Museum Marks City’s Centennial

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By Chad Petri Reporter

M50o93H7pQ09L8X1t49cHY01Z5j4TT91fGfr Museum Marks City’s Centennial

Published: Fri, February 22, 2008 - 5:59 am

Chad Petri

The first thing you see when you wander in is this car from the “People's Railroad.” It carted folks from the bay to downtown and back from 1914 to 1923.

“It really looks good,” says Museum Director Donnie Barrett. “We have it sitting up on railroad tracks and really has the feel of a railroad car.” The front of the museum contains artifacts like a big white pier house, but it's also an addition to the original Fairhope City Hall.

“We're taking the older part of the building and making it like 1928,” says Barrett. "Putting in the mayor's office, the fire truck bay the jail and the newer part of the building is being organized like a chronological museum.”

Fairhope was almost named "Alabama City." In 1840 French potters sold their work under that name. The real treat are original Fairhope jail cells. The iron gates may be refurbished but the markings on the wall were made by actual prisoners.

“We didn't touch it,” says Barrett. "All the graffiti and all is in there just like it was it some of the people's favorite thing to do is look at the writings on the wall and some of the cramped cells.”

With 5 weeks left until opening you'll see all these fire engine parts. They'll put a 1935 fire engine in an empty garage next to the Mayor’s office. It’s something for the kids to play with to make this place a little bit more interactive

“We're doing several things in this museum in fact that the kids can touch and feel,” says Barrett.
This area re-creates the old mayor's office. Each item inside was once used in city government. The museum was built with $1.5 million from the city, Single Tax corporation and Fairhope groups

“Fairhope single tax is extremely proud of the opportunity to cooperate with the city and with all these groups and kind of lead in the effort of getting this magnificent facility done” says corporation president Larry Thomas. The museum of Fairhope history opens April 5th.

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