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Archaeological Survey of the Old Federal Road in Alabama

Archaeological Survey of the Old Federal Road in Alabama

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Figure 1-4. Robert Slaughter on his fish<strong>in</strong>g boat <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Alabama</strong> River, <strong>of</strong>fshore from <strong>the</strong> site <strong>of</strong> Mims’sFerry Land<strong>in</strong>g, June 21, 2011.Due to <strong>the</strong> relatively small portion <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Old</strong> <strong>Federal</strong> <strong>Road</strong> <strong>in</strong> Escambia County (approximately15 miles), a meet<strong>in</strong>g with local historians from both counties seemed appropriate. Jerry Simons (Director<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Thomas E. McMillan Museum) coord<strong>in</strong>ated <strong>the</strong> meet<strong>in</strong>g. Several members <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Escambia CountyHistorical Society were <strong>in</strong> attendance, <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g Ann Biggs-William, Tom McMillan, and Paul Merritt.Baldw<strong>in</strong> County native Jeff Ross also participated. Mrs. Biggs-William’s provided us with WilliamLetford’s orig<strong>in</strong>al 1970s research notes on <strong>the</strong> <strong>Old</strong> <strong>Federal</strong> <strong>Road</strong>, organized by county, which have provento be an <strong>in</strong>valuable resource. Letford’s notes were loaned to Mrs. Biggs-Williams by Fritz Currie, whoreceived <strong>the</strong>m from his fa<strong>the</strong>r, Floyd Currie, a former president <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Escambia County HistoricalSociety. Mr. McMillan is a descendent <strong>of</strong> Duncan McMillan, owner <strong>of</strong> a stage stop site we targeted forsurvey <strong>in</strong> Monroe County. He granted us full access to historical documents housed at <strong>the</strong> McMillan Trust<strong>in</strong> downtown Brewton.Jeff Ross, Paul Merritt, and Ann Biggs-Williams <strong>the</strong>n led us on a tour <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Old</strong> <strong>Federal</strong> <strong>Road</strong> <strong>in</strong>Escambia and Baldw<strong>in</strong> counties (Figure 1-5). In addition to <strong>the</strong> route <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> road and later branches usedfor stage coach travel, we visited Jack Spr<strong>in</strong>gs, Lottie, Hadley Stage Stop, Montpelier, and WilliamWea<strong>the</strong>rford’s gravesite. Tom Bradley II and Tom Bradley III, owners <strong>of</strong> Montpelier <strong>in</strong> Baldw<strong>in</strong> County,were <strong>in</strong>vited to <strong>the</strong> meet<strong>in</strong>g, but were unable to attend.13

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