Arlington - West End in Birmingham in Jefferson County, Alabama — The American South (East South Central)
Old Elyton Courthouse Bell
Photographed By Duane and Tracy Marsteller, February 11, 2023
1. Old Elyton Courthouse Bell Marker
Inscription.
Old Elyton Courthouse Bell. . From 1820 until 1878 this bell hung in the belfry of the old Elyton courthouse, one-half mile northeast of this spot. In 1861 Jefferson County boys were mustered in there and the bell tolled them off to war. John Felix McLaughlin was one of them. Private McLaughlin returned from war and in 1878 was professor at Silver Lake Institute at Pinson. Birmingham had then become the county seat. A friend of the professor, Elgin Taylor, bought the bell for $5 and gave it to him for his new schoolhouse. The man it had rung off to war now rang “scholars” to school. Silver Lake Institute was torn down in the 1920's and the bell was bought by Columbus Gorman, one of Professor Mac's former pupils, for use at his nearby farm. After World War II the farm and bell were sold to Fredric Hensel. On March 19, 1961, the bell was brought to Arlington.,
Bell erected here and this tablet , donated by Professor McLaughlin's , daughter, Millie C. McLaughlin, , and his grandson, Stuart Mims.
From 1820 until 1878 this bell hung in the
belfry of the old Elyton courthouse, one-half mile northeast of this spot. In 1861
Jefferson County boys were mustered in
there and the bell tolled them off to war.
John Felix McLaughlin was one of them.
Private McLaughlin returned from war
and in 1878 was professor at Silver Lake
Institute at Pinson. Birmingham had then
become the county seat. A friend of the
professor, Elgin Taylor, bought the bell
for $5 and gave it to him for his new
schoolhouse. The man it had rung off to
war now rang “scholars” to school.
Silver Lake Institute was torn down in
the 1920's and the bell was bought by
Columbus Gorman, one of Professor Mac's
former pupils, for use at his nearby
farm. After World War II the farm and
bell were sold to Fredric Hensel. On
March 19, 1961, the bell was brought to
Arlington.
Bell erected here and this tablet
donated by Professor McLaughlin's
daughter, Millie C. McLaughlin,
and his grandson, Stuart Mims
Erected by Millie C. McLaughlin • Stuart Mims.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Communications • Education • War, US Civil. A significant historical year for this entry is 1820.
Location. 33° 29.985′ N,
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86° 50.308′ W. Marker is in Birmingham, Alabama, in Jefferson County. It is in Arlington - West End. Marker can be reached from 3rd Street Southwest south of Cotton Avenue Southwest, on the right when traveling south. Marker is in the parking lot of Arlington Antebellum Home & Gardens. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 331 Cotton Ave SW, Birmingham AL 35211, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Also see . . . 1. Elyton. Elyton (or Ely's Town), Jefferson County's first county seat, was named for a man who never lived there. (BhamWiki) (Submitted on February 12, 2023, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)
2. Elyton. Now a neighborhood in southwest Birmingham, the community of Elyton is located in Jefferson County's Jones Valley. The original county seat,
Photographed By Duane and Tracy Marsteller, February 11, 2023
2. Old Elyton Courthouse Bell Marker
the community played a significant role in the early history of the area. (Claire Wilson, Encyclopedia of Alabama, posted July 14, 2022) (Submitted on February 12, 2023, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)
3. John F. McLaughlin. Besides teaching, McLaughlin also collected taxes for the county. (BhamWiki) (Submitted on February 12, 2023, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)
from Notable Men of Alabama: Personal and Genealogical by Joel Campbell Dubose (Public Domain), circa 1904
3. John Felix McLaughlin (1842-1923)
Credits. This page was last revised on February 12, 2023. It was originally submitted on February 12, 2023, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 108 times since then and 32 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3. submitted on February 12, 2023, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
