Semmes Heritage Park -- Original 1902 Semmes Schoolhouse and Malone Chapel, Semmes, Alabama

Semmes Heritage Festival -- Saturday, April 13th, 2013

The public is invited to the 10th Annual Semmes Heritage Festival on Saturday, April 13 from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. at Semmes Heritage Park, 3871 Wulff Road. The event will begin with a cannon firing and the presentation of the flag by Mary G. Montgomery High School's ROTC, followed by music from the choirs of MGM and Allentown Elementary School and the Lost and Found Christian Orchestra. The Square Deal Square Dancers and other local talent will perform.

The 1902 Semmes Schoolhouse and Malone Chapel will be open to visitors, and there will be historic-document displays and demonstrations of old-fashioned crafts. Children can take part in games such as their great-grandparents played. And this year, said festival chair Jeanette Byrd, visitors are encouraged to dress up a plain old hat and enter a fashion show and "Best Hat" contest. Other events and activities include an antique tractors exhibit, displays of old hand tools, a plant sale by Mary G. Montgomery High School, food and drink for purchase.

Visitors can also take a chance on winning a beautiful hand-made quilt designed and crafted by the Semmes Heritage Quilters, who meet weekly at Malone Chapel. The quilt will be awarded at the Old-Fashioned Christmas program in December; proceeds from the event will benefit the 1902 school.

Semmes Heritage Park
3871 Wulff Road
P. O. Box 2152
Semmes, AL 36575



In 1902, Thomas Jefferson Howell gave one acre of land to build a school and a church. The School is the restored original school that was built here in 1902 on this site. Today, the school is the oldest continuous-in-use school in the State of Alabama.	The school bell continues to ring in the one-room school with field trips for children and adults. Hands on history is experienced with lessons of the 1900's.	Malone Chapel is a replica of Mt. Pleasant Church that was located on this exact spot. The Church is available to rent for weddings, reunions, meetings and special events.

Some of the families that homesteaded and received a land patent in Semmes are listed below:

1840 David Rester	1879 John Ashbee	1898 James A. McCrary
1843 Benjamin Howell	1879 Henry McCrary	1902 George F. Lowery
1845 James Roberts	1883 Littleton Lee	1904 Willie Waltman
1860 Thomas J. Howell	1885 Theophilus Snow	1909 Nellie Green
1879 William H. Allen	1892 Martin A. Cochran	1913 Walter Lee
1879 Edward P. Lowery	1897 Robert Lowery

These family names were researched from information that was given to the Heritage Park. We are seeking more names of early settlers. Can you help?

We live in a wonderful community and do not want our Heritage to be lost in time.

Would you like to share your knowledge of your family heritage in Semmes?
Let us know your Semmes Heritage.