Americana in 2025 in Decatur, Alabama
- Rocky Baker
- Aug 29
- 4 min read
Updated: Aug 30
Decatur Alabama is known as the River City. However, Decatur is rich in American culture and American history. I recently made the 30 minutes drive going south from my home to visit Decatur.
Decatur was incorporated in 1820. It was a key transportation center due to being located along the Tennessee River - and soon thereafter along a major railroad line running from north to south. Also it became the eastern terminus of the east/west Tuscumbia, Courtland, and Decatur Railroad.
During the Civil War, because of Decatur's location on the rail line that would later be called the Louisville and Nashville Railroad (L&N) it was a strategic target for the Union army. That railroad would, and did, allow Union forces to move both men and supplies deep into the heart of the Confederacy.
While being held by the Union Army most of the city, save four buildings, were burned to the ground. Three of those buildings were the State Bank, The Dancy-Polk House and the Burleson-Hines-McEntire House.
A short time after the war the southeastern section of Decatur declared themselves a new city with the name Albany, and became incorporated in 1887. Later it would be called New Albany.
Around 1927 in order to encourage the state of Alabama to build a bridge across the river to replace the old ferry, New Albany and Old Decatur merged and the name once again became Decatur. Decatur is the county seat of surrounding Morgan County.
In 1931, in Scottsboro, Alabama, nine black teenage boys were charged with the rape of two white women. They were tried by an all white jury and eight of the nine were sentenced to the death penalty. The case received national attention and became a key element in the Civil Rights Movement of the mid 1960's.
After several appeals and requests for retrial, new trials were granted and moved to Decatur, Alabama and the Morgan County courthouse.
After many separate trials, appeals, and retrials none of the black men were executed - but some did serve time in prison.
The case of the Scottsboro Boys led to three different Supreme Court decisions that helped shape our current judicial system related to proper legal representation and proper jury selection.
The people of Decatur and Morgan County are rightfully proud of the role that their courts played in righting wrongs in the old legal system. Likewise the people of nearby Athens, Alabama are proud of the role played by their own native son, Judge James Edwin Horton who, by serving as a fair judge, risked life and limb to see that justice was done.
From the 1890's to 1922 the American Oak Leather Company operated a boat/ship building company on the Tennessee River at Decatur. It built 20 ferries, towboats or steamboats during that time. It was the only shipbuilding operation of its kind on the Tennessee River between Chattanooga and Paducah, Kentucky.
In 1910 industrialist Robert Ingalls started Ingalls Iron Works in Titusville (Birmingham), Alabama. Seeing a new market opportunity, Ingalls started the Ingalls Shipbuilding business at Decatur, Alabama. It would grow to be a large and successful operation. The Ingalls yard at Decatur built barges and cargo ships during World War II for the US Army, the U.S. Maritime Commission, and the U.S. Navy. After the war the yards produced towboats, barges, and passenger craft until it closed in 1981.
It's big brother, Ingalls Shipyard in Pascagoula, Mississippi remains as one of the largest shipyards in America today.
This is a model of an Army supply vessel build by Ingalls Shipbuilding at Decatur. It's length was 176 feet with a 32 foot beam.
Decatur holds three distinct Historic Districts. There one can find many beautiful old homes, most still occupied as private residents
Collier Home, circa 1885
The J.T. Jones House, circa1899
Dancy-Polk House, circa 1829, is the oldest house still standing in Decatur. Many historic gatherings took place there. Early in the Civil War, plans for the Battle of Shiloh were mapped out in the Dancy-Polk House.
The Burleson-Hines-McEntire House was one of of the few building left standing after the Union Army occupied Decatur during the Civil War.
The McEntire House, circa 1836, is on the banks of the Tennessee River.
Ezell House, circa 1936.
The Moseley House, circa 1885.
Shadowlawn, circa 1880.
While the first United Methodist Church has been updated and remodeled, it has been in this same location since 1827.
Those interested can still find Americana in 2025 in Decatur, Alabama.
Decatur is a city of about 58,000 residents. It is still called "The River City" because of its location along the southern shore of the Tennessee River. Decatur is a friendly city and a beautiful city. Much of the history of north Alabama is well reflected in the history of Decatur and surrounding Morgan County - and as such they reflect American history.
Decatur is rich in both American history and culture - including the Carnegie Visual Arts Center.
Both the Morgan County Archives and the Decatur Union Railroad Depot Museum are excellent places to visit.
A big "thank you" goes out to John Allison and the staff at the Morgan County Archives for their help in providing information for this article. Good job John!
The history and culture of America are still visible in 2025 for those who will take notice as they move around our country. You just just have to take time to look and think about what you are seeing.
And remember that comments are welcomed here in the box at the bottom of this page. I really like reading those comments. You can ask questions there as well. I will try hard to give you a good answer.
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#americana #decaturalabama #morgancountyalabama #miscellaneous #rockybaker #ingallsshipyards #scottsboroboys #civilwar #antebellumhome
What a wonderful essay! I always enjoy learning more about America through your efforts!
Thanks so much, Rocky!
Carl
I love the old homes!