York in Sumter County, Alabama — The American South (East South Central)

History of York / The Coleman Center

History of York Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Mark Hilton, October 16, 2015

1. History of York Marker

Inscription.
History of York
Legend has it that York began at a blacksmith shop called Old Anvil, located at a crossroads a few miles northwest of the present city. Circa 1833, early settlers of a site located east of modern-day York on the old Livingston-Gaston stagecoach road named their community New York Station. The railroads expanded and took business from the stagecoach line. The two communities merged in 1838 and gradually grew toward the railroad. Railways passing through York have included the Southern Railway System, the Alabama Great Southern Railroad, and the Alabama, Tennessee and Northern Railroad. In the 1850s, the permanent community of New York Station was established, and a train station and hotel were built to service the railroad. The name was shortened to York Station in 1861 and following the discovery that another community also bore that name, it was further shortened to York when the town was officially incorporated on April 6, 1881.

The Coleman Center
The Coleman Center for the Arts was founded in 1985 through the grassroots efforts of local citizens under the leadership of York native Dorothy “Tut” Altman Riddick. Located on York’s historic Avenue A, the Coleman Center’s campus includes buildings that formerly served as an auto mechanic’s

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shop, a general mercantile store, a hardware store, and the original Bank of York. The buildings were donated and renovated through generous contributions from local families, individuals, and organizations. The Coleman Center has evolved into a contemporary arts organization with a gallery, an educational program, and an internationally recognized artist-in-residence program focused on community-driven public art. The organization was created to nurture partnerships between artists and the community to answer civic needs and build local pride, and it is a proud member of the Andy Warhol Foundation’s Warhol Initiative.

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

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Railroads & Streetcars • Settlements & Settlers.

Location. 32° 29.08′ N, 88° 17.729′ W. Marker is in York, Alabama, in Sumter County. Marker is at the intersection of Avenue A and College Street, on the right when traveling east on Avenue A. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 630 Avenue A, York AL 36925, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 10 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. York Veterans War Memorial (approx. 0.3 miles away); Line 32° 28´ North Latitude (approx. 1.9 miles

The Coleman Center Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Mark Hilton, October 16, 2015

2. The Coleman Center Marker

away); Livingston, Ala. (approx. 9.1 miles away); Sumter County Confederate Monument (approx. 9.2 miles away); Livingston, Alabama / Livingston's Bored Well (approx. 9.2 miles away); Sumter County (approx. 9.2 miles away); Houston-Bailey House (approx. 9.4 miles away); Livingston State College (approx. 9.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in York.

Also see . . .
1. Coleman Center for the Arts. (Submitted on October 19, 2015, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.)
2. The Encyclopedia of Alabama article on York. (Submitted on October 19, 2015, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.)
3. The Encyclopedia of Alabama article on the Coleman Center. (Submitted on October 19, 2015, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.)

One of the Coleman Center buildings. image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Mark Hilton, October 16, 2015

3. One of the Coleman Center buildings.

Altman Riddick Museum. Also houses the Hightower Memorial Library.

Railway caboose in front of Coleman Center image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Mark Hilton, October 16, 2015

4. Railway caboose in front of Coleman Center

Was part of the Sumter & Choctaw Railway Company.

Hightower Memorial Library entrance. image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Mark Hilton, October 16, 2015

5. Hightower Memorial Library entrance.

View from marker looking west on Avenue A. image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Mark Hilton, October 16, 2015

6. View from marker looking west on Avenue A.

View east along old railway bed. image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Mark Hilton, October 16, 2015

7. View east along old railway bed.

Coleman Center dedication plaque. image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Mark Hilton, October 16, 2015

8. Coleman Center dedication plaque.

Credits. This page was last revised on January 6, 2017. It was originally submitted on October 19, 2015, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. This page has been viewed 924 times since then and 135 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. submitted on October 19, 2015, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.