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Aldrich, Alabama

Aldrich, Alabama
Unincorporated community
Aldrich, Alabama is located in Alabama
Aldrich, Alabama
Aldrich, Alabama
Aldrich, Alabama is located in the US
Aldrich, Alabama
Aldrich, Alabama
Coordinates: 33°06′27″N 86°53′28″W / 33.10750°N 86.89111°W / 33.10750; -86.89111Coordinates: 33°06′27″N 86°53′28″W / 33.10750°N 86.89111°W / 33.10750; -86.89111
Country United States
State Alabama
County Shelby
Elevation 456 ft (139 m)
Time zone Central (CST) (UTC-6)
 • Summer (DST) CDT (UTC-5)
Area code(s) 205
GNIS feature ID 112976

Aldrich is an unincorporated community in Shelby County, Alabama, United States, that is now part of Montevallo.

Coal was mined in the area around Aldrich beginning in 1839. In 1875, Truman H. Aldrich purchased the town surrounding the mines and named it Aldrich. He leased the mining operations to his younger brother, William F. Aldrich, who was married to Josephine Cables Aldrich, spiritualist, Theosophist, editor, and publisher. Convict labor was employed at some time during the operation of Aldrich's coal mines, and is mentioned in Douglas Blackmon's Slavery By Another Name. A prison was built to house the convicts, and the convict cemetery is located near where the prison once stood. The community was once home to churches, a school, and houses that were all built by the operators of the mines. A post office was established in 1883, with William Aldrich as the first postmaster, and was in use until it was closed in 1965. From 1895 to 1902, Aldrich had a locally published newspaper, The Alabama time-piece. The mines were closed on July 5, 1942. Today, Aldrich is home to the Aldrich Coal Mine Museum.

Farrington Hall

Aldrich Commissary

Artifact collection located in commissary

Superintendent's House (colorized from original photograph)



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