Back in 2011, I did a pretty post on driving through Eufaula, AL on my way to the beaches of Destin, FL. I’ve driven through this cute and quaint town many times over the years, but this time I stopped and actually took pics of the historical homes lining North Eufaula Avenue in the downtown area of Eufaula. I loved the feel of that street, driving under the canopy of trees and knew that the residents of Eufaula must be so proud of their town and how beautiful this area is. Eufaula makes the South proud!
I recently received a letter from one of the residents of this area asking me if I would share a cause that is near and dear to their hearts. You see, the State of Alabama is trying to come in and widen this Main Street, North Eufaula Ave. to better the traffic flow. You know what happens when government gets involved. They think they know best how to handle a situation and many times, things get ruined on behalf of betterment. It sounds like that is exactly what is happening in Eufaula. I hate to see this happen to this beautiful little historical city, so I’m sharing it here with all of you in hopes that with some publicity, this widening can be stopped. It’s beautiful as is and evidently the residents do not want to have their street bulldozed and widened. I cannot blame them.
North Eufaula Ave. has been in the movies. Reese Witherspoon came back home to Alabama in Sweet Home Alabama, right down this street (I didn’t realize that!) to Mercer Mansion, which I captured back in 2011 in this pic above. So, you know the beauty of this small town Eufaula. The movie portrayed that Southern charm we all know and love.
Here’s another shot of Shorter mansion from the website.
Cynthia (who lives in the house above) wrote me a letter and shared this with me:
Several years ago you drove through Eufaula on your way to Florida beaches. Everyone from Atlanta must pass through Eufaula on the way to Florida. I really loved the piece you did and the photography of the homes was outstanding. Your pictures were some of the best I have seen of our lovely historic homes.
And your comments about the drive through North Eufaula Avenue, was just wonderful – the exact feelings we had when we first rode from Atlanta (on our anniversary motorcycle trip) through Eufaula and fell in love with the place! We ended up buying a 1889 Victorian cottage on North Randolph Ave (see picture above, the Rhodes-Davis house).
Today we have new challenges in our beautiful historic district. The Alabama Department of Transportation wants to four-lane the last three blocks of North Eufaula Ave – that beautiful street you drove down – and we are fighting this with all the effort and support we can muster.
There is absolutely no need to destroy this beautiful street, the trees, and historic home’s front lawns to widen three blocks. The entire three blocks is listed on the National Register of Historic Places (Eufaula has the largest historic district in Southeast Alabama – over 700 homes and buildings), and North Eufaula Ave is our main street.
We have successfully gotten the street listed as a “Alabama Places in Peril” (see Alabama Trust for Historic Preservation (www.alabamatrust.info)); we have a website, a Facebook page, and a petition.
After reading Cynthia’s plea for help, I wanted to share it on my blog. I’ll do what I can to help them, just by spreading the word that North Eufaula Avenue is in trouble and needs help! I can’t see how widening 3 blocks in a historical district will make anything better either (other than speed cars through a little faster). It will ruin the appeal and quaint feel that they have now and have enjoyed for many, many years.
You can read the whole dilemma on their website and Facebook Page: Save North Eufaula Ave. There’s a petition to sign if you would like on that Facebook link. I definitely signed it and am fully in agreement with the residents. I would hate to see a neighborhood like this destroyed for the sake of a 4 lane highway, that is mainly affected by holiday traffic only a few times a year.
The tree canopy that is threatened to be destroyed if the State paves this area with 4 lanes. It’s such a beautiful street and I really hope this doesn’t happen.
There have been some passionate articles written about this endeavor, that you can read here and in the Tuscaloosa Times. Apparently this has been a 30 year battle in the making and the residents of this fine street have been gearing up for the fight for some time and it appears that it just may happen this time around. I hope to goodness it doesn’t!
These are a sample of the beautiful historic homes that line Eufaula Ave.
Such Southern charm and old town feel. You can see the parkway median strip which is threatened to be gone if the 4 lane goes in. All those old oak trees and beautiful plants will be gone.
That would be such a shame!
The Eufaula Pilgrimage tour happens every spring and I would love to catch that one year.
Let’s help save North Eufaula Ave. I’ve signed the petition on their Facebook page and shared it here, so you all can join in too, if you feel the cause.
Several years ago, during a visit to my son’s home in Roswell … we decided to drive to those very same beaches. Right through the heart of Eufaula. I put up such a fuss we stopped for several hours snapping photo after photo! I would hate to see the essence of this charming place altered.
Several years ago, I enjoyed the home tour and hate the idea that the state would do such a thing. Not surprised; disgusted.
Prime example of when the price of progress is just TOO high! Beautiful town, great photos. I’ll sign the petition for sure! And, if we aren’t careful our southern heritage will soon be ripped out by the roots just like ALDOT wants to do to these trees. STAND UP ALABAMA!
Thanks, Rhoda, for sharing this! My dad’s family is from Geneva, AL, and we would drive through, stop and shop/eat, all the time on the way to visit relatives in Columbus, GA. I LOVE LOVE LOVE all the homes and trees…so pretty, and it brings back great memories! I signed the petition and will be sharing on FB with all my AL friends & family.
I live in a little town called Hudson, Ohio which is an extension of old Connecticut. Beautiful old homes and traditions. We have one lane each way on Main Street and as much as some people want to cut out the park on one side in order to make the traffic go faster we have somehow always managed to win the argument against it. I would try turning the government against itself. Tell them it would contribute to global warming if you cut down all those trees. Find an insect or a bird that would suffer if you did what they want. You must be on a migration trail of some sort or other. Maybe the local university could help you thru their biological studies dept. Get the EPA on your side that you want to protect your environment and make sure they understand you’re a town of active voters! Best of luck to you and your town. I hope all turns out well for you. If you’re ever in Ohio I hope you swing by.
I love the richness of the South — we spend 6 months out of the year there. I bet if a VIP lived on that street that the highway would be already in the works to leave that street alone. I will sign the petition.
It would be a shame to mess with that neighborhood and the beautiful, historical homes. I don’t know about there, but here in California, it’s illegal to cut down an oak tree. I’m sure there must be exceptions, and no doubt they’ll be found if the city has its way there. How awful that would be! Keeping my fingers crossed/
Very grateful for your post, Rhoda. Thank you for taking the time to bring our plight to so many others’ attention. And thank you, other “commenters” for your support of our cause…for your facebook shares and your signatures on our petition, and for every other way you can help get the word out. We NEED every voice we can gain. Our horticulturalist agrees that many of the lovely old trees will be damaged or killed. We are fighting an uphill battle, and every positive word rekindles hope in our hearts and strengthens our resolve.
I live in Eufaula and I love my hometown but widening the roads would be a blessing. Traffic is horrible year round. In the mornings and afternoons for school is horrendous and Summer is even worse. So, for the people who don’t live here shouldn’t have a say so,
Just signed the petition! Rhoda, thank you for raising awareness! Way too beautiful and rich in history to even think about bulldozing those beautiful trees. What a glorious street! I’ve never been there but I now want to.
I have been going to Panama City for many years one of the fondest. Memories from early childhood was going through eufaula stopping at the fruit stands along the roadside.Even now as I take my children they love when we go through eufaula they always enjoy the houses and the shaded trees over the road . Alabama dot spend your money elsewhere and leave history alone.Government always pushes things and you can bet there is a politician somewhere pushing this.I would say build a bypass for trucks let the tourist keep the one thing they enjoy about your town .
What a stunning street, it would be so sad to see it changed, those houses are simply gorgeous and such beautiful original architecture. I do hope that this Government idea doesn’t progress any further. Last year we lost a couple of small homes in our local suburb to developers, sadly they were knocked down and replaced with a small apartment block. They were the only original stucco houses left in the district and although there was much petitioning the developers won.
Good luck with this petition.
Lee
That stretch of road is my favorite part of my drive to the beach! You have to slow down as you approach town anyway – why not have a beautiful view to enjoy. Surely there’s enough historical significance to stop this. I’ll happily sign a petition. Thanks for alerting us!!
Thank you so very much for doing this wonderful Blog. Our facebook page alone has 122 new members because of your article..I thank you very much for drawing attention to our plight..
What a shame that would be to this lovely, historical neighborhood.
I know how they feel, for a home builder is wanting to build 103 homes on 16 acres on this narrow country road that I live on and in this Amish community . With all the additional cars using this road I fear for the safety of the Amish, and what a big big change to their way of life and to country living. Sad to say money talks loud to the city allowing this to go happen.
Thank you! I love Eufaula but did not know of the petition. Have signed, joined the Facebook page, and plan to make some calls too. There’s plenty of road and bridgework needed in Alabama, so unnecessary to focus our limited resources on something unneeded, unwanted, and so very damaging.
Thank you for sharing. As someone who cherishes the South’s history and time honored traditions, this speaks to my heart! I signed the petition and posted to my facebook page.
Civic planners can be such idiots. Just FYI, oftentimes this sort of project gets bulldozed through because federal $$ are dangled before states, and if they don’t get used in a certain amount of time, they are lost. It’s a tool of federal control over the states, and too many states sell out in order to get their fingers on that money. This may not be exactly the case here, but it is how many a hare-brained project becomes reality @ the local level. God speed in winning one for the people and for preserving natural beauty for posterity, Eufaula residents.
Signed and posted comment.
I always want to slow down and take photos as I go through Eufaula on the way from NC to Destin and Panama City. It is probably the most beautiful street in America. Great post, Rhoda.