Cordova in Walker County, Alabama — The American South (East South Central)

City Of Cordova

Photographed By Tim & Renda Carr, June 5, 2011

1. City Of Cordova Marker

Inscription.

City Of Cordova. . , Cordova, Alabama, located in Walker County on the Mulberry Fork of the Black Warrior River, was founded in 1859 by Captain Benjamin McFarland Long. He named the town after one in Mexico where he served under Robert E. Lee during the Mexican War (1846-1848). In 1885, Long moved into a residence that had begun construction in 1883. The two-story structure was built in the early Greek Revival-style with Doric columns and four massive chimneys. In 1886, two railroads came to Cordova. They became the present-day Burlington Northern Santa Fe and the Southern. Long was instrumental in bringing the Indian Head Mills to Cordova. Ground was broken for the textile factory in 1896 and the factory opened in 1898. An entire community evolved around the mill, including a ten-room school, library, hotel, and a commissary. One hundred thirty tenements were built for workers. The mill employed more than 800 and operated in three shifts. The closing of the mill in 1962 was devastating to the economy of the area. (Continued on the other side). Reverse: (Continued from other side). Captain Long and his wife Amanda left a final, if indirect, legacy to Cordova in 1912 when their heirs erected Long Memorial Methodist Church in their memory. The church included a square belfry and three stained glass windows with Gothic arches which were imported from Italy. Coal mining has been an integral part of Cordova’s history since the early 19th century. Several industries have been located in Cordova, including a brick and clay company, steel plants, Vulcan Asphalt Refining Company, Chicago Bridge and Iron, Birmingham Forest Products, and BAE Systems. In the 1950s, Cordova was known as “The Industrial Heart of Walker County,” A Veteran’s Memorial stands in the middle of town and is inscribed with names of citizens who perished in service to their country during World War I, World War II, the Korean Conflict, and the Vietnam War. . This historical marker was erected in 2010 by Alabama Tourism Department and the City of Cordova. It is in Cordova in Walker County Alabama

Cordova, Alabama, located in Walker County on the Mulberry Fork of the Black Warrior River, was founded in 1859 by Captain Benjamin McFarland Long. He named the town after one in Mexico where he served under Robert E. Lee during the Mexican War (1846-1848). In 1885, Long moved into a residence that had begun construction in 1883. The two-story structure was built in the early Greek Revival-style with Doric columns and four massive chimneys. In 1886, two railroads came to Cordova. They became the present-day Burlington Northern Santa Fe and the Southern. Long was instrumental in bringing the Indian Head Mills to Cordova. Ground was broken for the textile factory in 1896 and the factory opened in 1898. An entire community evolved around the mill, including a ten-room school, library, hotel, and a commissary. One hundred thirty tenements were built for workers. The mill employed more than 800 and operated in three shifts. The closing of the mill in 1962 was devastating to the economy of the area. (Continued on the other side) Reverse: (Continued from other side) Captain Long and his wife Amanda

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left a final, if indirect, legacy to Cordova in 1912 when their heirs erected Long Memorial Methodist Church in their memory. The church included a square belfry and three stained glass windows with Gothic arches which were imported from Italy. Coal mining has been an integral part of Cordova’s history since the early 19th century. Several industries have been located in Cordova, including a brick and clay company, steel plants, Vulcan Asphalt Refining Company, Chicago Bridge and Iron, Birmingham Forest Products, and BAE Systems. In the 1950s, Cordova was known as “The Industrial Heart of Walker County,” A Veteran’s Memorial stands in the middle of town and is inscribed with names of citizens who perished in service to their country during World War I, World War II, the Korean Conflict, and the Vietnam War.

Erected 2010 by Alabama Tourism Department and the City of Cordova.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Settlements & Settlers • War, Mexican-American. A significant historical year for this entry is 1859.

Location. 33° 45.5′ N, 87° 10.954′ W. Marker is in Cordova, Alabama, in Walker County. Marker is at the intersection of Mill Street and Main Street, on the right when traveling east on Mill Street. Touch for map.

City Of Cordova Marker reverse image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Tim & Renda Carr, June 5, 2011

2. City Of Cordova Marker reverse

Marker is at or near this postal address: 100 Main Street, Cordova AL 35550, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 8 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Town of Sipsey (approx. 7.1 miles away); William Brockman Bankhead Home (approx. 7.3 miles away); Carl Atwood Elliott (approx. 7.4 miles away); Confederate Monument (approx. 7½ miles away); Walker County War Memorial (approx. 7½ miles away); Walker County (approx. 7½ miles away); Revolutionary War Hero Sergeant William Jasper (approx. 7½ miles away); First United Methodist Church Jasper / President Franklin Delano Roosevelt (approx. 7½ miles away).

Also see . . . Cordova, Alabama. Wikipedia (Submitted on June 18, 2011.)

Additional commentary.
1. Cordova hit by two tornados
On Wednesday April 27, 2011 a flurry of tornadoes ripped through the State of Alabama. On that day the City of Cordova was hit by two tornadoes that killed four people and caused extensive damage to the city. The first tornado hit the city early that Wednesday morning damaging the city’s downtown area. That early morning tornado traveled through Walker County for 19 miles and up to 300 yards wide. The National Weather Service rated

Photographed By Tim & Renda Carr, June 5, 2011

3. City Of Cordova Marker

this tornado as an EF-3. Later in the day in the afternoon, a second tornado with much stronger winds cuts a wide path destroying what was not destroyed by the first tornado. Long Memorial Methodist Church, and the old Long home was severely damaged by that storm. That tornado started in Pickens County and traveled 123+ miles and up to ¾ mile wide. The National Weather Service rated this tornado as an EF-4. The photos shot in Cordova on June 5, 2011 shows some of the damage that occurred on that day. A day that all Alabamians’ will not forget.

The Spring of 2011 storms are now history. A history that many would want to forget. In due time this town along with many other cities and communities throughout the United States that were hit hard by the tornados will rebuild.

— Submitted June 5, 2011, by Timothy Carr of Birmingham, Alabama.

Downtown Cordova, Alabama. Looking South on Main Street. image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Tim & Renda Carr, June 5, 2011

4. Downtown Cordova, Alabama. Looking South on Main Street.

Downtown Cordova, Looking North on Main Street. image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Tim & Renda Carr, June 5, 2011

5. Downtown Cordova, Looking North on Main Street.

Long Memorial United Methodist Church (Left) Long Home (Right) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Tim & Renda Carr, June 5, 2011

6. Long Memorial United Methodist Church (Left) Long Home (Right)

View of Downtown Cordova from the Long Home. image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Tim & Renda Carr, June 5, 2011

7. View of Downtown Cordova from the Long Home.

Tornado Damage in Cordova viewed from the Long Home image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Tim & Renda Carr, June 5, 2011

8. Tornado Damage in Cordova viewed from the Long Home

The Remains of Long Memorial United Methodist Church built in 1912 image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Tim & Renda Carr, June 5, 2011

9. The Remains of Long Memorial United Methodist Church built in 1912

The Long Home built in 1883 image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Tim & Renda Carr, June 5, 2011

10. The Long Home built in 1883

Destroyed Veteran’s Memorial image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Tim & Renda Carr, June 5, 2011

11. Destroyed Veteran’s Memorial

City Of Cordova prior to the 2011 tornado image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Carol Highsmith, May 9, 2010

12. City Of Cordova prior to the 2011 tornado

Library of Congress Carol Highsmith Archives.

Photographed By Carol Highsmith, May 9, 2010

13. City Of Cordova prior to the 2011 tornado

Library of Congress Carol Highsmith Archives.

Photographed By Carol Highsmith, May 9, 2010

14. City Of Cordova prior to the 2011 tornado

Library of Congress Carol Highsmith Archives.

Credits. This page was last revised on June 7, 2018. It was originally submitted on June 5, 2011, by Timothy Carr of Birmingham, Alabama. This page has been viewed 2,242 times since then and 209 times this year. It was the Marker of the Week June 26, 2011. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11. submitted on June 5, 2011, by Timothy Carr of Birmingham, Alabama. 12, 13, 14. submitted on February 17, 2015, by J. Makali Bruton of Accra, Ghana. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.