Mobile is Alabama’s oldest city, which became part of the state in 1819. Mobile is filled with magnificent historic districts and dozens of landmarked homes and buildings. During its first 100 years, Mobile was a colony of France, Great Britain, and Spain. During the American Civil War, Mobile was a Confederate city. The turn of the 20th Century brought rapid economic boom, shipbuilding, steel, cotton, iron, and several other new industries were built, which attracted a large number of immigrants and doubled the population. During this time, the city received $3 million in federal grants for harbor improvements to deepen the shipping channels. Mobile was one of eighteen United States cities producing Liberty ships. And the shipbuilding industry grew significantly during World War II, which resulted in a considerable increase in the city’s white middle-class and working-class population. The postwar era saw a rapid decline of jobs in the shipyard, and the defense industry and chemical industries began to expand.
Here below are some old pictures of Mobile, Alabama from the early 20th Century that capture streets, roads, cityscapes, and everyday life.
Very beautiful photos! Thank you for posting
Even then, some of those old buildings looked old.
This is an excellent look at the past.
Is it just me, or do some of the roads look better than ours now
My mother was born in Mobile in 1909. I believe the residence of Edward William REIL (her father) was on Government Street. Mr. Reil ran a grocery store at their residence. Alice Gage Schumaker was my grandmother. My mother, Margaret Alice, was the baby of eight children. Edna, Laura, Leslie, Edward, Clifford, Thomas and Effie REIL Please email me if you have any information.
Thank you Aung Budhh.