Sheffield, Alabama

LINK TO SHEFFIELD

Hey, SHS Class of Fifty-Sixers!

Did you know that back in 2006, Carole Driskell, sister-in-law of our classmate Wallace Driskell and secretary to the Mayor, arranged for the Mayor and the City Council of Sheffield to proclaim June 2-3 "SHS Class of '56 Days" just for our reunion.

Now, Mayor Billy Don Anderson needs our help!

He inaugurated Founders' Day in Sheffield a year ago, and the 2nd annual event is coming up May 13, 2006.  His goal is to recognize all 33 men who have been mayor of Sheffield since its founding in 1885 by mounting their portraits or images in the conference room on the second floor of the Municipal Building.  Back before the reunion, Carole Driskell, his secretary and sister-in-law of our classmate, Wallace Driskell, contacted us to request that we help locate the seven mayors whose pictures had not been found prior to the 2006 Founders' Day.

There's news to report on this hunt.  Carole has located two of these men with the help of Sheffield historian, Richard Sheridan, and is now hot on the trail of another.  Here's what she had to say:

Sunday, August 27, 2006

Louis,

I was browsing in the website and saw a couple of things I wanted to tell you about.  First we are on the trail of three more former Mayors of Sheffield:

1.  Mr. Richard Sheridan, Sheffield Historian, found a picture in the Florence Library that was taken of a group of men from the tri-cities (at that time) area.  There were four former Mayors of Sheffield.  I had two of them but there were two others that I did not have:  Allen J. Roulhac and Sam Cooke.  He was able to borrow the picture and take it to Allegro Printing & Graphics on Montgomery Avenue in Sheffield and they are working on the pictures now to enlarge the faces.

2.  Mr. Sheridan also told me that Morris Mead (deceased), who was a former member of First Baptist Church of Sheffield was related to C.T. Morris, the second Mayor of Sheffield.  Charlie Morris Mead graduated with my husband Paul at SHS in 1958.  I called Charlie Morris this week and he is looking through the old family pictures in hopes of finding his great, great grandfather.

I'll let you know when I get the pictures.

Thanks for all the new information on the website.

It was great meeting you.  Hope to see you again when you are in town.

Carole Driskell

Now she needs our help locating the pictures of the remaining four mayors.  If you have one of C.T. Morris and can find it before Charlie Morris Mead locates his, feel free to get in the race.

 

     
The Wall of Mayors                          Hon. George T. McGregor, 

Municipal Building, Sheffield                               Mayor, 1890            

 

 

MISSING MAYORS OF SHEFFIELD

C. T. Morris

(CLOSING IN)  1887-1889

Thomas B. Woodard

1895-1898

W. R. Weston

1909-1910

R. H. Wilhoyte

1910-1912

W. H. Habbler

1915-1916

Sam Cooke

(FOUND)      1916-1917

1920-1923

A. J. Roulhac

(FOUND)      1917-1920

If you know these men or someone who does, or if you have a photograph, portrait, drawing or painting of any of them, call

Carole Driskell, Secretary to the Mayor

Sheffield, Alabama

(256) 383-0250 (VOX)

(256) 386-5602 (FAX)

or mail to P. O. Drawer Q

The Municipal Building, seat of Sheffield government, is a 1926 total extreme make-over of the old unfinished 1890 City Hall.  Renovated in 1986, it has been brought into the modern era while retaining the handsome stone and yellow brick exterior that we remember from our youth where we learned our dances in the youth center housed on the first floor just above the jail in the basement.

Mayor Anderson has fixed the clock over the front entrance so that it now gives you the accurate time of day every hour, not just twice a day, according to Carole Driskell.

The building will become a showcase of Sheffield history as well as accomplishments of its citizens, and the Mayor wants your help with this project, too.  

Do you own a piece of Sheffield history?  Early photographs, objects of historical significance, journals, ledgers, handbills and other memorabilia that tell the story of an earlier Sheffield are wanted for the public displays that are planned for the second floor.  Consider donating these items or making a loan of the material to the city.

Are you published?  Have you authored books or significant professional journal articles?  Have you written plays for theater, collections of poetry, essays or fiction?  The city wants signed copies of your published material for display in the Municipal Building.