the exact window pane that contains the ghostly image of a face.
I was actually somewhat shocked to see with the unaided eye
the famous ghostly image that I’ve always heard so much about. If you go there
and have trouble seeing it for yourself, try using the permanent set of pay
binoculars across the street from the courthouse on the northeast corner of
Tuscaloosa Street and Phoenix Avenue.
If you’re interested in reading more about this famous
courthouse and the “Face in the Courthouse Window,” be sure to check out “13
Alabama Ghosts and Jeffrey” by Kathryn Tucker Windham. I’d also direct you to
another great book with information on the subject, “Haunted Alabama Black
Belt” by David Higdon and Brett Talley. Published in 2013, “Haunted Alabama
Black Belt” contains details about the building you won’t find in Windham’s
book.
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.
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