Valley Grande in Dallas County, Alabama — The American South (East South Central)

Summerfield / Valley Grande

Photographed By Duane and Tracy Marsteller, February 25, 2023

1. Summerfield / Valley Grande side of marker

Inscription. Summerfield Summerfield was established in 1819 as Valley Creek and was renamed Summerfield in 1845 to honor the famous Methodist preacher John Summerfield. In 1829, the first academy in Dallas County was chartered in Valley Creek. In 1842, the Alabama Conference of the Methodist Church opened the Methodist Centenary Institute, a coeducational institution chartered by the Alabama Legislature on January 2, 1841. At its peak, Summerfield was a very prosperous community of planters, doctors, merchants, ministers, and educators. The historical core of Summerfield has survived intact and has been placed on the National Register of Historic Places with a historic district encompassing 56.12 acres.

Valley Grande Much of the area of Valley Grande was land originally granted Dr. George Phillips in 1821 from the Federal government. The area was traversed by one of the county's earliest roads and Phillips' log house also functioned as a stage coach station. The log house was later replaced by a three-storied, pillared home known as Grande View, because of the splendid panoramic view. This home was burned by Wilson's Raiders during the Civil War. In later years, as more people moved here, the area became known as Valley Grande. The Town of Valley Grande was incorporated February 3, 2003. It encompasses the historic community

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of Summerfield as well as the Ocmulgee area.

Erected 2010 by Alabama Tourism Department • Town of Valley Grande.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Political Subdivisions • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1819.

Location. 32° 30.322′ N, 86° 59.843′ W. Marker is in Valley Grande, Alabama, in Dallas County. Marker can be reached from County Road 16, 0.4 miles west of Alabama 22, on the right when traveling west. Marker is in the parking lot of Valley Grande City Park. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Selma AL 36701, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 7 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Summerfield Methodist Church (approx. 2.7 miles away); Childers Chapel (approx. 3.4 miles away); Valley Creek Presbyterian Church (approx. 3.9 miles away); Chalmers Attacks (approx. 4.3 miles away); Defense of Selma Memorial (approx. 5½ miles away); Redoubt No. 15 (approx. 5.7 miles away); R.B. Hudson High School (approx. 6.1 miles away); Tabernacle Baptist Church (approx. 6.1 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Valley Grande.

Also see . . . Summerfield District. National Register nomination (PDF) and photographs (separate PDF) submitted for the district, which was listed in 1982.

Valley Grande side of marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Duane and Tracy Marsteller, February 25, 2023

2. Valley Grande side of marker

(National Park Service) (Submitted on February 28, 2023, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

Summerfield / Valley Grande Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Duane and Tracy Marsteller, February 25, 2023

3. Summerfield / Valley Grande Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on February 28, 2023. It was originally submitted on February 28, 2023, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 201 times since then and 51 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on February 28, 2023, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.