The Village of Montrose / Montrose

The Village of Montrose, also, Montrose. . In 1839, Cyrus Sibley of Massachusetts acquired land on the eastern shore of Mobile Bay. Eight years later, a village was formally platted, surveyed, and was called 'Sibley City'. In 1852, it was renamed 'Montrose' as a tribute to the Scottish Duke of Montrose. After the War Between the States (1861-1865) and during Reconstruction, Montrose emerged as a prosperous, diverse, rural community centered on brick and pottery manufacturing, agriculture, and timber. In 1856, Sibley and his wife, Eliza, donated land for a church, school, and a cemetery. The antebellum Grey-Oliver Cottage was built in 1856 and is one of a dozen beautifully preserved antebellum homes within the community. The restored cottage was relocated inside the boundaries of the nine acre cemetery in 1992 and now serves as a community meeting place. In 1976, it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places and as an Historical Landmark by the Alabama Historical Commission., Reverse Side , Montrose was of little military importance to Federal forces during the War Between the States, but a significant event did occur here. On September 4th, 1863, the Confederate Commerce raider, 'FLORIDA', its crew greatly diminished by yellow fever, successfully ran the Federal blockade of Mobile Bay. Quarantined, damaged by the Federal Flagship, 'ONEIDA', unable to dock in Mobile, the ship crossed the bay anchoring at Stedman's Landing at Sibley Street. Villagers allowed the burial of Seaman Dunkin and Lt. Stribling in the Montrose Cemetery. These are the only two Confederate Seamen known to be buried in Baldwin County. In April of 1865, rumors emerged that Federal troops at Spanish Fort were preparing to advance on Montrose. Breastworks and other defensive positions were built adjacent to Sibley Street. Volunteers prepared to defend the village, but news arrived on April 9th of the Confederate surrender and the defenses were abandoned.