Lincoln Mill Village
Lincoln Mill
Village
Huntsville, Alabama
Long before Huntsville was a space mecca, its foundation was built on the cotton industry.
One of the oldest mills still exists on Meridian in one of the oldest "suburbs" in town.
This is the Lincoln Mill Village.
Originally opened in 1900, the mill was sold twice before coming under the ownership of
of William Lincoln Barrel, after whom the mill was renamed. In 1924, he expanded the mill
to over 750,000 square feet. Along with this expansion came the need for many more workers.
These workers needed housing. The Lincoln Mill Village was born.
Now the entire neighborhood lies in the shadow of the decades closed mill. It is now one
of the city's most economically depressed areas. There are attempts at preserving some of
the area's history, but, unfortunately, some places end up like this.
These homes sit on a forgotten, dead end street about two blocks from the mill. Many
are, at best, uninhabitable. Most of the others are on the verge of collapse.
Even the trees seem to succomb to the neglect surrounding them. Their trunks wretch at the
continuing decay.
The facade is fading everywhere you look. Most reveal rotted wood or a crumbling
foundation. This reveals... Marge Simpson?
A local told me about the hard wood floors, the high crowned ceilings, and relatively
spacious accomodations on the inside. It is unfortunate that these qualities may not be
enough to save these pieces of history from extinction.
I may be wrong, but to the best of my knowledge, I think they discontinued this design in
1967.
Rusted pipes. Capped off and leading to nowhere. The same can be said about the homes that
these pipes once served.
Local owners complain about the out-of-town owners of many of the units. They have no
ties to Huntsville's past and have no vested interest in its future. While the neighbors
struggle for some control, the wood contiues to rot.
There are very few original units left in the village. Some have been successfully
renovated. Unfortunately, the vast majority are just a little better than these.
Update- The units highlighted here, located on Holding Street, have since been razed by the city of Huntsville.
Although it is sad to see these historic structures destroyed, the neighborhood is better off with the opportunity
for new development rather than holding on to a decrepit past.
Thanks to Bob Baker and his website
Historic Lincoln Mill Village for providing much of the historical information found
here.
Page loading...
Please wait.
;)
;)
;)
Now the entire neighborhood lies in the shadow of the decades closed mill. It is now one
of the city's most economically depressed areas. There are attempts at preserving some of
the area's history, but, unfortunately, some places end up like this.
;)
;)
;)
Even the trees seem to succomb to the neglect surrounding them. Their trunks wretch at the
continuing decay.
;)
The facade is fading everywhere you look. Most reveal rotted wood or a crumbling
foundation. This reveals... Marge Simpson?
;)
;)
;)
I may be wrong, but to the best of my knowledge, I think they discontinued this design in
1967.
;)
Rusted pipes. Capped off and leading to nowhere. The same can be said about the homes that
these pipes once served.
;)
;)
;)
;)
;)
;)