Centennial Hill in Montgomery in Montgomery County, Alabama — The American South (East South Central)

Black Bricklayers Hall

Montgomery County

Photographed By Mark Hilton, June 13, 2021

1. Black Bricklayers Hall Marker

Inscription.

Black Bricklayers Hall. Montgomery County. Unit A of the Bricklayers Hall served as the office of Charles Swinger Conley, who was the attorney of record for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and the Montgomery Improvement Association. In 1961, Conley joined with Attorney Arthur Kinoy, who gave crucial support to the 1955-56 Montgomery Bus Boycott, in filing the landmark case United States Ex Rel. Willie Seals, Jr. v. Martin J. Wiman that not only saved an African American man from execution, but also forced inclusion of African Americans in the jury selection of peers. Among many other consequential cases filed by Conley from this location was the 1962 case Cobb v. Montgomery Board that enforced desegregation in the city's public library system and the public Montgomery Museum. Many cases of national significance originated out of this building, including the landmark 1964 New York Times Co. v. Sullivan federal case that influeuced [sic] many American press and freedom of speech legal cases. Award-winning journalist John Seigenthaler was impacted by Attorney Conley's legal work with Attorney William M. Kunstler and others from this building in defense of Freedom Riders in Montgomery, which seemingly provided motivation for his founding of the First Amendment Center.

This building was constructed in 1954 and occupied continuously for 57 years by the local black brickmasons union. Following Rosa Parks' arrest for failing to vacate her seat to a white passenger on a Montgomery city bus, the African American civic and religious leaders established the Montgomery Improvement Association (MIA). Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was chosen to lead the MIA, with Ralph Abernathy, E. D. Nixon, Rufus Lewis, and other prominent figures. MIA relocated to this building after threats were made to places that accommodated this new organization. Mr. Percy Doak the overseer of the Bricklayers Hall offered space in the building and after transitory moves, in February of 1956 the MIA moved in this building as the first permanent headquarters of MIA. This building also served as the command center of the Montgomery Bus Boycott. Some of the notable individuals who led daily operations from this site included Rosa Parks, Jo Ann Gibson Robinson, Ann Smith Pratt, and Hazel Gregory. From this location, Dr. King announced the successful ending of the 381-day boycott that catapulted him to the world stage. Dr. King received mail from all over the world addressed to 530 S. Union Street Unit C.

Listed in the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage, February 21, 2019

Unit A of the Bricklayers Hall served as the office of Charles Swinger Conley, who was the attorney of record for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and the Montgomery Improvement Association. In 1961, Conley joined with Attorney Arthur Kinoy, who gave crucial support to the 1955-56 Montgomery Bus Boycott, in filing the landmark case United States Ex Rel. Willie Seals, Jr. v. Martin J. Wiman that not only saved an African American man from execution, but also forced inclusion of African Americans in the jury selection of peers. Among many other consequential cases filed by Conley from this location was the 1962 case Cobb v. Montgomery Board that enforced desegregation in the city's public library system and the public Montgomery Museum. Many cases of national significance originated out of this building, including the landmark 1964 New York Times Co. v. Sullivan federal case that influeuced [sic] many American press and freedom of speech legal cases. Award-winning journalist John Seigenthaler was impacted by Attorney Conley's legal work with Attorney William M. Kunstler and others from this building in defense of Freedom Riders in Montgomery, which seemingly provided motivation for his founding of the First Amendment Center.

This building was constructed in 1954 and occupied continuously

Paid Advertisement

Click on the ad for more information.
Please report objectionable advertising to the Editor.

Click or scan to see
this page online

for 57 years by the local black brickmasons union. Following Rosa Parks' arrest for failing to vacate her seat to a white passenger on a Montgomery city bus, the African American civic and religious leaders established the Montgomery Improvement Association (MIA). Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was chosen to lead the MIA, with Ralph Abernathy, E. D. Nixon, Rufus Lewis, and other prominent figures. MIA relocated to this building after threats were made to places that accommodated this new organization. Mr. Percy Doak the overseer of the Bricklayers Hall offered space in the building and after transitory moves, in February of 1956 the MIA moved in this building as the first permanent headquarters of MIA. This building also served as the command center of the Montgomery Bus Boycott. Some of the notable individuals who led daily operations from this site included Rosa Parks, Jo Ann Gibson Robinson, Ann Smith Pratt, and Hazel Gregory. From this location, Dr. King announced the successful ending of the 381-day boycott that catapulted him to the world stage. Dr. King received mail from all over the world addressed to 530 S. Union Street Unit C.

Listed in the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage, February 21, 2019

Erected 2021 by Whom it Concerns, Inc.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic

Black Bricklayers Hall Marker (reverse) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Mark Hilton, June 13, 2021

2. Black Bricklayers Hall Marker (reverse)

lists: African Americans • Civil Rights. A significant historical month for this entry is February 1956.

Location. 32° 22.273′ N, 86° 17.986′ W. Marker is in Montgomery, Alabama, in Montgomery County. It is in Centennial Hill. Marker is on South Union Street north of Grove Street, on the left when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 530 S Union St, Montgomery AL 36104, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Centennial Hill (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Swayne College / Booker T. Washington School (about 500 feet away); The Hon. Rufus A. Lewis (approx. 0.2 miles away); Georgia Gilmore (approx. 0.2 miles away); South Jackson Street / Victor Hugo Tulane (approx. 0.2 miles away); Harris House (approx. ¼ mile away); Site of the Warren Reese House (approx. ¼ mile away); Minister's Home / Dr. Martin Luther King (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Montgomery.

More about this marker. Although the marker indicates it was erected in 2019, it was actually erected June 5th, 2021. Some corrections have been made to the original marker and it still contains the misspelling of "influenced."

Regarding Black Bricklayers Hall.

The Black Bricklayers Hall and the marker. image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Mark Hilton, June 13, 2021

3. The Black Bricklayers Hall and the marker.

The hall is home to a law office and the Southern Youth Leadership Development Institute.

It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2020.

Also see . . . Montgomery Advertiser article on dedication of marker. (Submitted on June 13, 2021, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.)

Credits. This page was last revised on February 9, 2023. It was originally submitted on June 13, 2021, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. This page has been viewed 350 times since then and 66 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on June 13, 2021, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.