Newsletter
Mayor Andy Betterton
March 23, 2023
The National Professional Fishing League
The National Professional Fishing League (85 anglers) was in town this past week. Thank you, Visit the Shoals for promoting our city!
Now Accepting Historical Plaque Orders
After a few years of its unavailability, the plaque to mark individual historical homes and buildings in Florence and Lauderdale County is now being offered once again by popular demand. (See the accompanying image.)
To be eligible for a plaque, the home or building must be at least fifty (50) years old and must not have had its street side façade significantly altered.
As in the past, the plaque is being produced by a local company and is being offered for sale by Heritage Preservation, Inc., a local non-profit organization whose central purpose is to promote the preservation of historic structures, sites, and documents in Florence and Lauderdale County. The plaque will only be produced in lots of 50 or more, and the cost is $100 each, prepaid. Therefore, when as many as 50 have been ordered, the company will go to press. Then the orders for the next batch will begin. To receive an application for ordering a new plaque or replacing an existing one, please contact Billy Warren at 256-718-5020 or by email at brwarren@florenceal.org. Upon approval of the application, the order may then be completed. For further information, contact Billy Warren at the phone number or email address above.
Congratulations, Caringplace Shoals! Thank you for all of your hard work & dedication to our community!
Thank you to the volunteers, organizations, and sponsors whose dedication and efforts for this event have made it a resounding success.
Volunteer Organizations: City of Florence Employees, Scout Troop 285, Delta Sigma Theta, Lotus Recovery, UNA Athletics and UServe, College View Kids, FHS ROTC, First United Methodist Church Florence, Pi Kappa Alpha, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Common Ground Shoals, Zeta Phi Beta, Marriott Shoals Hotel and Spa, Holcim, Southern Legacy Outreach, FHS Girls Soccer, Alpha Kappa Alpha, Downtown Florence Alliance, and all the individual volunteers who brave the cold and wind to Keep Florence Beautiful!
Sponsors: City of Florence Departments & Employees, Waste Connections, Keep the Shoals Beautiful, Courier Journal, and Rosie’s Cantina.
Slim Chickens Is Open!
THE ORIGIN OF FLORENCE’S TEXTILE INDUSTRY
Dr. Robert Perry, former pastor of the Nazarene Church in Florence, has done truly invaluable research on the textile industry in the South, the industry which paved the way for a transition from an agricultural to an industrial economy. Prominent in his findings is one James Martin who established the first textile mill on Cypress Creek in Florence in 1839. (The present-day Cypress Mill Road was named in its honor, of course.) Known as the Globe Factory, it employed 150 workers by 1844 – just five years after its founding. A fire in that same year destroyed the factory, but, undeterred, Mr. Martin, with new partners such as Samuel Weakley (Mayor of Florence, 1848-1850), rebuilt the mill and renamed it the Martin-Weakley Mill. By 1860, this mill ranked, along with the Tallassee, Alabama Mill, as the largest in the State and one of the largest in the South. It was capitalized at $250,000 (referred to as a “princely sum” in those days) and employed 300 workers. But Mr. Martin’s reach went far beyond his genius as an industrialist. For example, he established a school for the children of his workers and for his workers themselves (many of whom were illiterate). He built houses – even a church – for them. His own home, known as the Martin-Bounds House, still stands on Cypress Mill Road. With his dedicated efforts, James Martin set the stage for what would become in Florence – well into the twentieth century – one of its major industries, spurring the establishment of other textile mills which followed in the eastern section of town.
--Billy Warren, City Historian
It’s easy to find out if your vaccinations are up to date. Just ask your doctor or pharmacist. Protecting yourself protects our community and makes us stronger!
Full Time - $43,945.09 Annually
Electrical Distribution Engineer New
Electricity DepartmentFull Time - $67,555.82 Annually
Fire Department Station #1 402 South Wood Ave Florence
Full Time - $42,195.38 Annual
Support Staff Mayor City Council Part Time New
Mayor's Office Florence Lauderdale Government Building Ste 200 FlorencePart Time - $15.11 Hourly
PUBLIC NOTICE: Annual Fire Hydrant Testing
The Florence Fire Department will begin the annual flow testing on fire hydrants on April 3. Testing will be completed by April 30. All hydrants in Florence will be tested. During this time, you may experience discolored water. The water is harmless and will clear after you flush your lines.
However, when the water is discolored, do not wash clothing as the colored water could stain fabric. If your clothes are in a wash cycle, do not dry them. Allow clothes washed in stained water to remain wet until the water is clear. When your water runs clear, rewash your clothes.
We apologize for any inconvenience, and if you experience any problems, please call our Florence Gas & Water 24/7 dispatch number at 256-760-6490 for assistance or concerns. You can also contact Florence Fire & Rescue at 256-760-6475.
NEXT COUNCIL MEETING
The Mayor and Council members will hold the next council meeting on
April 4, 2023
4:00 pm Work Session
5:00 pm Council Meeting
A little funny..
How to Submit Your Event, News, or Announcement:
- Public and community events or announcements can be submitted by attaching an email, Word document, PDF, or JPG file suitable for viewing on the web. Include graphics in JPG or PNG if possible.
- Along with your information, include your name, phone number, event name, location, date and time, and a brief description.
- IMPORTANT: Please submit your information no later than Tuesday of each week (preferably sooner). Submissions after the deadline will be added to the next week's publication. The newsletter is posted on Thursday afternoon.
- Send your information to rmansell@florenceal.org or call Rachel Koonce with questions at 256-760-6494.
Connect with Us!
Email: abetterton@florenceal.org
Website: florenceal.org
Location: 110 West College Street, Florence, AL, USA
Phone: (256)760-6400