Rutledge
Posted by: 
vhasler
N 31° 43.827 W 086° 18.593
16R E 565375 N 3510765
Rutledge was the original county seat of Crenshaw County until the railroad passed it by.
Waymark Code: WMA892
Location: Alabama, United States
Date Posted: 12/01/2010
Views: 15
Marker text:
Rutledge was the first county seat of Crenshaw County and held that position from March 1867 to May 1893. Originally called Barber’s Cross Roads, it was briefly named Crenshaw; but June 10, 1867, it was changed to Rutledge in honor of Captain Henry Rutledge, Company H. 59th Alabama Infantry, CSA.
The first elected county officials were: George W. Thagard, Probate Judge; James M. Lawrence, Tax Collector; W.T. Massey, Tax Assessor; John R. Snow, Sheriff; F.M. Cody, Circuit Clerk; and John P. Cook, D.A. Rutledge, Hugh Cameron, and John Jones, County Commissioners. Elizabeth Pittman donated the land on which the two-story courthouse was built.
Rutledge for many years was a thriving community, but the construction of the Alabama Midland Railroad from Montgomery to Luverne in 1888 by-passed the town. A spur track built from Julian to Rutledge in 1891 failed to stop the loss of population and business to Luverne and in 1893 a special election led to the county seat being moved there.
Marker Name: Rutledge
Marker Type: Rural Roadside
Addtional Information::
Located on the corner of Lee Street (AL Rte 10) and N. Watts Avenue
Erected by the Crenshaw County Historical Society.
Date Dedicated / Placed: 1990
Marker Number: No Listed
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Visit Instructions:
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