Mount Hope in Lawrence County, Alabama — The American South (East South Central)

Mount Hope Community

Photographed by Jimmy Emerson, September 21, 2025

1. Mount Hope Community Marker

Inscription. The first known mention of Mt. Hope is in Alexander Sommerville's mortgage of 21 Aug 1830. His store, cotton gin. and land were located 1/4 mile west of the present town. By 1833, Mt. Hope is found in the earliest court records as both a town and election precinct. Incorporated 17 Feb 1854, boundaries were set as 1/4 mile in every direction from the town cross roads. Pleasant W. McVay, Robert Cleer, James Streeter, Robert J. Warren, and James G. Stephenson were authorized to hold the first election. Stephenson Academy, active by 1865, was one of the first schools. The Wallace Institute probably named for James Wallace who bequeathed school funds, was located 1-1/2 miles south of town near Rock Springs. On 27 Apr 1863, Union Colonel Abel Streight of the 51st Indiana Infantry with 1500 men camped at Mt. Hope, en route to destroy rail lines at Rome, GA. During Streight's Raid, $1300 was stolen from the Wallace estate funds. Some early businesses include Wilson Martin's Grocery (1854), McVay's Store (1866), and W.A. Stoune's Store (1881). Among noted Mt. Hope natives are Dr. R.M. Cunningham (1855-1921),

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Alabama's first Lt. Governor 1903-1907 and Acting Governor 1904-1905, Mary (Wasson) Harris Cagle, famed preacher and Church of the Nazarene founder.

Erected by Lawrence County Historical Commission.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Education • Settlements & Settlers • Women. A significant historical year for this entry is 1830.

Location. 34° 26.862′ N, 87° 28.965′ W. Marker is in Mount Hope, Alabama, in Lawrence County. It is on County Road 23 south of County Road 35, on the left when traveling south. Located in front of Mt Hope Elementary School. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 8510 County Road 23, Mount Hope AL 35651, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in North Alabama.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Deep South,

in Appalachia,

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

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the

Photographed by Jimmy Emerson, September 21, 2025

2. Mount Hope Community Marker

Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 8 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Major David Hubbard (about 700 feet away, measured in a direct line); Lawson Hubbard (approx. ¼ mile away); Mount Hope Memorial (approx. 0.7 miles away); Youngtown Community (approx. 5.7 miles away); In Honor of Ray Hutcheson & Mason Dubois Memorial (approx. 6 miles away); 2011 Tornado (approx. 6 miles away); Newburg (approx. 6.3 miles away); Byler's Old Turnpike (approx. 7.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Mount Hope.

Credits. This page was last revised on September 21, 2025. It was originally submitted on September 21, 2025, by Jimmy Emerson of Dalton, Georgia. This page has been viewed 117 times since then and 57 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 21, 2025, by Jimmy Emerson of Dalton, Georgia. • James Hulse was the editor who published this page.