This Gothic style church was built in 1879 by Gainesvilles’ leading late 19th-century builder, Edward N. Kring. In accordance with tradition, the building is oriented from west to east with the altar located at the east end. The main entrance to the church is through a small, bell-tower at the northwest corner. The church still [...]
This Vernacular “I” style home, built about 1865, was the home of Edward N. Kring who was Gainesville’s leading late 19th-century builder. He built both the Methodist Church and St. Alban’s Episcopal Church as well as several homes and businesses. It appears that he built a large portion of the businesses downtown based on old [...]
This was the showroom for coffins of builder, Edward Kring. Here you would pick out your material and wood for your coffin which would then be custom built. Mr. Kring was probably the busiest builder in Gainesville in the 1870′s, building both the Methodist and Episcopal Churches as well as several homes and businesses. It [...]
This home, constructed in 1834, is one of the earliest residences in Livingston. When Livingston was plotted, James H. Spence bought eighty acres and began the construction of this home. The Spence-Moon House is one of eleven homes built by a group of craftsmen from New Hampshire and Connecticut who were employed to build homes. [...]
The United Methodist Church has been serving the Livingston community since 1834 when they began worshipping in the Sumter County Courthouse as the Methodist Episcopal Church. In 1837, the church congregation contracted carpenters to build a church building on Church Street facing South Street near Myrtlewood Cemetery. In 1885, they approved the purchase of property [...]
The Bored Well was started in 1854 and historians say an old blind mule pulled the auger around day after day until completion in 1857 of an artesian well. In the beginning citizens were disappointed with the salty taste of the water, but soon claims were made that the saline, alkaline nature of the water [...]
This cemetery has the graves of Gainesville’s earliest settlers, including founder Moses Lewis. There are also graves of over 200 unknown Confederate and Union soldiers who were brought to Gainesville by boat and train from battlefields to be nursed in hospitals housed in the hotel, school house, and homes. Located in the cemetery is a [...]
Erected in 1870. Renovated in March 2002. Now used as the Livingston, AL Town Hall. This old depot is located at the intersection of Main Street and Church Street in Livingston, AL (GPS coordinates N32.580889,W88.185250). Source: Sumter County Historical Society 4/22/10
The St. James Episcopal Church was established in 1833. The present church building was built in 1836 and consecrated in 1843 by Leonidas Polk. The church was originally Greek Revival style and later altered to Gothic elements. It was placed on the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage on 4/11/84.. This church is located at [...]
Built ca. 1840. Greek Revival style. Located in Sumter County between Livingston and Bellamy on CR 21 approximately 2 1/2 miles north of the intersection of CR 21 and Highway 80 (GPS coordinates N32.495556,W88.120583). Source: Sumter County Historical Society 4/22/10
Located on the Courthouse Square at downtown Livingston, AL (GPS coordinates N32.582639,W88.189028). Built ca. 1830. This was the only structure to survive on the Square when the previous courthouse burned in 1901. This building also served as the County Library for many years. Source: Sumter County Historical Society
Approximately 40 years ago, the county shovel operator was digging in a gravel pit near Ward and hit something hard about 40 feet deep in the ground. This turned out to be a large petrified tree. The pieces were loaded into two dump trucks and unloaded at Ward. A large section of the trunk of [...]
