Madison in Madison County, Alabama — The American South (East South Central)
"The Roundhouse"
Photographed By Sandra Hughes, August 25, 2009
1. "The Roundhouse" Marker
Inscription.
"The Roundhouse". . This building is a replica of Madison's first city hall and is constructed on the original site of the Madison Depot, it was build in the late 1800's while Capt. John Buchanan Floyd, a Confederate veteran, was mayor. "The Roundhouse" served as the official city hall for town meetings, elections, and town activities such as weddings, hair cutting (when the barber made his weekly visit), and frequent card games. The original "Roundhouse" was dismantled in approximately 1938. The foundation is still visible in downtown Madison on the south side of the railroad tracks. Plans for this replica began in 1968 while E.O. Batson was mayor to commemorate Madison's Centennial in 1969. The plans were taken from sketches found in City Hall by Edgar Sandlin, City Inspector, an original photograph from Mrs. John (Lucille) Slaughter Cain, and interviews with local citizens. This Replica was constructed on September 21, 1986 at the annual street festival by developer John Hathaway and The Wild Boys Land and Cattle Company and community volunteers. Burwell L. "Sonny" Wilbanks was mayor. A professional set of building plans were donated for the reconstruction of the "Roundhouse" by Mr. Tom Gilbert, Gilbert Engineering Company, The City Engineer from 1975 to 1982.
This building is a replica of Madison's first city hall and is constructed on the original site of the Madison Depot, it was build in the late 1800's while Capt. John Buchanan Floyd, a Confederate veteran, was mayor.
"The Roundhouse" served as the official city hall for town meetings, elections, and town activities such as weddings, hair cutting (when the barber made his weekly visit), and frequent card games. The original "Roundhouse" was dismantled in approximately 1938. The foundation is still visible in downtown Madison on the south side of the railroad tracks.
Plans for this replica began in 1968 while E.O. Batson was mayor to commemorate Madison's Centennial in 1969. The plans were taken from sketches found in City Hall by Edgar Sandlin, City Inspector, an original photograph from Mrs. John (Lucille) Slaughter Cain, and interviews with local citizens.
This Replica was constructed on September 21, 1986 at the annual street festival by developer John Hathaway and The Wild Boys Land & Cattle Company and community volunteers. Burwell L. "Sonny" Wilbanks was mayor.
A professional set of building plans were donated for the reconstruction of the "Roundhouse" by Mr. Tom Gilbert, Gilbert Engineering Company, The City Engineer from 1975 to 1982.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Government & Politics
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• Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical month for this entry is September 1945.
Location. 34° 41.638′ N, 86° 44.933′ W. Marker is in Madison, Alabama, in Madison County. Marker is on Front Street, on the right when traveling east. Located on Front St in Madison City Park next to the "Roundhouse". Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Madison AL 35758, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Credits. This page was last revised on May 2, 2017. It was originally submitted on March 18, 2010, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA. This page has been viewed 2,008 times since then and 76 times this year. Last updated on April 27, 2017, by Paul J Batson of Madison, Alabama. Photos:1, 2. submitted on March 18, 2010, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.