• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
RuralSWAlabama

RuralSWAlabama

Rural Southwest Alabama: Attractions

  • Region Map
  • By Attraction
  • By County
  • By Town
  • Open for Tours
  • More
  • Show Search
Hide Search

Smith Building at Marion, AL (c. 1880)

| Marion in Perry County  

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Originally a two-story brick building. this structure had a major renovation in 1905. Ceramic tile was applied over the former brick façade, and the ceiling of the first floor was opened to the second floor creating an oval shaped balcony overlooking the main floor below. During mid-20th century the building housed Goldblatt’s, a women’s clothing store run by Rose Goldblatt Bloom and later her sister, Millie. Then circa 1980 Wild Horse Western Wear operated here. The last business to occupy the building was Marybelle Webb’s Odds and Ends. By 2011, the building was near ruins with the roof and floor falling in. Hunter Lewis engaged Gayle Rayfield to restore the structure. Now owned by the Alabama Black Belt Foundation, the Smith Building is a gallery hosting rotating exhibits and other events.

This build is a contributing property to the Marion Courthouse Square Historic District that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). It is located at downtown Marion across the street in front of the Parry County Courthouse (GPS coordinates 32.632950,-87.319197).

Sources: 1) The 2018 Marion Historic Home Tour Brochure; 2) NRHP “Marion Courthouse Square Historic District” Registration Form.

Tags: alabama, black belt, marion, perry county

Explore more

About This Website

Welcome to rural southwest Alabama. This website is dedicated to twelve counties located in rural southwest Alabama which includes a large portion of Alabama’s Black Belt area. This region is known for its rich and diverse heritage, historic homes and churches, and natural beauty. This website contains details about historic and interesting places that you will find in this area of Alabama.

PLEASE NOTE THAT MOST OF THE HOMES INCLUDED ARE PRIVATE RESIDENCES AND, UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED, ARE DRIVE BY ONLY.

We hope that you enjoy this website.

Be sure to like our Facebook page

Dedicated to the memory of Stacy Milstead Henson (1978-2008) & Inez “Sis” Watts (1924-2007).

Footer

Copyright © 2023

  • Facebook
  • Instagram