History of the Woodlawn Neighborhood

     The Woodlawn neighborhood, located a few miles east of the Birmingham City Center, has a long, rich history. This diverse community has maintained a self-sufficient, small-town atmosphere since its emergence in 1832. The Wood family, for whom the area is named, migrated from South Carolina in 1824 into the Jones Valley of eastern Jefferson County. Out of this “unbroken wilderness of virgin forest” the town of Rockville was formed on the original 1200 acres that Obadiah Washington Wood gave his son, Edmund. Rockville was renamed Wood Station in 1870, the same year that the Alabama Great Southern Railroad built a line through the Jones Valley. Wood Station was, at that time, a small farming community clustered along an unpaved and un-graded county road (Georgia Road).

Woodlawn High School opened 1922

Victorian era house

         In the late 1870’s residents created the first of many schools, the private Woodlawn Academy, which educated the more affluent children of Wood Station. By 1880, the population of Wood Station had grown to 89 residents. In 1884, the Georgia Pacific Railroad was completed and used for transportation from Wood Station into Birmingham. By 1886, the residents of this growing community voted to change its name once again. Although they first chose the name East Birmingham, residents finally settled on “Woodlawn” to honor the Wood family. In 1891 Woodlawn was declared a municipal corporation by the General Assembly of the State of Alabama. With the granting of this charter, Woodlawn created its official seal, a circle within a circle, to signify a unity of community interests.

     By this time, Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian, and Episcopal churches had been built. Woodlawn’s first City Hall and Jail were erected in 1895. The population of Woodlawn had reached 2,500 by 1899. During this “population boom”, the town installed sidewalks, and built a public library, a fire department, and the second City Hall Building that still stands today. Woodlawn was finally annexed into Birmingham in 1910. By that year, the first bank was established, and 3 new elementary schools and 2 high schools (1 White, 1 Black) were in operation. The business section of town included a drug store, a general store, and a grocery store.

Grace Episcopal Church

Old Firehouse, built in the 1920’s

     The neighborhood has long been noted for its civic mindedness. The Wood family itself contributed much to this spirit. The family home, known as Woodlawn Manor included a large swimming pool fed by underground streams. In 1922 the Wood’s built a bath-house and opened their property to the public. By 1926, the Woodlawn Manor was known by the community as “Willow Wood Park” and is the site of today’s park. Neighborhood records show that in 1927 Woodlawn had 6 women’s clubs, many secret orders, a public library, a community house, several public parks, 7 White churches, 1 Black church, and 6 schools (1 Black). A radio speech in 1947 described Woodlawn’s civic-minded character with the following quote:

“Woodlawn’s corporate entity did cease [in 1910], but her community identity grew stronger with the passage of years, and I do not know of any place in this country where the spirit of community cooperation is stronger.”

     This community identity was again praised in a 1950 news quote:

“Woodlawn is a really great section of Birmingham…A section typical of the fine things of life…nice homes…nice people…nice stories…wonderful schools…and plenty of good football teams…Folks out Woodlawn way like their neighborhood…They take great pride in the things that are Woodlawn’s…And the pride is justified.”

 

Owner-occupied townhomes built in the 1970’s.

Woodlawn Library was the first branch office of the Birmingham Public Library. Building ca. 1950’s

     Local historical accounts of Woodlawn, however, begin to report symptoms of transition and decline by the mid-1950s. The first signs of neighborhood blight were being reported in the late ‘60s and by the mid 1970s high crime rates were noted. Residents’ descriptions of blight included unkempt vacant lots, health issues, dilapidated housing, and unsafe streets. In 1970s the neighborhood’s nearly 7000 residents were predominantly Whites of moderate income, with almost half of the population owning their own homes. By 1975, more than 30% of the residents were African American and homeownership had dropped below 20 percent. At the end of 1970s, comprehensive neighborhood revitalization plans were being discussed and some actions were taken to renovate the business district. A complete face-lift of the historical architecture and sidewalks along the 3-mile business district was completed in 1988. During this same time several non-profit, social service agencies emerged to promote neighborhood development.