United States. Army Corps of Engineers. Mobile District

UNITED STATES. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS.
MOBILE DISTRICT Village Creek Neighborhood Project, 1989

Background:

Industrial and urban development along Village Creek in Jefferson County, Alabama has encouraged occasional flooding of the Birmingham neighborhoods adjoining the creek. In 1989 the Army Corps of Engineers studied architectural and historical patterns within the largely working class communities of Ensley, East Birmingham, and Roebuck/East Lake – areas within the Village Creek Flood Control Project. The study culminated in the enclosed report documenting the histories of the neighborhoods and the housing and building types found there.

Sources:

Hudgins, Carter Lee, "A Natural History of Village Creek." The JOURNAL of the Birmingham Historical Society, Vol. 9, No. 1 (December 1985).
US Army Corps of Engineers, Mobile District, "More Than What We Had": An Architectural and Historical Documentation of the Village Creek Project Neighborhoods, Birmingham, Alabama. Stone Mountain, Georgia: New South Associates, 1989.

Scope and Content:

The material in this collection relates to the Army Corps of Engineers’ project "More Than What We Had." Included in the collection are photographs and floor plans of houses and buildings in Ensley, East Birmingham, and Roebuck/ East Lake, which were used in the completion of the study. Also included are taped oral history interviews with inhabitants of these communities and final and draft copies of the study.

Subject Areas:

            Architecture – Alabama – Birmingham.
            East Birmingham (Birmingham, Ala.)
            East Lake (Birmingham, Ala.)
            Ensley (Birmingham, Ala.)
            Floodplains – Alabama – Birmingham.
            Neighborhoods – Alabama – Birmingham.
            Roebuck (Birmingham, Ala.)
            Village Creek (Ala.)

Size: 1 1/4 linear feet (2 boxes)

Source: United States. Army Corps of Engineers.

Restrictions: Standard preservation and copyright restrictions.
Access to taped interviews limited to reference copies.

Guide Prepared By: Matthew Downs (January 2002)

File Number: Description:

1229.1.1 "More Than What We Had" Final Copy (159 pages).
Published study of Village Creek Project.

1229.1.2 "More Than What We Had" Final – 2^nd Copy (159 pages).

1229.1.3 "More Than What We Had" Draft (19 pages).
Introduction and Methods sections of study, pp. i-vii; 1-9.

1229.1.4 "More Than What We Had" Draft, continued (17 pages).
Historic Overview section of the study, pp. 10-27.

1229.1.5 "More Than What We Had" Draft, continued (19 pages).Historic Overview section of the study, continued, pp. 28-47.

1229.1.6 "More Than What We Had" Draft, continued (14 pages).
Village Creek Architecture introductory section, pp. 48-62.

1229.1.7 "More Than What We Had" Draft, continued (15 pages).Architectural Documentation section, detailing specific architectural examples, pp. 63-78.

1229.1.8 "More Than What We Had" Draft, continued (12 pages).
Architectural Documentation section, continued, pp. 79-91.

1229.1.9 "More Than What We Had" Draft, continued (13 pages).
Architectural Documentation section, continued, pp. 92-105.

1229.1.10 "More Than What We Had" Draft, continued (14 pages).
Architectural Documentation section, continued, pp. 106-120.

1229.1.11 "More Than What We Had" Draft, continued (9 pages).
Architectural Documentation section, continued, pp. 121-130.

1229.1.12 "More Than What We Had" Draft, continued, (8 pages).
Architectural Documentation section, continued, pp. 131-139.

1229.1.13 "More Than What We Had" Draft, continued, (13 pages).
Conclusions section, pp. 140-153.

1229.1.14 "More Than What We Had" Bound Streetscape Forms (55 pages). Collection of forms detailing information regarding the photographs accompanying the study, including the photographer’s notes and sketches.

1229.1.15 Floor Plans: Ensley (4 pages).
This file and the six that follow contain floor plans of houses included in the study.
Floor plans for 1334 Ave. V, 1308/1310 12^th Pl., 1318 12^th Pl., and 1313 12^th Pl.

1229.1.16 Floor Plans: Ensley, continued (4 pages).
Floor plans for 1116 11^th St., 1124 11^th St., 1126 11^th St., and 1128 11^th St.

1229.1.17 Floor Plans: Ensley, continued, East Birmingham (4 pages).
Floor plans for 1130 11^th St., 1227 Cahaba St., 1314 Sipsey St., and 1326 Sipsey St.

1229.1.18 Floor Plans: East Birmingham, continued (4 pages).
Floor plans for 1334/1336 Coosa St. (store), 1419 Apalachee St., 1421 Apalachee St., and 1429 Apalachee St.

1229.1.19 Floor Plans: East Birmingham, continued (4 pages).
Floor plans for 1433 Apalachee St., 1606 Tombigbee St., 1622 Tombigbee St., and 1624 Tombigbee St.

1229.1.20 Floor Plans: East Birmingham, continued (4 pages).
Floor plans for 1622 Warrior St., 3956 13^th Ave. N, 3915 14^th Ave. N (church), and 3926 16^th Ave. N.

l229.1.21 Floor Plans: East Birmingham, continued (4 pages). Lake (2 pages).
Floor plans for 3928 16^th Ave. N, 8600 1^st Ct.

1229.1.22 Photographs: East Birmingham (4 pages).
Photographs of Coosa St., between 13^th Ave. N and 14^th Ave. N.

1229.1.23 Photographs: East Birmingham, continued (3 pages).
Photographs of Cahaba St., between 12^th Ave. N and 13^th Ave. N.

1229.1.24 Photographs: East Birmingham, continued (3 pages).
Photographs of Cahaba St., between 13^th Ave. N and 14^th Ave. N.

1229.1.25 Photographs: East Birmingham, continued (4 pages).
Photographs of Escambia St., between 12^th Ave. N and 13^th Ave. N.

1229.1.26 Photographs: East Birmingham, continued (5 pages).
Photographs of Escambia St., between 13^th Ave. N and 14^th Ave. N.

1229.1.27 Photographs: East Birmingham, continued (3 pages).
Photographs of Sipsey St., between 12^th Ave. N and 13^th Ave. N.

1229.1.28 Photographs: East Birmingham, continued (2 pages).
Photographs of Sipsey St., between 13^th Ave. N and 14^th Ave. N.

1229.1.29 Photographs: East Birmingham, continued (1 page).
Photograph of 13^th Ave. N, between Escambia St. and Cahaba St.

1229.1.30 Photographs: East Birmingham, continued (2 pages)
Photographs of 13^th Ave. N, between Sipsey St. and Escambia St.

1229.1.31 Photographs: East Birmingham, continued (1 page).
Photograph of 14^th Ave. N, between Sipsey St. and Escambia St.

1229.1.32 Photographs: East Birmingham, continued (2 pages).
Photographs of 39^th St. N, between 13^th Ave. N and 14^th Ave. N.

1229.1.33 Photographs: East Birmingham, continued (4 pages).
Photographs of Apalachee St., between 13th Ave. N and 14^th Ave. N.

1229.1.34 Photographs: East Birmingham, continued (1 page).
Photograph of 12th Ave. N, between Coosa St. and Apalachee St.

1229.1.35 Photographs: East Birmingham, continued (2 pages).
Photographs of 12^th Ave. N, between Escambia St. and Cahaba St.

1229.1.36 Photographs: East Birmingham, continued (1 page).
Photograph of 12^th Ave. N, between Cahaba St. and Coosa St.

1229.1.37 Photographs: East Birmingham, continued (1 page).
Photograph of 12^th Ave. N, between Sipsey St. and Escambia St.

1229.1.38 Photographs: East Birmingham, continued (1 page).
Photograph of 13^th Ave. N, between Coosa St. and Apalachee St.

1229.1.39 Photographs: East Birmingham, continued (1 page).
Photograph of 13^th Ave. N, between 40^th St. N and Sipsey St.

1229.1.40 Photographs: East Birmingham, continued (2 pages).
Photograph of 13^th Ave. N, between Cahaba St. and Coosa St.

1229.1.41 Photographs: East Birmingham, continued (2 pages).
Photograph of 14^th Ave. N, between Coosa St. and Apalachee St.

1229.1.42 Photographs: East Birmingham, continued (2 pages).
Photographs of 14^th Ave. N, between Escambia St. and Cahaba St.

1229.1.43 Photographs: East Birmingham, continued (1 page).
Photographs of 14^th Ave. N, between Sipsey St. and Escambia St.

1229.1.44 Photographs: East Birmingham, continued (2 pages).
Photographs of Apalachee St., between 12^th Ave. N and 13^th Ave. N.

1229.1.45 Photographs: East Birmingham, continued (4 pages).
Photographs of Coosa St., between 12^th Ave. N and 13^th Ave. N.

1229.1.46 Photographs: East Birmingham, continued (1 page).
Photograph of store exterior, 1334-36 Coosa St.

1229.1.47 Photographs: East Birmingham, continued (1 page).
Photograph of store exterior, 1334-36 Coosa St.

1229.1.48 Photographs: East Birmingham, continued (1 page).
Photograph of store exterior, 1334-36 Coosa St.

1229.1.49 Photographs: East Birmingham, continued (1 page).
Photograph of store exterior, 1334-36 Coosa St.

1229.1.50 Photographs: East Birmingham, continued (1 page).
Photograph of store interior, 1334-36 Coosa St.

1229.1.51 Photographs: East Birmingham, continued (1 page).
Photograph of store interior, 1334-36 Coosa St.

1229.1.52 Photographs: East Birmingham, continued (1 page).
Photograph of store interior, 1334-36 Coosa St.

1229.1.53 Photographs: East Birmingham, continued (1 page).
Photograph of church exterior, 3915 14^th Ave. N.

1229.1.54 Photographs: East Birmingham, continued (1 page).
Photograph of church exterior, 3915 14^th Ave. N.

1229.1.55 Photographs: East Birmingham, continued (1 page).
Photograph of church exterior, 3915 14^th Ave. N.

1229.1.56 Photographs: East Birmingham, continued (1 page).
Photograph of church interior, 3915 14^th Ave. N.

1229.1.57 Photographs: East Birmingham, continued (1 page).
Photograph of church interior, 3915 14^th Ave. N.

1229.1.58 Photographs: Roebuck/East Lake (1 page).
Photograph of 3^rd Ave. N at intersection with 87^th St. N.

1229.1.59 Photographs: Roebuck/East Lake, continued (1 page).
Photograph of 87^th St. N, bounded on the north by 2^nd Ct. N.

1229.1.60 Photographs: Roebuck/East Lake, continued (1 page).
Photograph of 86^th St. N at intersection with 3^rd Ave. N.

1229.1.61 Photographs: Roebuck/East Lake, continued (1 page).
Photograph of 86^th St. N, between 2^nd Ct. N and 3^rd Ave. N.

1229.1.62 Photographs: Roebuck/East Lake, continued (1 page).
Photograph of 86^th St. N at intersection with 2^nd Ct. N.

1229.1.63 Photographs: Roebuck/East Lake, continued (1 page).
Photograph of 2^nd Ct. N, between86th St. N and 87^th St. N.

1229.1.64 Photographs: Roebuck/East Lake, continued (1 page).
Photograph of 3^rd Ct. N, between 86^th St. N and 87^th St. N.

1229.1.65 Photographs: Roebuck/East Lake, continued (1 page).
Photograph of 87^th St. at intersection with 3^rd Ave. N.

1229.1.66 Photographs: Roebuck/East Lake, continued (1 page).
Photograph of 8600 1^st Ct. N, exterior.

1229.1.67 Photographs: Roebuck/East Lake, continued (1 page).
Photograph of 8600 1^st Ct. N, exterior.

1229.1.68 Photographs: Roebuck/East Lake, continued (1 page).
Photograph of 8600 1^st Ct. N, exterior.

1229.1.69 Photographs: Roebuck/East Lake, continued (1 page).
Photograph of 8600 1^st Ct. N, interior.

1229.1.70 Photographs: Roebuck/East Lake, continued (1 page).
Photograph of 8600 1^st Ct. N, interior.

1229.1.71 Photographs: Roebuck/East Lake, continued (1 page).
Photograph of 8600 1^st Ct. N, exterior.

1229.1.72 Tape Index (66 pages).
Handwritten index of interview tapes, including description of interviewee and surroundings.
Photographs of interviewees are attached to the back of the pad.

1229.2.1 Interview Tape: "Personal Interviews" (2 tapes). Original and reference copy.

1229.2.2 Interview Tape: Kirkland and Penick (2 tapes).
Side A: Mary Kirkland; Side B: Ann McCray Penick.
Original and reference copy.

1229.2.3 Interview Tape: Penick (continued) and Feenker (2 tapes).
Side A: Ann McCray Penick, continued; Side B: Joanne Feenker.
Original and reference copy.

1229.2.4 Interview Tape: Riggins and Scott, Cherry (2 tapes).
Side A: Willie Riggins; Side B: Georgia Scott and Ocie Cherry.
Original and reference copy.

1229.2.5 Interview Tape: Scott, Cherry and Johnson (2 tapes).
Side A: Georgia Scott and Ocie Cherry, continued; Side B: Ruth Johnson.
Original and reference copy.

1229.2.6 Interview Tape: Rosa Skinner (2 tapes).
ide A: Rosa Skinner; Side B: Rosa Skinner, continued.
Original and reference copy.

1229.2.7 Interview Tape: Empty Cassette Case (1 case).
Empty cassette case labeled "Penick and Feenker."

Birmingham Public Library
2100 Park Place
Birmingham, Alabama 35203
(205) 226-3610

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UNITED STATES. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS. MOBILE DISTRICT Village Creek Neighborhood Project, 1989

UNITED STATES. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS.
MOBILE DISTRICT Village Creek Neighborhood Project, 1989