RuralSWAlabama

First United Methodist Church at St. Stephens, AL (built ca. 1857; listed on the ARLH)

The first mention of an organized Methodist Church in St. Stephens was 1856 and this church was constructed in 1857.  Land for the church was given by Levin Jefferson Wilson and his wife Elizabeth.  A $500 contract for the church building was awarded t …

Indian Baths at Old St. Stephens Historical Park in Washington County, AL.

The origin of these man-made pits is uncertain. Some say the Choctaw carved them out. Some say it was the Spanish. The “Indian Baths” are included in Alabama’s Tapestry of Historic Places 1978 published by the Alabama Historical Commission. GPS coordin …

Old St. Stephens Courthouse at St. Stephens, AL (completed 1854; recorded by HABS; listed on the NRHP & ARLH)

The “new” town of St. Stephens, approximately three miles south of the original St. Stephens town site, was selected in 1848 as the seat of government for Washington County. In 1853 the Alabama Legislature authorized construction of the St. Stephens Co …

Old St. Stephens Historical Park near present-day St. Stephens, AL (site of Alabama’s only territorial capital)

This park is located in southwest Alabama on the Tombigbee River at the site of old St. Stephens which played an important part in early Alabama’s history. The settlement that became known as St. Stephens began as a Spanish fort in 1789 and later serve …