On County Road 41 at NFR 266, on the right when traveling south on County Road 41.
Site of a neutrality meeting of more than twenty-five hundred hill folks during the spring of 1862. C. C. Sheats, Winston's delegate to the Secession Convention and one of twenty-four delegates who refused to sign the Secession Ordinance was the . . . — — Map (db m162750) HM
On County Route 41, on the left when traveling north.
On January 11, 1861 the State of Alabama seceded from the Union. Deeply perturbed, the people of Winston County held a political convention on July 4, 1861 at Looney’s Tavern, near Addison. A resolution was adopted to the effect that Alabama had no . . . — — Map (db m42859) HM
On Wilson Bend Road (County Route 12) north of County Route 242, on the left when traveling north.
The Community’s first four settlers homesteaded land near this site in 1832. The little log schoolhouse, just 18 feet square, was built in 1874. The land, given by L. F. Hembree, is now the site of Bethel Cemetery. With no heat, a dirt floor, and . . . — — Map (db m42861) HM
On County Road 41 south of Winter Lane, on the right when traveling south.
Office established May 27, 1891;
discontinued July 31, 1902.
First postmaster
Thomas M. Wadsworth
Homestead established here with letters patent signed by President Benjamin Harrison on May 21, 1890. Far-sighted and courageous pioneer, . . . — — Map (db m201365) HM
On County Road 41 south of County Road 3815, on the left when traveling south.
Named for Uncle Harve Smith, patriarch of the Smith Family in this community. Built in 1911 on two acres of land bought for $5.00. Seat of learning of readin' 'ritin', and 'rithmetic until 1923 when it was consolidated with others to form Meek . . . — — Map (db m201369) HM
On County Road 41 north of Nathan Loop Road (County Road 1285), on the left when traveling north.
Meek School was erected on ten acres of land given by Mr. and Mrs. J.E. Wadsworth. Chiefly through the efforts of Warren Hamner and Claude Miller, Meek School become the first consolidated school in Winston County. In the Spring of 1923, Nathan . . . — — Map (db m201368) HM
Near County Road 41 south of Gymnasium Road, on the right when traveling south.
Lest We Forget
Killed in Action
World War I 1917–18
World War II 1941–46
Marvin Wenfred Johnson • Thomas Felton Smith • O. Z. Thornton • Tommie Tyree • Russell Burdick Wade • Belton Elmo Wilson • Walter Evan Wilson • Jackson Harold . . . — — Map (db m201367) WM
On Helicon Road (County Route 77) at Nathan Loop Raod (County Route 1285), on the right when traveling west on Helicon Road.
Post office established May 9, 1908. Named for the first postmaster, Nathan B. Langley, who was succeeded by Robert C. Walker and David H. Hamner. Post office discontinued June 30, 1915; housed in a general store operated on this site by
Warren . . . — — Map (db m42860) HM
On County Route 41 south of Mellville Road, on the right when traveling north.
Only two-room schoolhouse for miles around. Built in 1903, “The Big Room” was a two-story building with the Masons using the upper story. “The Little Room” was a later addition. The basic studies were the three R’s and The . . . — — Map (db m42856) HM
On County Route 41 at County Route 275, on the right when traveling north on County Route 41.
Originally known as Dismal School. Built of pine logs in 1900 on 1½ acres of land given by Zeb Humphreys, the building was about 20 feet square. Seats were rough board benches without backs. Students gathered pine knots to burn in the heating . . . — — Map (db m42862) HM
On County Route 41 at Mellville Road, on the right when traveling north on County Route 41.
Here was located the switchboard known as “Central”, of Winston Telephone, Arley’s Grand Old Party Line. Built about 1909 by Mimm Wright, with an estimated maximum of 25 phones, she was the pulse of the community. When one phone rang, . . . — — Map (db m42857) HM
Near Blake Drive at Main Street, on the right when traveling east.
The Civil War was not fought between the North and South but between the Union and Confederate armies. Perhaps as many as 300,000 Southerners served in the Union Army. The majority of the Appalachian South from West Virginia to Winston County was . . . — — Map (db m201363) WM
On Alabama Route 195 at County Road 327, on the right when traveling south on State Route 195.
Founded in 1880 by Robert Gold Isbell, President, alumnus of Vanderbilt University, under the jurisdiction of the North Alabama Methodist Conference, one mile west on the Cheatham Road at the town of Motes. Elijah Blanton, Hugh W. Isbell, W.R. . . . — — Map (db m153248) HM
On Blake Drive, on the right when traveling north.
To the memory of the brothers Seaborn M. Denson (1854-1936) and Thomas J. Denson (1863-1935) who devoted their lives and gifts to composing and teaching, over most of the south land, American religious folk music as embodied in “The Sacred Harp”. . . . — — Map (db m201731) HM
On Alabama Route 195 north of Blake Drive, on the left when traveling north.
This monument stands in front of the birthplace of Dr. Thomas Malcolm Blake (1917-1989), and near the site of his office where, for forty-seven years, he devoted his life to helping others, Dr. Blake’s birthplace was formerly the residence of the . . . — — Map (db m201733) HM
On Blake Drive, on the right when traveling north.
The citizens of Winston County express our deepest gratitude to our fellow citizens who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the defense of our freedom and to the many others who have been and are willing to do so. — — Map (db m201732) WM
On 20th Street at 10th Avenue, on the right when traveling east on 20th Street.
(Side 1)
The Cherokee Indians were here first. They lived under the bluffs, near an area called the “division of the waters.” Richard McMahan established the first permanent settlement here in1820. John Byler completed the . . . — — Map (db m80558) HM
On 11th Avenue (Alabama Route 13) north of 19th Street, on the right when traveling north.
The first 9-1-1 emergency services telephone call
was made from the office of the mayor on
February 16, 1968. Earlier in the year, AT&T,
which had a near monopoly in the telephone
industry at the time, had announced its plans
for launching the . . . — — Map (db m153209) HM
On Alabama Avenue north of 15th Street, on the right when traveling north.
On this site was located the Haleyville Ice Company during the years 1912-1957. The ice plant underwent technology improvements and modernization throughout the years. Ice was produced in 300 pound blocks and cut into appropriate sizes, delivered . . . — — Map (db m214778) HM
Jacob Pruet’s Stand (tavern) was a popular stopping place on the Byler Road in the 1830s and 1840s. A two story poplar log structure with four twenty-foot rooms per floor. It was located near a large spring and netted a handsome profit, as most of . . . — — Map (db m219825) HM
On 20th Street west of 10th Avenue, on the left when traveling west.
The Byler Road was Alabama's first state road. Governor W. W. Bibb signed into law a bill authorizing its construction December 16, 1819.
The turnpike was named for John Byler, its chief promoter. Byler and his associates were directed to build . . . — — Map (db m153313) HM
On 20th Street at 10th Avenue, on the right when traveling east on 20th Street.
Born in Winston County, Alabama in 1918, Frank M. Johnson, Jr. transcended the prejudices of his time and made his mark as one of the great jurists in American history.
He married his Winston County sweetheart, Ruth Jenkins, in 1938. During . . . — — Map (db m80559) HM
On County Road 63 at County Road 61, on the left when traveling south on County Road 63.
As the 15th Governor of Alabama, Winston signed the bill creating the Alabama Public School System in 1854. He was known as the "Veto Governor” due to his stance against transportation funding. In his honor, Hancock County's name was changed to . . . — — Map (db m182870) HM
On County Road 63 at County Road 61, on the left when traveling south on County Road 63.
This is the M1841 Mountain Howitzer. It was used by the United States Army during the mid-nineteenth century from 1837 to about 1870. The cannon saw service during the Mexican-American War, the American Indian Wars, and during the American Civil . . . — — Map (db m182874) HM
On County Road 63 at County Road 61, on the left when traveling south on County Road 63.
In 1861 "Uncle Dick” was present at a meeting of 2,500 people at Looney's Tavern. Upon hearing the proposal of Winston County's possibly seceding from the state, he sarcastically exclaimed, "Oh, oh, Winston secedes! The Free State of Winston!” – a . . . — — Map (db m182871) HM
On County Road 63 at County Road 61, on the left when traveling south on County Road 63.
The Jail at Houston
The Houston Jail is the only surviving log jail in north Alabama. The jail, constructed around 1868 from hand-hewn hardwood logs, replaced an earlier one destroyed by pro-Union men in the county during the Civil War. The . . . — — Map (db m182919) HM
On County Road 63 at County Road 61, on the left when traveling south on County Road 63.
Willis Farris was appointed the first sheriff of Hancock County, Alabama, serving from August 31, 1850 to September 19, 1853. Hancock County was renamed Winston County in 1858. Farris then served another term as sheriff from 1859 until 1865. He was . . . — — Map (db m182872) HM
On County Road 9 north of U.S. 278, on the right when traveling north.
Byler Road
Byler Road, which passes through Natural Bridge, was
Alabama's first state road. Governor W.W. Bibb signed into law
a bill authorizing its construction on December 16, 1819. The
turnpike was named for John Byler, its chief . . . — — Map (db m153261) HM
On County Road 3500, 0.3 miles north of U.S. 278, on the left.
The "Free State” of Winston
In 1862, this county's representatives
opposed secession, voted to remain
neutral, and were labeled as "Torries".
In honor of the first Alabama born
governor, Winston County
received its name. It was . . . — — Map (db m168066) HM
