Madison in Madison County, Alabama — The American South (East South Central)
Pension Row
Photographed By Lee Hattabaugh, March 18, 2011
1. Pension Row Marker
Inscription.
Pension Row is representative of many small town African American neighborhoods. Once a thriving community with its own schools, churches, businesses, lodges, and recreation areas, it has been a part of Madison since Madison was incorporated in 1869. For much of the 19th and 20th centuries, it was home to most of Madison's black citizens, including businessmen, teachers, preachers, farmers, housekeepers, and workers in the town's gins and warehouses. The narrow streets, designed for horse-drawn carts, and the hedges, plantings, and trees help to define a strong sense of place, but the historic buildings are rapidly disappearing., Many dilapidated houses were demolished in the 1990s, and younger residents have moved away. Pension Row remains home to a small population, many of whom have lived here for generations. It has two historic churches: St. Peter United Methodist Church, founded in 1887, and St. Elizabeth Cumberland Presbyterian Church, founded in 1910. Both continue to draw worshippers from throughout western Madison County.
Pension Row is representative of many small town African American neighborhoods. Once a thriving community with its own schools, churches, businesses, lodges, and recreation areas, it has been a part of Madison since Madison was incorporated in 1869. For much of the 19th and 20th centuries, it was home to most of Madison's black citizens, including businessmen, teachers, preachers, farmers, housekeepers, and workers in the town's gins and warehouses. The narrow streets, designed for horse-drawn carts, and the hedges, plantings, and trees help to define a strong sense of place, but the historic buildings are rapidly disappearing.
Many dilapidated houses were demolished in the 1990s, and younger residents have moved away. Pension Row remains home to a small population, many of whom have lived here for generations. It has two historic churches: St. Peter United Methodist Church, founded in 1887, and St. Elizabeth Cumberland Presbyterian Church, founded in 1910. Both continue to draw worshippers from throughout western Madison County.
Erected 2010 by Alabama Tourism Department and the City of Madison.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1869.
Location. 34° 41.747′
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N, 86° 45.305′ W. Marker is in Madison, Alabama, in Madison County. Marker is at the intersection of Pension Row and Arnett St, on the left when traveling south on Pension Row. Marker was moved from its previous location on Mill Road. A sign on Mill Road points toward the current Pension Row location. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Madison AL 35758, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Looking west on Mill Road. Pension Row intersection on the left.
Photographed By Lee Hattabaugh, November 3, 2016
3. Pension Row Marker
This view shows the marker at its new location at the corner of Arnett Street and Pension Row.
Credits. This page was last revised on November 9, 2016. It was originally submitted on July 6, 2011, by Lee Hattabaugh of Capshaw, Alabama. This page has been viewed 1,982 times since then and 255 times this year. Last updated on November 7, 2016, by Lee Hattabaugh of Capshaw, Alabama. Photos:1, 2. submitted on July 6, 2011, by Lee Hattabaugh of Capshaw, Alabama. 3. submitted on November 7, 2016, by Lee Hattabaugh of Capshaw, Alabama. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.
