Historical marker describes origins of Georgiana, important local theatre

Downtown Georgiana historical marker.

This week’s featured historical marker is the “CITY OF GEORGIANA / GA~ANA THEATRE” marker in Butler County, Alabama. This marker is located at the corner of Jones Street and East Railroad Avenue in downtown Georgiana.

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

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“CITY OF GEORGIANA FOUNDED IN 1855: Early settlers moved from Virginia, the Carolinas, Kentucky, Tennessee and Georgia into the deep forests of southern Butler County. In 1855, the Rev. Pitt S. Milner established a homestead and post office 16 miles south of Greenville that he named Georgiana in honor of his home state and daughter Anna. The Louisville & Nashville Railroad reached here on July 4, 1859. After the Civil War, cotton, corn, oats and sweet potatoes were grown for market. Georgiana flourished as a railroad hub, logging town and trade center in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Hank Williams, whose father was a logger, loved here from age 7 to 11.”

“GA~ANA THEATRE OPENED 1939: While watching Westerns at a Georgiana ‘picture show’ on Saturdays in 1931-34, young Hiram Williams developed a fondness for cowboy nicknames and clothing. After his family moved to Montgomery in 1936, he began calling himself ‘Hank.’ Fred McClendon opened the GA~ANA Theatre on Jan. 31, 1939. Eight months later, 16-year-old Hank performed here with his band, The Drifting Cowboys. The movie theatre closed in 1959 and was used for storage and a cabinet shop. When demolition was threatened in 1996, J.C. Sims purchased the theatre. It was renovated for movies and live performances and reopened in 1999.”

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Georgiana is one of the most interesting towns in Southwest Alabama, and if you ever get the chance to visit Georgiana, be sure to check out the Hank Williams Boyhood Home & Museum. Located just a short walk from the historical marker described above, this museum houses all sorts of Williams memorabilia and displays. This museum is definitely a “must see” for anyone who calls themselves a Hank Williams fan.

Also, while in Georgiana, be sure to check out the historic Milner Cemetery, which is located on Jane Ave., a short distance from the marker described above. Within the confines of this old cemetery, you’ll find the graves of Georgiana founder, Pitt S. Milner, as well as his daughter, Anna.

According to her headstone, Anna died in 1857, and I think I read somewhere that she drowned. I haven’t been able to find out much more about her, so if anyone out there has any details about her, please let me know. Her headstone, which doesn’t include her date of birth or exact date of death, was placed in the cemetery by the Georgiana Kiwanis Club in the 1970s.

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.