Berry in Fayette County, Alabama — The American South (East South Central)
Town of Berry-Established 1883 / Berry Heritage Park
Photographed By Darren Jefferson Clay, August 8, 2020
1. Town of Berry-Established 1883/Berry Heritage Park
Inscription.
Town of Berry-Established 1883, also, Berry Heritage Park. .
Town of Berry Established 1883. Thompson Berry settled in this area in the 1840s. Berry devoted most of his time to raising cattle and farming. As time passed, he became the owner of a gin and gristmill and several thousand acres of land in Fayette County. In 1882-1883, the section of the Georgia-Pacific Railroad which connected Birmingham, Alabama and Columbus, Mississippi was built. Arrangements were made with Mrs. Ben Jefferies and Mrs. Eliza Harvey to locate a depot approximately midway between the two cities. The depot was named Berry for Thompson Berry, the first settler in the area and father of Mrs. Jefferies and Mrs. Harvey. In November 1883, the town of Berry was incorporated; the town limits being set by measuring one mile in all directions from a public well dug a short distance from the depot. The first store and post office was operated from a boxcar by Ab Seay even before the track of the railroad was completely laid. In 1899, the town held its first municipal election with the first mayor being Birks Bagwell.
Berry Heritage Park. Berry Heritage Park was established in 2006. The park sits on the site of the old James Wilson Shepherd house that was built in the 1920s. Berry Heritage Park Drive was built by the Fayette County Commission in 2001 on the right- of-way of the old Georgia-Pacific Railroad (now Norfolk Southern Railway), which was donated to the town in 1999 when rail service ended between Berry and Columbus, Mississippi.
Town of Berry Established 1883
Thompson Berry settled in this area in the 1840s. Berry devoted
most of his time to raising cattle and farming. As time passed, he
became the owner of a gin and gristmill and several thousand
acres of land in Fayette County. In 1882-1883, the section of the
Georgia-Pacific Railroad which connected Birmingham, Alabama and
Columbus, Mississippi was built. Arrangements were made with
Mrs. Ben Jefferies and Mrs. Eliza Harvey to locate a depot
approximately midway between the two cities. The depot was
named Berry for Thompson Berry, the first settler in the area and
father of Mrs. Jefferies and Mrs. Harvey. In November 1883, the town
of Berry was incorporated; the town limits being set by measuring
one mile in all directions from a public well dug a short distance
from the depot. The first store and post office was operated from
a boxcar by Ab Seay even before the track of the railroad was
completely laid.
In 1899, the town held its first municipal election
with the first mayor being Birks Bagwell.
Berry Heritage Park
Berry Heritage Park was established in 2006.
The park sits on the site of the old James
Wilson Shepherd house that was built in the 1920s.
Berry Heritage Park Drive was built by the
Fayette County Commission in
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2001 on the right-
of-way of the old Georgia-Pacific Railroad (now
Norfolk Southern Railway), which was donated to
the town in 1999 when rail service ended
between Berry and Columbus, Mississippi.
Erected 2010 by Alabama Tourism Department and the Town of Berry.
Location. 33° 39.615′ N, 87° 36.088′ W. Marker is in Berry, Alabama, in Fayette County. Marker is on Depot Street just north of Front Street, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 31 Depot St, Berry AL 35546, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Photographed By Darren Jefferson Clay, August 8, 2020
2. Town of Berry-Established 1883/Berry Heritage Park
Photographed By Darren Jefferson Clay, August 8, 2020
3. Town of Berry-Established 1883/Berry Heritage Park
Credits. This page was last revised on December 30, 2020. It was originally submitted on December 30, 2020, by Darren Jefferson Clay of Duluth, Georgia. This page has been viewed 394 times since then and 81 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3. submitted on December 30, 2020, by Darren Jefferson Clay of Duluth, Georgia. • Mark Hilton was the editor who published this page.
