Another part of the city's history

By Jack Coley (Contact) | Alex City Outlook

Published Wednesday, September 16, 2009

In 1902, a brilliant young attorney who had left his practice in Birmingham to return to his hometown of Alex City bought a textile mill in Washington, Ga., and brought it home. The attorney was Benjamin Russell, a graduate of the University of Virginia, and the first textiles manufactured by the Russell Mills were “teddies.” These were ladies’ undergarments. From that beginning, the Russell Mills expanded into a worldwide empire noted especially for its athletic wear. The Russell Corporation was by far Alex City’s largest employer.

The Avondale Mills came to Alex City in 1919 where the Bevelle plant was purchased from a New England family who operated the Alexander City Cotton Mill. The Avondale Mills were established in Alabama in 1897 in Birmingham by the Trainer family of Chester, Penn. This was later acquired by Braxton Bragg Comer who later became the governor of Alabama. When the Bevelle Plant was established, Governor Comer’s son, J. Fletcher Comer, moved to Alex City from Georgia. The Alex City plant became famous for manufacturing mattress ticking.

Alex City was well-established as a textile community – one of many dotted around the South. Later, other businesses were founded here – the Robinson Foundry and Iron being the largest and most notable.

The economy of the town experienced a steady and healthy growth based on the textile business, and the loyalty and spirit of Alex City found its center in the Ale City High School Wildcats’ football team. The high school was a two story brick building located on the site of the Middle School. The school colors were orange and black, and victories over Dadeville, Tallassee and Sidney Lanier in Montgomery were highly celebrated events. Coaches and stars of the teams were bona fide heroes of the town and their fame echoed down through the years.

Benjamin Russell High School, built with funds from the Russell Foundation, opened its doors in September, 1950. It was considered a very fine facility, and the students were very proud of BRHS, The school colors were, for some reason, changed to red and white. I was a member of the first junior class, and our group graduated in 1952. The main social event of the year was the junior senior dance (we did not at the time use the term “prom”). The event was hosted by the junior class in honor of the seniors. My class was the first official host in the new building, and I had the honor of being on the social committee. We assumed that, naturally, the dance would take place in our fine new gymnasium, but we had not reckoned with the proprietorial emotions of the basketball coach who was convinced that our show leather and our jitterbugging would absolutely ruin his gym floor. This became quite a “cause celebre” and brought about much discussion and negotiating. Finally, the decision was made that we could hold our dance in the gym, but we were required to scatter tons of corn meal on the floor as protection. Dances always required lead outs when class officers and other notables (with dates) were introduced to the audience and paraded down the length of the gym, and processing back to form the Grand March. Our committee worked tirelessly for weeks hiring a band, choosing a theme song (ours was “Moonlight and Roses”) and planning invitations and decorations. Everything fell into place and the big night arrived. All went well except the participants in the lead out kicked up great clouds of corn meal as they preceded with great poise and dignity down the floor. There was a limited amount of slipping and sliding when leather met meal. It was an indescribable sight and one thing that we never planned for. However, I can honestly say that the first Junior-Senior dance of BRHS set very high standards for future junior classes.

Jack Coley’s column on Alexander City will appear each Thursday in The Alexander City Outlook.

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