Historical marker tells of Hank Williams' Boyhood Home, Thigpen's Log Cabin

Hank Williams' Boyhood Home marker in Georgiana, Ala.

This week’s featured historical marker is the “HANK WILLIAMS’ BOYHOOD HOME – THIGPEN’S LOG CABIN” marker in Butler County, Ala. The marker is located in front of the Hank Williams Boyhood Home & Museum at 127 Rose St. in Georgiana, Ala.

This marker was erected by the Alabama Bureau of Tourism & Travel in 2006. There’s text on both sides of this marker, and both sides are different. What follows is the complete text from the marker.

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“HANK WILLIAMS’ BOYHOOD HOME: Hiram Williams lived in Georgiana from age 7 to 11. In 1931, Mrs. Lillie Williams moved Hiram and his sister Irene from rural Wilcox County to this house owned by Thaddeus B. Rose. When he was 8, his mother bought him a guitar for $3.50. Black street musician Rufus (Tee-Tot) Payne became his teacher. Hiram practiced guitar under the raised-cottage house and sang on the streets for tips. The family moved to Greenville in the fall of 1934 and then to Montgomery in 1937 where, at age 14, Hiram began calling himself ‘Hank.’”

“THIGPEN’S LOG CABIN POPULAR DANCE HALL: While still a teenager in the early 1940s, Hank Williams used his radio show on WSFA to promote ‘show dates’ at schools, theaters and honky-tonks in South Alabama. Fred Thigpen’s Log Cabin, which opened in 1931 a mile from Hank’s boyhood home, was one of the most popular dance halls. In 1992, Mayor Lynn Watson led the drive to buy the house for a museum. The city also relocated a portion of Thigpen’s to this site. With the help of fans and volunteers, the museum opened June 5, 1993. A park was created at the rear of the house for festivals. The house is listed on the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage.”

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Country music legend Hank Williams is arguably Alabama’s most famous native, and if you ever get the chance to visit the Hank Williams Boyhood Home & Museum, I highly recommend that you do so, especially if you’re a Hank Williams fan. The museum is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is $3 for adults and $2 for students. Children under six get in free.

The museum contains an impressive collection of all things Hank Williams, including guitars, clothing and hats belonging to Williams, concert posters, dozens of old photographs, paintings, original Williams albums and records, and framed newspaper stories and magazines featuring Williams. Also on display are several vintage radios, an old jukebox, Hank-themed quilts, model cars, statues of Hank, and a couple of cool, wooden Indians.

While you’re there, you can also check out “Thigpen’s Log Cabin,” which is on the museum grounds behind Hank’s boyhood home. For more information about the Hank Williams Sr. Boyhood Home & Museum, visit www.hankmuseum.com.

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.