Hoover in Jefferson County, Alabama — The American South (East South Central)
Brock’s Gap / Historic Gateway To Birmingham
The South and North Railroad Cut.
(Reverse):
Birmingham, the first industrial city in Alabama, developed around the intersection of the South and North Railroad with the Alabama and Chattanooga Railroad and was an important transportation center. It became a city of the New South following the ravages of the Civil War. Many destitute men rushed there to find work in the mines or on the railroads. The South and North Railroad became part of the L & N Railroad system. When L & N built the tunnel now in use under South Shades Crest Road, the old route became obsolete. This old railroad bed can still be seen on the opposite side of the road. The ground around the cut is littered with large blocks of stone cut from the mountain.
Erected by Birmingham - Jefferson Historical Society and the Linn - Henley Trust.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Railroads & Streetcars. A significant historical year for this entry is 1858.
Location. 33° 20.328′ N, 86° 52.47′ W. Marker is in Hoover, Alabama, in Jefferson County. Marker is on South Shades Crest Road, ¾ mile south of Bessemer Cut Off Road (State Highway 150), on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Birmingham AL 35244, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 5 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Canaan Baptist Church (approx. 2.9 miles away); Ross Bridge (approx. 3.3 miles away); Helena Freight House & Depot (approx. 3.4 miles away); Central Iron Works (approx. 3½ miles away); Helena, Alabama (approx. 3½ miles away); Harmony Graveyard (approx. 3.8 miles away); Overseer’s House (approx. 4.2 miles away); The Park Avenue Historical District (approx. 4½ miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Hoover.
Also see . . . Brock's Gap from Birmingham Rails Website. John Stewart's Birmingham Rails is a great website about railroads and industries in and around Birmingham, Alabama (Submitted on January 23, 2010, by Timothy Carr of Birmingham, Alabama.)
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on January 23, 2010, by Timothy Carr of Birmingham, Alabama. This page has been viewed 2,894 times since then and 67 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on January 23, 2010, by Timothy Carr of Birmingham, Alabama. • Craig Swain was the editor who published this page.