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| 'University of Alabama ' historical marker. |
This week’s featured historical marker is the “UNIVERSITY OF
ALABAMA” marker in Tuscaloosa County, Ala. This marker is located just off
University Boulevard, behind the Denny Chimes clock tower, on The Quad on the
campus of the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa.
This marker was erected in 1986 by the Alabama Historical
Association. There’s text on both sides of the marker, but both sides are
identical. What follows in the complete text from the marker:
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“UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA: Endowed by Congress 1819, Ordained
by State Constitution 1819, And established by General Assembly 1820,
Instruction Begun 1831, Unofficial Training School Confederate Officers
1861-65, Destroyed by Federal Army April 4, 1865, Rebuilding Begun 1867 and
Reopened 1868.”
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| 'Madison Hall' historical marker. |
The marker described above is just one of many located on
The Quad at the University of Alabama, including several related to the
university’s Civil War history. A short walk from the marker above, you’ll find
a smaller marker located near a small stack of bricks, which is all that
remains of Madison Hall. That marker reads as follows – “THE UNIVERSITY OF
ALABAMA - Madison Hall - This plinth identifies the southeast corner of Madison
Hall, constructed in the late 1850s. Madison Hall was used for classrooms,
administration offices, dining and as a residence hall. It was destroyed when
the Union army burned the campus in April 1865. This site was excavated in 1975
as part of the University’s Bicentennial.”
A short walk from that marker will bring you to the front
steps of the Gorgas Library and if you face those steps and look to the left,
you’ll see a plaque set into the side of the steps that reads as follows –
“ROTUNDA PLAZA: The Rotunda Plaza is dedicated to John H. and Carolyn Cobb Josey
(Classes of 1950 and 1951, respectively), in recognition of the establishment
in 1992 of the John H. and Carolyn Cobb Josey Library Endowment Fund, ensuring
continued excellence of library and information services to the University of
Alabama. The flagstones embedded in this plaza mark the original foundations of
the rotunda, which housed the first library of the University of Alabama, and
which on April 4, 1865 was burned by federal troops. Rediscovered and excavated
in 1984, the foundations symbolize the link between the library’s past and its
future.”
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| '1861-1865' stone historical marker. |
From there, walking back toward Denny Chimes, you’ll also
encounter a large stone monument that features a large plaque that reads as
follows – “1861-1865: The University of Alabama gave to the Confederacy - 7
General Officers, 25 Colonels, 14 Lieutenant Colonels, 21 Majors, 125 Captains,
273 Staff and other commissioned officers, 66 Non-Commissioned Officers and 294
Private Soldiers. Recognizing obedience to state, they loyally and
uncomplainingly met the call of duty, in numberless instances sealing their
devotion by their life blood.
“And on April 3, 1865, the Cadet Corps, composed wholly of
boys, went bravely forth to repel a veteran Federal invading foe, of many times
their number, in a vain effort to save their Alma Mater, its buildings, library
and laboratories from destruction by fire, which it met at the hands of the
enemy on the day following.
“To Commemorate this heroic record this memorial stone is
erected by the Alabama Division, United Daughters of the Confederacy.
University of Alabama, May 13, 1914.”
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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