Tallassee in Tallapoosa County, Alabama — The American South (East South Central)
History of Tallassee
by Bill Goss
Photographed By Mark Hilton, December 12, 2021
1. History of Tallassee Marker (after repair)
Inscription.
History of Tallassee. by Bill Goss. This land belonged to the Creek (Muskogee) Indians, who had lived in the Tallassee area for hundreds of years, until their removal in 1836. Benjamin Hawkins, the Creek Indian Agent for the U.S. government, visited the Creek Indians in 1798 in the Tallassee area. He saw the great falls of the Tallapoosa River. He predicted that because of the river, the falls and an abundance of rock, elements existed for building a large city at the falls. In less than fifty years, his prophecy was fulfilled. No definite date can be given for the founding of Tallassee, but evidence shows that it was certainly in existence in 1835. Prior to 1832, very few families had settled in the Tallassee region. During 1837-1840, groups of settlers came into central Alabama and the Tallassee area from Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia. During this period, a thriving new town was built of native wood and stone on the west bluff of the lower Tallapoosa River. It was called Tallassee.
In 1841, the Tallassee Falls Manufacturing Company was chartered by the Alabama Assembly, at the great fall, to Barent DuBois, the founder of Tallassee, and on the East side of the Tallapoosa River, to Hickerson Burnham. Then in 1844, Thomas Meriwether Barnett, the father of Tallassee, and William M. Marks built the first cotton mill in Tallassee. They were responsible for the first industrial development of Tallassee. During the Civil War, Tallassee became a supply center for the Confederacy. In World War I and World War II, Tallassee supplied the U.S. government with heavy duck cloth for tents, sails and cots. Until they closed in 2005, the Tallassee Mills were the oldest continuous operating textile mills in the United States, providing 161 years of service. On January 21, 1908, Tallassee was incorporated.
This land belonged to the Creek (Muskogee) Indians, who had lived in the Tallassee area for hundreds of years, until their removal in 1836. Benjamin Hawkins, the Creek Indian Agent for the U.S. government, visited the Creek Indians in 1798 in the Tallassee area. He saw the great falls of the Tallapoosa River. He predicted that because of the river, the falls and an abundance of rock, elements existed for building a large city at the falls. In less than fifty years, his prophecy was fulfilled. No definite date can be given for the founding of Tallassee, but evidence shows that it was certainly in existence in 1835. Prior to 1832, very few families had settled in the Tallassee region. During 1837-1840, groups of settlers came into central Alabama and the Tallassee area from Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia. During this period, a thriving new town was built of native wood and stone on the west bluff of the lower Tallapoosa River. It was called Tallassee.
In 1841, the Tallassee Falls Manufacturing Company was chartered by the Alabama Assembly, at the great fall, to Barent DuBois, the founder of Tallassee, and on the East side of the Tallapoosa River, to Hickerson Burnham. Then in 1844, Thomas Meriwether Barnett, the father of Tallassee, and William M. Marks built the first cotton mill in Tallassee. They were
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responsible for the first industrial development of Tallassee.
During the Civil War, Tallassee became a supply center for the Confederacy. In World War I and World War II, Tallassee supplied the U.S. government with heavy duck cloth for tents, sails and cots. Until they closed in 2005, the Tallassee Mills were the oldest continuous operating textile mills in the United States, providing 161 years of service. On January 21, 1908, Tallassee was incorporated.
Erected by Alabama Tourism Department and the City of Tallassee.
Location. 32° 32.046′ N, 85° 53.095′ W. Marker is in Tallassee, Alabama, in Tallapoosa County. Marker is on Central Boulevard (Alabama Route 14) 0.1 miles west of Freeman Avenue, on the right when traveling west. Located behind Tallassee Community Library. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 99 Freeman Avenue, Tallassee AL 36078, United States of America. Touch for directions.
More about this marker. In November 2020, the marker was reported missing. The marker was broken, removed and now is repaired and returned to its former location as of June, 2021.
Photographed By Mark Hilton, December 12, 2021
3. Marker with view of Thurlow Reservoir and dam.
Photographed By Mark Hilton, August 12, 2013
4. History of Tallassee Marker prior to damage.
Credits. This page was last revised on December 13, 2021. It was originally submitted on August 18, 2013, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. This page has been viewed 1,524 times since then and 128 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3. submitted on December 13, 2021, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. 4. submitted on August 18, 2013, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.