Sheffield in Colbert County, Alabama — The American South (East South Central)
Old Railroad Bed
Side A
Ashe Boulevard was built on the early railroad bed which connected Florence and Southport to the main railroad line in Tuscumbia. Trains first traveled along the railroad bed and across the Tennessee River in 1858 after the Memphis and Charleston Railroads replaced the old Florence Bridge with a double-decked bridge. The upper deck was used for trains to transport passengers and freight. The lower deck was open to the public as a toll road. Large warehouses once lined both sides of the railroad bed to accommodate a busy cotton trade. In 1864, over 29,000 Confederate troops camped and assembled around this site before crossing the Tennessee River, prior to the Battle of Franklin in Middle Tennessee.
(Continued on the other side)
Side B
(Continued from the other side)
In 1904, the Sheffield Development Company replaced local passenger train service with streetcars which utilized the railroad tracks until 1933. The railroad was abandoned in 1988 by the Norfolk-Southern Railroad Company and was donated in 1993 to the Old Railroad Bridge Company with the adjoining right-of-way. In 1995, this property, minus the bridge, was given to the City of Sheffield. The railroad bed was paved by the city in 1999 and named Ashe Boulevard in memory of Laughlin Ashe, Mayor of Sheffield from 1992 until his death
Erected 2010 by Sponsored by the Old Railroad Bridge Company and Colbert County Historical Landmarks Foundation Alabama Historical Association.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Railroads & Streetcars. In addition, it is included in the Alabama Historical Association series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1858.
Location. 34° 46.764′ N, 87° 40.032′ W. Marker is in Sheffield, Alabama, in Colbert County. Marker is on Ashe Blvd.. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Sheffield AL 35660, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Old Railroad Bridge (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); First Muscle Shoals Canal / Second Muscle Shoals Canal (approx. 0.6 miles away); Forest Elders (approx. 0.6 miles away); McFarland Park and Recreation Area (approx. 0.7 miles away); Prehistoric Native Americans / Historic Native Americans (approx. 0.7 miles away); Florence Indian Mound (approx. 0.8 miles away); 101 Memorial (approx. 0.8 miles away); Culture (approx. 0.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Sheffield.
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on December 22, 2010, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA. This page has been viewed 1,937 times since then and 49 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. submitted on December 22, 2010, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.