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.
Oh, Rhoda, what a shame it will be if that expansion should go ahead!
It is wonderful that you have shared this on your blog for people to learn about and offer support.
I’ll go over and sign the petition- not sure if it’ll let me from Adelaide, South Australia, but this kind of situation is a world-wide issue.
Still loving your blog!
I too love driving down this beautiful street as I oo and ah over all the homes. In fact we will be passing through in less than two weeks on the way to the beach. I hate when the government steps in and wants to widen roads where it isn’t needed.
Thanks for spreading the word. Such a beautiful area deserves our protection. The “government” forgets who they “work” for sometimes. I signed the petition and shared it on my facebook.
What a beautiful town! I would be the one telling her husband “Drive slower!” Some things in life shouldn’t be rushed. Thank you for bringing the town’s plight to light!
Eufaulians who recognize the importance of historic preservation thank you for highlighting our beautiful town and the possibility our iconic, signature street could be destroyed. There are few streetscapes as breathtaking as N. Eufaula Ave. left in Aabama. Ours begs to be left untouched by ALDOT. In fact, the destruction of this avenue would be a devastating blow to our tourist industry. Please continue to spread the word! Thank you!
Thanks for sharing Rhoda! I signed the petition. What a shame to destroy such a beautiful street. Next time I visit my son’s family in Dothan, I may need to drive to Eufaula for a visit!
Rhoda…my email internet is down – so I’m sending you a note here. God bless you for doing this and helping Eufaula. The article is just wonderful, and as always, you put your heart and soul into it…..We cannot thank you enough.
Cynthia
I hope they are able to keep this from happening. Even though I haven’t visited Eufaula, it is towns like this, in Missouri and other states, that keep keep us taking the roads less traveled when we explore. There are so few of these wonderful places left! It would be sad to see North Eufaula Avenue changed.
Signed the petition and gave an opinion.
That would be terrible! I’m going to find that petition now. Thank you for telling us!
Signed the petition. Thanks for letting us be a part of something important like this.
Rhoda, thank you for highlighting Eufaula on your blog. I live very close to Eufaula and often drive through this beautiful town. Before that, my mom and I visited over a decade ago and fell in love with it. Thank you also to the residents of Eufuala for making every effort to preserve this beautiful city and the structures within.
Thank you for sharing this, Rhoda! I have signed the petition. I am glad I was given the opportunity to speak my mind about how absolutely baffled I am that the government would consider destroying such a lovely piece of history! I have driven through Eufaula on my way to the beach for 40+ years. Driving down North Eufaula Avenue was always our highlight of our trip.
I recently read about this and appreciate you spreading the word. It would be a crying shame (in my opinion — a crime!) to widen this street. I’ve signed the Petition and FB so will be watching and hoping it doesn’t happen.
Rhoda, thank you so much for your interest in our beautiful town and our struggle to save North Eufaula Avenue. We know this lovely street and the historic trees and homes that adjoin are worth preserving. We will appreciate any assistance you and your readers can give to our cause.
I too think the drive through Eufaula is beautiful! If you research a little more extensively, I think you will find the median and trees will not be bulldozed down. It will only take out a couple of feet on each side of median. The awesome trees will still be there for our enjoyment!
The root systems of the trees will be damaged and some will die. Since the canopy will need to accommodate the passage of large trucks side by side if the 4 laning occurs , it will need to be trimmed not just on the median side going north and south, but also on the sides where the houses stand. The beautiful canopy will be forever altered.
Eufaula is a treasure, and people SHOULD slow down so they can see what beautiful architecture is really like! they should either make a by-pass detour, or just live with it. These beautiful homes are treasures.
They have probably already done this but I hope they have the historical society involved. My friend in SC whose home is on the National Register of Historic Places got the Historical Society involved and was able to have a road re-routed instead of coming through her front yard! It was quite a fight but she won in the end! Best of luck to preserve this beautiful street!
I’ve never been to Eufaula, as we’ve always driven through Troy to get to Orlando from Bham. However, this August, we will drive through Eufaula on our way to Colquit for the Hoover HS vs. Colquit County football game. Your photos of the beautiful street and lovely mansions make me dread the 5-hours drive a bit less.
I meant to say that I’m looking forward to seeing the beautiful street and lovely mansions as shown in your photos, making me dread the long drive a bit less.
Oh no! Leave Eufuala alone! We usually stop and have picnic by the lake when we drive through Eufaula on our way to the beach. I love this town just the way it is!!!
So sad…I will def sign!