Fort Payne in DeKalb County, Alabama — The American South (East South Central)

Boom Town Historic District

Photographed by Tim Carr, June 15, 2008

1. Boom Town Historic District Marker

Inscription. Around 1889-1891 Fort Payne experienced a great industrial boom due to promotion by New England investors who speculated greatly on the area’s mineral deposits. During this period several highly ornate commercial and civic buildings, along with the planned park, were constructed along Gault Avenue. The Fort Payne Opera House and other buildings in the same block constructed by the Fort Payne Coal & Iron Co., together with the Sawyer Building, the Alabama Great Southern Railroad Depot & Union Park retain the integrity of the boom town era and comprise a historic district listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1989, the year of Fort Payne’s centennial.

Erected 1989 by Alabama Historical Commission / Landmarks and the City of Fort Payne.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Railroads & Streetcars. In addition, it is included in the Alabama Historical Commission series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1989.

Location. Marker has been reported missing. It was located near 34° 26.637′ N, 85° 43.138′ W. Marker was in Fort Payne,

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Alabama, in DeKalb County. It was on 5th Street south of Gault Avenue North (U.S. 11), on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker was in this post office area: Fort Payne AL 35968, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker was in North Alabama.

It was also in the American South,

specifically in the Deep South,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Southern Appalachia. Globally, it was in North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it found itself in what was once the original Cherokee Nation,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this location: Confederate Monument (within shouting distance of this marker); Sequoyah | Socks | Song | Scenery (within shouting distance of this marker); Fort Payne Opera House (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Whittler's Corner (about 400 feet away); Alabama (about 500 feet away); Fort Payne Residential Historic District

Photographed by Tom Bosse, November 25, 2016

2. Boom Town Historic District Marker

(approx. 0.2 miles away); Main Street Historic District (approx. 0.4 miles away); Cherokee Indian Removal (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Fort Payne.

Other markers no longer nearby. Fort Payne’s Fort (was about 300 feet away but has been confirmed missing); Sequoyah (was about 300 feet away but has been confirmed missing); Wills Town Mission (was about 300 feet away but has been confirmed missing).

Photographed by Tim Carr, June 15, 2008

3. Boom Town Historic District Marker

Photographed by Tom Bosse, November 25, 2016

4. Boom Town Historic District Marker

Alabama Great Southern Railroad Depot image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Tim Carr, June 15, 2008

5. Alabama Great Southern Railroad Depot

Fort Payne Opera House Built in 1889 image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Tim Carr, June 15, 2008

6. Fort Payne Opera House Built in 1889

Gault Avenue (Highway 11) Downtown Fort Payne image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Tim Carr, June 15, 2008

7. Gault Avenue (Highway 11) Downtown Fort Payne

Civil War Monument in Union Park image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Tim Carr, June 15, 2008

8. Civil War Monument in Union Park

Photographed by Tom Bosse, November 25, 2016

9. Alabama Great Southern Railroad Depot

Photographed by Tom Bosse, November 25, 2016

10. Alabama Great Southern Railroad Depot

Photographed by Tom Bosse, November 25, 2016

11. Alabama Great Southern Railroad Depot

Credits. This page was last revised on December 3, 2024. It was originally submitted on February 27, 2010, by Timothy Carr of Birmingham, Alabama. This page has been viewed 2,423 times since then and 69 times this year. Last updated on November 29, 2024, by Edward Troxel of Creal Springs, Illinois. Photos: 1. submitted on February 27, 2010, by Timothy Carr of Birmingham, Alabama. 2. submitted on April 2, 2017, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee. 3. submitted on February 27, 2010, by Timothy Carr of Birmingham, Alabama. 4. submitted on April 2, 2017, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee. 5, 6, 7, 8. submitted on February 27, 2010, by Timothy Carr of Birmingham, Alabama. 9, 10, 11. submitted on November 27, 2016, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee. • James Hulse was the editor who published this page.