Gordonville in Lowndes County, Alabama — The American South (East South Central)
The Crosby Water System "The Well"
Photographed By Jon Pridgen
1. The Crosby Water System "The Well" Marker
Inscription.
The Crosby Water System "The Well". . On land donated by Ed Crosby, a group of African American community leaders had a well dug in January 1955 to provide the people of Gordonville with running water. The Well, the first black-owned water system in Alabama. Initially had just four spigots. Incorporated as the Crosby Water System in 1963, the company's initial board members included Rev. J.C. Lawson, Lee Jackson Sr., R.C. Maye, Coley Whiting, Russell Stallworth, Sidney Logan Sr., J.T. Haynes, Albert Ross, Nap Nelson, and Cornelius Williamson. The system was expanded in the same year to pump water from its 3,000-gallon tank to the homes of the original thirty-nine stock holders. As the community grew, its need for water exceeded the capacity of The Well and the water rights were sold in 1994.
On land donated by Ed Crosby, a group of African American community leaders had a well dug in January 1955 to provide the people of Gordonville with running water. The Well, the first black-owned water system in Alabama. Initially had just four spigots. Incorporated as the Crosby Water System in 1963, the company's initial board members included Rev. J.C. Lawson, Lee Jackson Sr., R.C. Maye, Coley Whiting, Russell Stallworth, Sidney Logan Sr., J.T. Haynes, Albert Ross, Nap Nelson, and Cornelius Williamson. The system was expanded in the same year to pump water from its 3,000-gallon tank to the homes of the original thirty-nine stock holders. As the community grew, its need for water exceeded the capacity of The Well and the water rights were sold in 1994.
Location. 32° 9.114′ N, 86° 41.98′ W. Marker is in Gordonville, Alabama, in Lowndes County. Marker is on Wall Street (County Road 12) 0.7 miles east of Trone Road, on the right when traveling east.
Regarding The Crosby Water System "The Well". The site was listed on the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage in June of 2012.
Photographed By Jon Pridgen
2. The Crosby Water System "The Well" Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on October 8, 2022. It was originally submitted on October 7, 2022, by Jon Pridgen of Prattville, Alabama. This page has been viewed 185 times since then and 29 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on October 7, 2022, by Jon Pridgen of Prattville, Alabama. • Mark Hilton was the editor who published this page.