William S. Cook House, Walker County Road 11, Nauvoo

Source document Quoted word for word from HABS ALA,64-NAU,2-. Not written, edited or summarised by this site.

William Cook Parkway, Nauvoo, Walker County, Alabama. The house sits on a six acre lot facing the William Cook Parkway which connects U.S. Highway 78 at Carbon Hill to the historic mining town of Nauvoo. To the west of this road are the tracks of the Norfolk Southern Railroad. Boundaries of the parallelogram-shaped lot include 449 feet along the parkway on the west, 777 feet along the abandoned bed of the Black Creek Coal Co. No. 2 Mine spur to the south, 578 feet on the northern edge, and 308 feet at the eastern property line. The western property line parallels the Norfolk Southern Railroad. The property description lists the lot as Lot No. 3 of the NE 1/4 of NW Section 28, Township 12, Range 9, West, Surface only. The abandoned Black Creek Coal Company No.

2 Mine lies to the east of the property. UTM: Present Owner/ Occupant: Jean Katherine Dillon

Source document Quoted word for word from HABS ALA,64-NAU,2-. Not written, edited or summarised by this site.

The Cook House is a mine superintendent and owner's house located at the former Black Creek No. 2 mine (active from to the in the Warrior coal field near the coal mining communities of Carbon Hill and Nauvoo. Built in by Scottish immigrant William Cook from Queen Anne style patterns by local craftsmen with local materials, the residence remains in Cook family ownership. WILLIAMS. COOK HOUSE HABS No. AL-912 (Page 2)

Source document Quoted word for word from HABS ALA,64-NAU,2-. Not written, edited or summarised by this site.

HISTORICAL INFORMATION A. Physical History: 1. Date of erection: 2. Architect: unknown 3. Original and subsequent owners: Mr. and William Cook; daughters Elizabeth and Jean Cook granddaughter Jean Dillon (current) 4. Original and subsequent occupants: Mr. and William Cook, their daughters and granddaughter (see above) 5. Builder, contractor, suppliers: According to Cook family tradition, Cook selected the trees from which the lumber in his house was milled and had it dressed in the company sawmill which was located near the house. 1 The family asserts that the rough hewn lumber for the house construction came from a saw mill then located across the public road and the tracks from the house site. Bo Gipson and a Mr. McKeever ran this mill.

2 A Cook family album includes photographs of pine logs and of cut and stacked lumber taken perhaps at this mill. The photographs are not dated but sequentially follow photographs of mining operations and precede a photograph of the "House" that appears on a page dated June The "House" photograph is of the Cook House which appears to have been newly constructed. Helen Boteler Dudley, a 93-year-old life-time resident of Nauvoo stated that construction of the house was ongoing in She recalled the summer afternoon in when her mother took her to see the Illinois Central Railroad engine that had derailed across from the Cook House site.

Her father, Richard Boteler, was "building on the house." Boteler who worked as a carpenter "when there wasn't no work in the mines" was getting off work at the construction site. A photograph of this derailment appears in Memories of Nauvoo. William Cook's daughter Elizabeth submitted a 1Jean Dillon, Introduction to the William Cook House. Howard Adkins, Interview with author, 24 September 2 WILLIAMS. COOK HOUSE HABS No. AL-912 (Page 3) professional photographer's record of the tragic incident, which was a major event in the life of the mining community, for publication in the local history. 3 Planed lumber and other building materials came from a mill at Manchester. An ox drawn wagon delivered these materials.

4 The Western Electric Company, a national firm, operated the lumber plant at Manchester, "the" center of lumber activities in Walker County from to 5 Local carpenters who worked at the Cook House include Andy and Luther Ingle, Richard Boteler, and a Mr. Whatley. 6 Local historians credit the Ingle brothers with many other area residences and commercial structures, including houses for workers at the No. 2 Mine and the Hyde Building, a cement block building completed in for use as the Cowart store in Nauvoo. 7 6. Original plans and construction: Family tradition says that William Cook "had the house built" according to the architectural plans still in the family's possession. The family asserts that the "Cook House" was built shortly following the turn of the century.

Memories of Nauvoo, Howard Adkins, Interview; Cook House Typescript; Cook 3 Family Photograph Album, c. 4Howard Adkins, Interview, 24 September Memories of Nauvoo, 21. If the lumber did come from the Manchester mill, the lumber was most likely milled between and the years when the mill was operating. Another clue as to the construction date of the house is the presence in the basement of a coal burning furnace, an International One Pipe, made by the International Heater Co. of Utica, New York in It is unlikely that this furnace would have been installed after the construction of the house, especially since the basement, walls, and floor and the house foundations are of poured-in-place concrete.

5John Martin Dombhart, History of Walker County, Alabama (Jasper, AL: Northwest Alabama Publishing Co.,1987) 57. Due to heavy cutting of merchantable timber the plant was closed and dismantled in Today remains of the company-built community of Manchester, including a plant, logging pond, company commissary and houses, are located 12 miles southeast of Nauvoo and four miles north of Jasper in a bend of Blackwater Creek. 6 Helen Boteler, Interview with author, 24 September Memories of Nauvoo, Memories of Nauvoo, 21, 36. 1 WILLIAMS. COOK HOUSE HABS No. AL-912 (Page 4) Other sources reviewed in researching this report suggest that construction probably began in and continued into 7.

Alterations and additions: Local sources suggest Cook and or his local builders modified the existing architectural plans in building the Cook House. The structure stands as built. B. Historical Context: Introduction: This report presents a history of the William Cook House, Nauvoo, Alabama. Cook was a Scottish immigrant coal miner whose successful ventures allowed him to build a comfortable home for his family. One of few remaining mine superintendent houses, this residence retains its architectural integrity and setting on substantial acreage adjacent to the abandoned No. 2 Mine. Several Alabama coal firms -- Black Creek Coal Company, Monro-Warrior Coal Company, Deepwater Coal and Iron Company -- operated this mine from to and during World War II.

The Cook House has remained in family ownership since its completion in and is filled with furnishings and memorabilia. It is opened to the public for special events. The Cook House story is presented within the context of the development of coal mining activity in Walker County from the to the present day. During this time Walker County evolved as a leading southern coal producing region. Investment in the relatively small operation at Nauvoo reflects the transfer of capital from antebellum agricultural concerns to this mining region and later to the Kentucky coal fields. Efforts to develop this site for public interpretation also mirror efforts of other individuals and groups throughout the county to tell the history of the region.

Brief History of Coal Mining in Walker County: From the though Walker County's coal industry flourished and was prosperous. Walker County's 804 square miles are located in the Warrior Coal Field, Alabama's major coal field. The Warrior Field is located to the northwest of Birmingham, the center for the industrial region, which WILLIAMS. COOK HOUSE HABS No. AL-912 (Page 5) became known as the Birmingham District by the 8 Walker County's coal seams were easily accessible through drifts or shallow slopes or shafts. Most of the mines here were drift mines, where the exposed outcrops of the coal seams could be attacked most readily and at a minimum cost. 9 Alabamians became the major investors in the mines.

From the onset of mining in the early production levels rose dramatically as the easiest and cheapest to mine coal was worked. In Walker County mines produced tons of coal. By more than men worked at 69 mines in the county and production had risen to 5.3 million tons. Even as late as there was little mechanical mining in the county's thin coal seams. Most of the coal was undercut with so-called short-wall machines and hand-loaded. Mules were used as power for haulage. Mines rarely employed conveyor loading in below or above ground activities. 10 In Walker County's mines produced 6.2 million tons of coal. During these years the county's output was approximately one-third to one-fourth of Alabama's coal production.

11 8In the Warrior Field was known to contain about 40 seams, 14 of them exceeding two and one half feet in thickness. Second Biennial Report of the Inspectors of Mines, (Birmingham, AL: Dispatch Printing Co., 5. In Walker County the Pratt, Corona, Jefferson, Newcastle, Jagger, Mary Lee, Mt. Carmel, Blue Creek, Loss Creek, and Black Creek seams were mined. Thickness of the Black Creek seams near Nauvoo averaged from 24 to 36 inches. Milton Fies, The Man with a Light on his Cap-Being a Brief Chronicle of Coal Mining in 9 Walker County: In Carl Elliott, ed.

Annals of Northwest Alabama III (Jasper,AL: 10Undercut machines with saw chains were used in the Corona and Galloway mines by Second Biennial Report of the Inspector of Mines, DeBardeleben Coal Corporation introduced the first mobile loading machine in Walker County at its Hull Mine in At the Townley Mine, the company introduced the first underground belt in Alabama to transport coal from underground to the main slope for delivery to the surface.

Milton Fies who superintended the Birmingham-based DeBardeleben Coal companies activities in Walker County from to explained the low mechanization prior to the by stating that the county's coal operators were mainly Alabamians making a fair return on their investment and not inclined to reinvest their money in coal property or mechanization after the mines which were in operation became exhausted. Milton Fies, The Man with A Light on his Cap, See Appendix I and Appendix II for a listing of coal production in Walker County and in 11 Alabama. WILLIAMS. COOK HOUSE HABS No. AL-912 (Page 6) Walker County's and Alabama's dramatic increase in coal production during the late and early centuries parallels the United States' rise as the leading international coal producer.

In United States coal production first surpassed that of the United Kingdom. In this year American companies, including the Black Creek Coal Company at Nauvoo, Alabama, mined 230 million tons of coal. By United States companies, including the Black Creek Coal Company, increased production to 453 million tons while British production, then the major international competitor, remained relatively stable. During these same years, to Alabama coal production increased from 7.4 to million tons. Alabama ranked fifth in national coal production for the year with 3.4 percent of national production. In Pennsylvania, Illinois, and West Virginia led the nation in coal production with percent, percent, and percent of total production.

Alabama's coal production exceeded that of Indiana, Colorado, and Kentucky in this and other years at this time.u Alabamians would continue to invest in Alabama coal development, but also in the exploration and development of the major Kentucky seams. With the exception of the mines at Sipsey, Empire and Nauvoo and the domestic sizes of coal at Corona, Coal Valley, Townley and Holly Grove, all the coal mined in Walker County until World War II was steam coal. The railroads -- the Frisco, Southern, Illinois Central, and the Seaboard -- were by far the largest consumers of the product of the county's mines. Manufacturing plants such as sugar refineries, cotton mills, and power plants were also heavy consumers of Walker County, and Alabama coal.

By the market area for steam coal extended throughout Alabama, Mississippi, Florida, Georgia, the Carolinas, and a large portion of Tennessee. 8 By the Birmingham area furnace companies -- particularly the Sloss Furnace Company -- and later cokeworks at Tarrant and Holt were large consumers of Walker County's coking coal. H. A. Springer, Expert Mine Accountant, Bituminous Production by States and Coal 12 Production of the World, In State of Alabama, Report of Inspector of Alabama Coal Mines Showing the Location of Mines, Character, Production, Employees, Etc. for the Year Birmingham, 45, 46. 13 Milton Fies, The Man with a Light on His Cap, First Biennial Report of the State Inspector of Mines for the Years beginning Dec. 31, and ending Dec. 31, WILLIAMS. COOK HOUSE HABS No.

AL-912 (Page 7) Times remained "flush", as area residents describe mining prosperity, through the In natural gas from the Louisiana fields became a competitive fuel at regional manufacturing plants. In the the major customer of the county's mines, the railroads, began the change over from coal-burning engines to diesel locomotives. During World War II area mines thrived by increasing exports to European countries. By times were really tough for commercial coal operators. In Alabama Power purchased 70 to 75 percent of Alabama's 12 million ton annual output . 14 The mines at Nauvoo, and many other early century Walker County mines, closed by In the next decades individual operators opened scores of small "truck" mines and many areas of the county were intensively strip mined.

As environmental standards for the mining of coal as well as the qualities of coal that could be used tightened, the county's coal operators regrouped, reorganized, went out of business, or updated practices. Lumber interests continued to acquire substantial acreage in the county. Today the county's major mining firm, Drummond Company, Inc., is a "top 20 11 national producer with mines worldwide. This firm began in Various Drummond family members had been involved in mining operations in the county as early as the mid nineteenth century. In Drummond acquired Alabama By-Products Corporation (ABC) of Birmingham. Many of Walker County's historic mining firms and the lands which they controlled had previously merged to form ABC. The Brookside Pratt Mining Company, which last operated the No.

2 Mine at the Nauvoo in the was one of the firms acquired by ABC. Today draglines three football fields tall (a measurement Alabamians immediately understand) and underground mines at feet deep annually produce 26 to 29 million tons of coal in Walker and other nearby coal producing counties of Alabama. Many Walker County coal miners, among them third and fourth generation area miners, work in the county. They also live in Walker County and commute to neighboring counties to work in the more recently developed high-tech mines. While mining jobs in the Birmingham Metropolitan Statistical Area decreased from in to in coal production doubled.

Although surface mining remains important, underground mines supply 62 percent of 14Milton Fies, A Man with A Light on His Cap, 61, 62; Keystone Coal Buyers Manual, WILLIAMS. COOK HOUSE HABS No. AL-912 (Page 8) the coal mined in the Birmingham District. 15 In Alabama Power Company purchased 80 percent of Alabama's coal production. 16 Development of Coal Mining and Community at Nauvoo: Construction of railroads into the northern Alabama mineral region opened this area of Walker County, 65 miles northwest of Birmingham, to industrial and community development. During the and the Birmingham District, a geological district centered about Birmingham, became a major center of pig iron and coal production.

The coal industry developed to fuel railroad engines, iron-producing furnaces, and to power sugar refineries, lumber mills, cotton mills, and power plants. Collieries, cokeworks, and saw mills opened along the path of the newly constructed railroads, entering Walker County from st. Louis and Memphis. Jasper, the antebellum county seat, became a regional center for transportation, coke, and lumber. The coal mining and lumbering industries at Nauvoo, 19 miles north of Jasper, flourished from the through the Initial capital for mining development at Nauvoo came from a leading Alabama planter family, the Whitfields of Demopolis.

The locally managed Black Creek Coal Company and successor firms from Jasper and Birmingham (the Deepwater Black Creek Coal Company, Monro-Warrior Coal Company and Brookside Pratt Coal Company) operated coal mines in the immediate area of Nauvoo and in other nearby areas through Former mineral lands in the Nauvoo area still provide timber for the pulp, paper, and lumber industries . 17 Keystone Coal Buyers Manual, Keystone Coal Industry 15 Manual,(Chicago,IL, MacLean Hunter Publishing Company,1994). Patsy Southerland, Interview with Bill Jones, 7 April Patsy Southerland is 16 administrative assistant to the Secretary of Alabama Power Company.

17The Walker County Tax Assessor records list the following owners of property in the vicinity of the William Cook House: Black Creek Coal Company, Jasper coal magnate L. B. Musgrove, Deepwater Black Creek Coal and Iron Company, and Brookside Pratt Mining Co., Walker County Tax Assessor Record, Walker County Courthouse, Jasper, AL. The Birmingham District-A Description, Brief History, and Assessment: Pan I of A Study of Alternatives Prepared for the National Park Service Department of the Interior (Birmingham, AL: Birmingham Historical Society, Marjorie L. White, The Birmingham District- An Industrial History and Guide (Birmingham, AL: Birmingham Historical Society, WILLIAMS. COOK HOUSE HABS No.

AL-912 (Page 9) A post office was established at Nauvoo in six years later Nauvoo appears in a listing of Alabama towns as a "farmer's post office." Beard served as postmaster, and Harper ran a flour mill. 18 Construction of the Birmingham, Sheffield, and Tennessee Railway (later the Northern Alabama, Southern, and now the Norfolk Southern Railroad) was underway in this year. According to Nauvoo historian Margaret Earley Lee, the Northern Alabama Railroad built a combination passenger and freight depot at Nauvoo in Coal mining began in the area in the 20 The location of the depot established Nauvoo as a distribution center for the surrounding industries, and the development of the town followed.

Two other railroads were extending lines into Walker County mineral lands in the late The Kansas City, Memphis, and Birmingham Railroad (later the Southern; now Norfolk Southern Railroad) was approaching Birmingham from Memphis, Tennessee. Collieries and the town of Carbon Hill developed along this line. The Kansas City, Memphis and st. Louis Railroad (later the Frisco; now the Burlington Northern Railroad) was also constructing a line through what became the mines and communities of Corona, Parrish, and Dora. Walker County Probate Court records first list the owners of mineral lands in While assistant state geologist Henry McCalley's Map of the Warrior Coal Basin shows some mine development in Walker County, it also shows the outcrop of the coal seams.

By the date of an Alabama Coal Operators Map, a Walker County coal mine boom is apparent. Located along the three major railroads are the mines near Jasper, the county seat which incorporated in Carbon Hill; Corona; Dora; Empire; and Nauvoo, to list but a few. The state mine inspector lists 66 mines in Walker County in 21 In Jasper entrepreneur Lysurgus Musgrove had Alabama State Gazetteer Business Directory, ed. R. L. Polk & Co. III (Atlanta, GA: 18 Margaret Earley Lee, Memories of Nauvoo (Marietta, GA: Treasured Memories, Inc., 19 18.

20 State of Alabama Second Biennial Report of the Inspectors of Mines, Ed State of Alabama Report of Inspector of Alabama Coal Mines, Henry 21 McCalley, Map of the Warrior Coal Basin with Collumnar Sections of Formation so far as it Carries Workable Coals (University, Ala.: Geological Survey of Alabama, Map Showing the Location of Mines in Operation WILLIAMS. COOK HOUSE HABS No. AL-912 (Page 10) purchased acres and begun development of the county's largest early mines at corona.n In Nauvoo had a population of excluding miners and their families living in nearby company-built communities.

The small town's commercial activity consisted of offices for two mining companies, a livery, four general merchandise stores (one of them operated by the Black Creek Coal Company), a druggist, and a saloon. William Cook ran the saloon, as well as served as mine foreman at the Black Creek Coal Company Mines No. 1 and No. 2. The Gilliam-Walton Company was also mining coal near Nauvoo; however, the Black Creek Coal Company was the area's largest employer with two mines in operation and 119 persons employed the following year. 23 Four years later Nauvoo's population remained unchanged, but supported eight general merchandise stores, a drugstore, a grocery, and a hotel.

The town also had a doctor and a justice of the peace.N Mines had been opened at Slick Lizard where miners and their families also lived in company camps not part of the Nauvoo town center. Operated by several different firms, these mines were most often called the Nauvoo mines in the state mine inspection reports. Locals called them "Blue Rock" and "Slick Lizard" for the appearance of miners who worked in the often wet conditions. 25 by Alabama Coal Operators, Alabama Mining Museum Collection, Dora, AL. 22State of Alabama, First Biennial Report of the Inspector of Mines for the years beginning December 31, and ending Dec.

31, DeBardeleben Coal Company of Birmingham purchased these mines and acres in At this time Musgrove reinvested in the Deepwater Coal and Iron Corporation which would acquire and open new drifts at the Nauvoo mines in Milton Fies, A Man with A Light on His Cap, 60. State of Alabama, Annual Reports of Coal Mines, Business and Professional Directory of the Cities and Towns Throughout the State of 23 Alabama (Atlanta, GA: Young & Co., Report of Inspector of Alabama Coal Mines Showing the Location of Mines, Character, Production, Employees, Etc.

For the Year Other mine inspection reports list from approximately 40 to 50 employees working at each of the Black Creek company mines throughout the 24 Business and Professional Directory of the Cities and Towns of Alabama (Atlanta, GA: Young & Company, 25 Memories of Nauvoo, 13. WILLIAMS. COOK HOUSE HABS No. AL-912 (Page 11) The Nauvoo town center flourished in the late and early By the town headed into a slump which continued through the Depression. Mining revived during World War II. In the early many area residents migrated North, returning South for the annual "visit to the grandparents" who remained in the sparsely populated and isolated area. Located five miles from Walker County's single major road, U.S.

78, the town languished through the and Celebration of Nauvoo's Centennial in revived interest in the area's history and historic resources. Several longtime area residents and others who returned to the area -- including Margaret Earley Lee, Gem and Earline McDaniel, James Robert McDaniel, and Jean Dillon -- organized the first and now annual "Christmas in Nauvoo." Other projects have included writing a community history, renovation of commercial buildings in Nauvoo, and the opening of the highly successful "Slick Lizzard Fill Your Gizzard" barbecue and the William Cook House to the general public. Today, Nauvoo boosters contemplate opening the Slick Lizzard mine and a private collection of mining artifacts and memorabilia for public visitation.

An outdoor drama has been commissioned for presentation on the grounds of the William Cook House. Black Creek Coal Company and No.2 Mine History: The Black Creek Coal Co. was incorporated on May 8, with authorized capital of Shares were divided equally among the five incorporators and investors: Augustus Foscue Whitfield; Bryan Watkins Whitfield, Dr. James B. Whitfield; Gaius Whitfield; and Thomas L. Sharpe. These four brothers and Thomas Sharpe, their sister Hettie's husband, listed their residence as Demopolis, Alabama. Byran Whitfield, Jr. presided as chairman of the first stockholders meeting, his brother-in-law Sharpe acted as secretary. 27 Whitfield family members, grandchildren of a Memories of Nauvoo, 94. 26 Black Creek Coal Co.

Declaration of Incorporation, Walker County Corporation Records, 27 2, Walker County Courthouse, Jasper, AL. The Whitfield siblings were among the 13 children born (five sons and three daughters survived) to Mary F. and Dr. Bryan Watkins Whitfield a prominent physician who practiced in Walker and Marengo counties. Dr. Whitfield was born in North Carolina and educated at the Universities of North Carolina and Pennsylvania during the The Whitfield WILLIAMS. COOK HOUSE HABS No. AL-912 (Page 12) leading antebellum planter from the rich agricultural region surrounding Demopolis, invested their financial capital and intellect in the development of Walker County and Kentucky coal industries. From to Bryan Whitfield, Jr.

served as "Resident Construction Engineer" for the Kansas City, Memphis, and Birmingham Railroad's Memphis to Birmingham Division. At this time the railroad was laying track from Tennessee through Mississippi toward the north Alabama mineral region centered about Birmingham. 28 Whitfield was born in Marengo County and educated at the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Starkville, Mississippi. His first job was working as a construction engineer on this railroad. He left this position to go into mining in Walker County where his father had been serving as a mining company physician. From to Bryan Whitfield, Jr. served as superintendent of the Galloway Coal Co. mines near Carbon Hill in Walker County.

This Memphis-based firm, whose general office still dominates the main street of Carbon Hill, became a major coal operator in Walker County. In the firm em~loyed 350 persons at four mines which produced steam coal. 9 Carbon Hill, located on the Kansas City, Memphis and Birmingham Railroad (now Burlington Northern Railroad) is five miles from Nauvoo and connected by a two lane county road, now William Cook Parkway. In the early years of the century, this public road was called the Nauvoo-Galloway Road and later Nauvoo-Carbon Hill Road. family had moved to Alabama in and resided from the at "Gaineswood," the palatial family home, designed and built by Bryan Whitfield's father Gen. Nathan Bryan Whitfield and now operated by the Alabama Historical Commission as a state historical site.

General Whitfield's business interests were extensive and included large agricultural plantations. Memorial Record of Alabama - A Concise Account of the State's Political, Military, Professional and Industrial Progress, Together with the Personal Memoirs of Many of its People 2 (Spartanburg, SC: The Reprint Company Publishers, John Martin Dombhart, History of Walker County Its Towns and Its People (Thornton, AL: Cayce Publishing Company, 28The Kansas City, Memphis, and Birmingham Railroad later became the Frisco and Burlington Northern Railroad. The railroad was completed to Birmingham by Marjorie L. White, The Birmingham District-An Industrial History and Guide (Birmingham, AL: Birmingham Historical Society, 29 Second Biennial Report of the Inspectors of Mines, 16. WILLIAMS.

COOK HOUSE HABS No. AL-912 (Page 13) From to Bryan Whitfield, Jr. served as president of the Black Creek Coal Company and superintendent of its two mines Black Creek No. 1 and No. 2 located near Nauvoo. From to he served as president of the Warrior Pratt Coal Co. of Jeff er son County. 30 The Nauvoo No. 1 and No. 2 Mines achieved their highest outputs during the years Whitfield served as superintendent. 31 The business career of Bryan's older brother Augustus Foscue Whitfield (b. was similar. Augustus Whitfield also worked as a surveyor and engineer for the Kansas city, Memphis, and Birmingham Railroad during and The elder Whitfield was also employed by a coal company (the name of which was not recorded) from to in the Nauvoo area.

The Census lists the entrepreneurial Whitfield as a grocer at Nauvoo. 32 Augustus Whitfield was an original stockholder of the Black Creek Coal Company and a stockholder of the Warrior Pratt Coal co. before he transferred his business activity to Middleboro and Kitts, Kentucky. He also participated in geological surveys of the coal fields of Alabama, Tennessee, Kentucky, Virginia, and West Virginia. That Whitfield prospered in Kentucky is indicated by a biographical account included in the edition of Who's Who in the South which lists his hobby as philanthropy. 33 According to the state of Alabama mine inspection report of the Tupelo Coal Company of Tupelo, Mississippi operated the two drift mines at Nauvoo in this year.

Assistant state geologist Henry McCalley's map of the Warrior Coal Field shows these mines and the outcrop of the Black Creek seam in this section of northwest Walker County. According to the state mine inspector, the Black Creek Cooperative Coal Co. had opened the No. 1 Mine in November, and the No. 2 Mine in The mines were worked under lease by this company. No. 1 Mine was located on a 120 acre tract of land on the Northern Alabama Railway. The No. 2 3 Bryan Whitfield, Jr. Biography. Unidentified published xerox from a standard bibliographical reference, recorded when the copy of the document was made, Courtesy Bryan Whitfield, Harlan, Kentucky and Margaret Earley Lee, Nauvoo, AL. 31 See Appendix III for the output of the Black Creek mines. 32 Memories of Nauvoo, 19.

33 Who in the South (Washington, D. C.: The Mayflower Publishing Company, Inc, WILLIAMS. COOK HOUSE HABS No. AL-912 (Page 14) Mine was on a 160 acre tract. Thickness of the coal here was from 26 to 28 inches.~ In Bryan Whitfield, Jr. superintended the Black Coal and Coke Company mines at Nauvoo. The company listing in the state mine inspector's report for that year indicates the company's intent to mine and coke coal. Perhaps to facilitate expansion plans, Whitfield", according to Cook family tradition, "called for Mr. Cook", who had worked with him at mining operations in Carbon Hill, to return to Nauvoo and run the mines there. William Cook's arrival by is confirmed by the state mine reports for that year. In this report first lists Cook as mine foreman.

six years later the mines employed the same management (Whitfield and Cook) and 119 persons. Coke ovens had not been opened in the Nauvoo area. 35 In Nauvoo No. 1 and No. 2 produced tons and employed 152 men making the firm a sizeable operation in the county in this year. Production levels decreased after and to approximately tons annually.Y Since his immigration to America in Scottish-born William Cook had worked in coal mining operations in Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Walker County previous to assuming duties as mine boss at the Black Creek Coal Company operations near Nauvoo.

Bryan Whitfield, biographer indicates that he sold his interests in the Black Creek Coal Company in and in the following year moved with his brother Augustus to Kentucky.TI In Kentucky he established a series of highly 34 State of Alabama Second Biennial Report of the Inspectors of Mines (Birmingham, AL: Dispatch Printing Co., State of Alabama Third Biennial Report of the Inspectors of Mines (Birmingham: Publisher 35 unknown, 62; State of Alabama Report of Inspectors of Alabama Coal Mines, (Birmingham, Ala.: Charles Bowron, See Appendix III and the Map Showing Location of Mines in Operation by Alabama Coal 36 Operators, Alabama Mining Museum Collection, Dora, AL, Bryan Watkins Whit.field, Jr. Biography.

37 There is no record of the sale of Whitfield interests in the company in these years in Corporate Records at the Walker County Courthouse. Rather Whitfield family members WILLIAMS. COOK HOUSE HABS No. AL-912 (Page 15) successful mining companies that worked coal seams in Harlan, Knox, and Bell counties. Bryan Whitfield, Jr. remained active in the coal business through 38 William Cook served as mine foreman of the two Black Creek Coal Company mines from to and assumed until his death the responsibilities, formerly held by Bryan Whitfield, Jr. as mine superintendent from to After several other individuals served as mine bosses and superintendents. 39 In January William Cook also served as general manager of the company. James B. Whitfield was president and Sharpe, secretary and treasurer.

40 Later that year other members of the Sharpe family also served as officers and associates. A.S. Sharpe was president of Black Creek Coal Company, and Sharpe witnessed a deed of six acres of land from the Black Creek company to William Cook for construction of the William Cook House on property adjoining the No. 2 Mine. 41 The Alabama mine inspector's report for provides the following description of the Black Creek Coal Company No. 2 Mine: Located on a branch of the Northern Alabama Division of the Southern Railway, which leaves the main line at Nauvoo, 19 miles north of Jasper. Opened up on the Black Creek Seam by two drifts.

continued to own shares in the Black Creek Coal Company until its dissolution in The dissolution of the company is recorded in Walker County records and witnessed in Marengo County. Tax assessor records of indicate that A.F. and B. Whitfield had acquired Walker County mineral rights on substantial acreage near Nauvoo including the entire quarter section south of the Cook House site. Walker County Tax Assessor Records for Sec. 28, T 12 R9, Bryan Watkins Whitfield, Jr. Biography. Jean Dillon, Interview with author, 2 September 38 Alabama Mine Inspectors, Annual Reports of Coal Mine State of Alabama (Birmingham, 39 AL: Various publishers, See Appendix III. 40Black Creek Coal Company, Statement of Accounts, Jean Dillon Collection, January No standard biographical reference lists James B.

Whitfield, William Cook, or Thomas Sharpe. Black Creek Coal Company to William Cook, Warranty Deed, 7 April Walker 41 County Courthouse, Jasper, AL. WILLIAMS. COOK HOUSE HABS No. AL-912 (Page 16) Coal averages, at this place, about in height. Has good roof. All coal is machine mined and shot with black powder and monobel. Ventilation by two furnaces. Air intakes through the drifts and is carried through the workings in one continuous current. Coal is gathered and delivered to tipples by mules. Mine naturally wet, but the water is pumped out by two Cameron pumps; drainage very good. An average of 51 miners are employees. w. Cook, Superintendent, Nauvoo. 42 The state mine inspection reports indicate that superintendent Cook was machine mining coal at this Black Creek mine.

In these same reports indicate that only 36 percent of Alabama mines were machine operated. Pick and shovel remained the preferred, and less capital intensive, method of mining particularly in the thin coal seams such as those in which this mine operated. Throughout the Walker County's coal seams were accessed through drifts and shallow slopes and shafts. Most of the mines, such as those at Nauvoo, were similarly and easily accessible drifts. Statistics for indicate that this year was a productive one for Walker County. Eighty-seven men worked at Nauvoo 1 and 2. These men were paid by the ton of coal mined. Miners at Nauvoo No. 2 coal were earning to per ton, the highest price paid for Walker County coal in that year. Production had risen from tons in to tons one year later.

In the mines produced tons and No. 2 miners were still being paid to The next year tons were produced. The fancy lump coal pulled from No. 2 mine fetched its miners $1. 50 to $1. 95 per ton. 43 During these years approximately 100 men worked at the two mines. The year was the last year that Cook, then aged 54, served as both mine foreman and superintendent. In the following years, A.W. Beveridge, William Evans, and later R. Fortuna assumed the position of mine boss at No. 1 and No. 2. Production decreased in and In the year of the "great strike," Black Creek No. 2 operated for 35 Nesbitt, Chief Mine Inspector, Annual Report of Coal Mines State of Alabama (Birmingham, S. Nesbitt, Annual Reports of Coal Mines State of Alabama (Birmingham: and WILLIAMS. COOK HOUSE HABS No.

AL-912 (Page 17) days and produced tons. While no strikes actually took place at these mines, the violence at other area mines impacted production. It is also probable that the easily accessible coal seams at Nauvoo had been worked out by this time and that significant new investment was needed to continue mining there. William Cook's business interests, as those of the Whitfields, had shifted to the Kentucky fields by the Cook and (Thomas) Sharpe were jointly engaged in mining operations in the east Kentucky coal fields, where they operated as the Cook & Sharpe Coal Company at LeJunior. Cook was president and general manager of this operation. In this venture two sons of the partners, Cook, Jr. and Sharp, were also associated.

Young Cook, who trained in engineering at the Alabama Polytechnic Institute (now Auburn University), served as superintendent. In addition to William Cook's interest at Lejunior, he was also general manager of the Harlan Superior Coal Company of Harlan, Kentucky. This Kentucky company was a subsidiary of the Monro-Warrior Coal Company of Birmingham. By the Cook spent long periods of time in Kentucky supervising these interests. 45 In the Alabama state mine inspection report indicates that the Monro-Warrior Coal and Coke co. had purchased property from the Black Creek Coal Co. and was running the former Black Creek No. 1 and No. 2 Mines and calling them Sterling No. 1 and No. 2 in this year. Sterling No. 3, a 30" drift, also opened in this year. These three mines produced tons of coal.

Other mining operations in Walker County were extremely prosperous during 46 Sale of company property may have occasioned disagreements among principals in the management of the Black Creek company. Corporate records of two sales from the Black Creek Coal Company to Monro B. Lanier, representing the Sterling Black Creek Collieries Company, Inc., are recorded c. S. Nesbitt, Annual Reports of Coal Mines State of Alabama, 45 The Mountain Eagle, 11 July 46 C. H. Nesbitt, Annual Report of Coal Mines State of Alabama, Mine Inspection Report (Birmingham, 7. Monro- Warrior Coal & Coke Co. is listed in the Birmingham city directories from through During this period Sterling S. Lanier, Monro B. Lanier, and Russell D. Lanier are principals with the firm which is headquartered in Birmingham.

The firm developed an extensive mining practice in Kentucky. For a description of the firm's operations, see Monro B. Lanier, In Men of the South, New Orleans: Southern Biographical Association and Jones Publishing Co., WILLIAMS. COOK HOUSE HABS No. AL-912 {Page 18) in the Walker County Probate Court as well as the minutes of a stockholders meeting on March 17, at which a sale was authorized for a consideration of William Cook and Sharpe were the only stockholders present and voted proxies for other shareholders not present.~ At this time Cook was spending significant intervals managing his Kentucky interests. Sharpe who continued to live at Nauvoo was handling the Nauvoo properties.

According to the Cook family, William Cook had been in Kentucky for several months overseeing mining interests there. After his return in July of he met with Mr. Sharpe on July 7 at the Nauvoo office of the Black Creek Coal Company. At this time a dispute occurred over the management of the company. Sharpe shot and killed Cook. The Cook family does not discuss the incident, but refers to it only as "the tragedy." If pressed they quote Dr. Howard Sankey, the beloved physician of the Nauvoo community, who is reported to have said at Cook's death: "If they killed old man Cook, they killed Nauvoo. The accounts on the front page of the Jasper newspaper describe the "deplorable tragedy [which] occurred at Nauvoo Saturday morning, when T. L. Sharpe, aged 69, shot and killed Wm. M.

Cook, aged 61, at the office of the Black Creek Coal Company, Nauvoo. 11 49 In preliminary hearings, The Mountain Eagle reported that Mr. Stokes, the company bookkeeper, testified that "he heard angry talk; said it was Mr. Cook's voice but he didn't understand what was said. Next, he heard shots and ran into the office and found Mr. Cook apparently dead. According to a witness who testified at the trial, Cook was not happy with "that bunch at Nauvoo ... [that were trying] to steal his earnings. The small, frail T. L. Sharpe was 47Black Creek Coal Company to Monro B.

Lanier, Trustee, Deed, March 26, Walker County Probate Court Deed Book includes Minutes of a Black Creek Coal Company Stockholders Meeting, 17 March 48 Memories of Nauvoo, 41; Jean Dillon, Interview, 2 September 49 "William Cook Shot to Death by Partner," The Mountain Eagle, 11 July 50 The Mountain Eagle, 18 July 1. 51 The Mountain Eagle, 24 October 1. WILLIAMS. COOK HOUSE HABS No. AL-912 (Page 19) tried, convicted of murder, and sentenced to Kilby Prison in Montgomery. Several weeks later while on temporary parole for medical reasons, Sharpe died at a private Montgomery residence. 52 The Black Creek Coal Company, represented by James B. Whitfield, filed for dissolution in The seven stockholders listed were Whitfield family members including Sharpe, Jr. and Hettie W. Sharpe.

The record was notarized in Marengo County where many of the other family lived. 53 From to Deepwater Black Creek Coal Company of Jasper, an affiliate of the well-capitalized Deepwater Coal and Iron Company, purchased the property and operated the three mines at Nauvoo. Deepwater developed new openings on the Black Creek seam, mines called Nauvoo 7, 8, and 9. According to the state mine inspector's reports, these mines were opened in Nauvoo No. 1 was closed in and Nauvoo No. 2, located adjacent to the Cook House, closed in During Deepwater returned production levels to tons.

Deepwater continued mining various drifts and also striping in the area through 54 Deepwater Black Creek Coal Company was incorporated on December 29, with a capital stock of Incorporators of the coal mining business, which acquired lands from Black Creek Coal Company, Monro B. Lanier and Associates, and Coweta Fertilizer, included three Jasper residents: Walker County's leading mine owner and philanthropist Lysurgus Breckenridge Musgrove, lawyer Arthur Fite, Alexander McIntyre, and the Deepwater Coal and Iron Co. which held 1, 4 9 7 of the 1, 5 oo shares. 55 This parent corporation was a Delaware corporation capitalized at $20 million.

Most of Deepwater's stockholders were from New York, but also included Musgrove who invested practically State of Alabama, Certificate of Death for Thomas L. Sharpe, Bureau of Vital Statistics, 52 Montgomery, AL, 11 November Black Creek Coal Company, Declaration of Dissolution, Walker County Corporation 53 Records 5, 27 October Walker County Courthouse, Jasper, AL, 5, 54Annual Reports of Coal Mines State of Alabama, Map of Mines No. 7, No. 8, No. 9 Deepwater Black Creek Coal Co. in Sections 22, 23, 26, and 27 TWP 12 So, R(ange) 9 W(est) Nauvoo (Walker Co.) Alabama, State of Alabama Safety and Inspection Office Files, Birmingham, AL. Dated by a mine office tag: Deepwater Black Creek Coal Company, Declaration of Incorporation, Walker County 55 Corporation Records 5, 12 December WILLIAMS.

COOK HOUSE HABS No. AL-912 (Page 20) all of his holdings in the firm. In Musgrove had sold his major coal properties, including the Corona Mines, to Debardeleben Coal Company of Birmingham. 56 The later firm acquired some acres of coal and iron ore lands in Walker, Jefferson, Winston, and Calhoun counties of Alabama and purchased Dauphin Island, near Mobile, for development as a port facility. On December 30, the owners of the company agreed that all future meetings of the stockholders and directors could be held out of the state of Alabama. 57 Deepwater Black Creek Coal Company was dissolved on June 26, 58 Subsequent history of its parent corporation is unknown. Musgrove's investments led to significant financial loses for Walker County's leading entrepreneur.

The bachelor philanthropist died, nearly penniless, in 59 In the Brookside Pratt Coal Company bought the No. 2 Deepwater Black Creek Coal Mine. The mine had been closed a long time, requiring substantial repairs before operations could begin again. 60 During World War II, Brookside Pratt's No. 2 Mine operated steadily. 61 Mining activity discontinued after the war with former mining lands at Nauvoo being acquired by various pulp and paper companies. Brookside Pratt sold its lands near Nauvoo in 62 Brookside Pratt and several other area coal concerns merged into Alabama By- Products Corporation, later acquired by the Jasper-based 56Milton Fies, The Man with a Light on his Cap, 60.

57 Walker County Deed Book 5, Neither Deepwater coal nor coal and iron companies are listed in the Birmingham city directories. 58Deepwater Black Creek Coal Company, Dissolution of Corporation, Walker County Courthouse, Jasper, AL. 59winfred G. Sandlin, "Lycurgus Breckenridge Musgrove," The Alabama Review, July 60 Memories of Nauvoo, 71. Brookside Pratt Mining Company is listed in the Birmingham city directories from to and continuously headquartered in Birmingham. In the when the firm was mining at Nauvoo, A. R. Long served as President, James H. Moore, Vice President and Sales Manager, and Lee C. Bradley and A. Allison as Secretary and Treasurer. 61 Memories of Nauvoo, 12. See Appendix III. 62Walker County Tax Assessor Record, Walker County Courthouse, Jasper, AL. WILLIAMS.

COOK HOUSE HABS No. AL-912 (Page 21) Drummond Company, Inc. Drummond remains a major Alabama and American coal concern with mines in Walker County and other national and international locations.

Source document Quoted word for word from HABS ALA,64-NAU,2-. Not written, edited or summarised by this site.

ARCHITECTURAL INFORMATION A. General Statement: 1. Architectural character: Built in from stock architectural plans in the family's possession, the William Cook House is best described as an American Queen Anne residence, although the architectural detailing is both simpler and less refined than what is usually associated with that style.~ It is probable that the local saw mills which prepared the lumber for the house were limited in their ability to fabricate the more decorative details commonly associated with this style of architecture and indicated in the signed and stamped architectural drawings. The stamp of the architect is illegible. The Cook House was constructed as a mirror image of these plans with minor modifications.

The asymmetrical frontal facade has a prominent gable and a wrap-around porch accentuating the asymmetrical facade. The front facade presents focal windows on both the first and second floors, with a pair of century style, diagonally patterned, leaded sash windows as an accent on the second story. While the wrap-around porch accentuating the asymmetrical facade is typical of Queen Anne houses, the Cook House deviates both from style and the stock plans by adding a second story wrap-around porch directly above the one on the first story.

This occurs in less than five percent of Queen Anne style houses, although it is more typical in the southern climates where this feature was favored as a "sleeping porch." The second story porch does provide an architectural device to avoid a smooth- walled appearance, accomplished on other Queen Anne style houses through the use of a band of textured shingles or other facade pattern variations. The full-height columns of both porches are simplified versions of free classical columns, rather than the James Alexander, Architectural Description of the William Cook House, typescript, 63 prepared for this report, Alexander based his analysis of the Cook House upon Virginia and Lee McAlister's Field Guild to the American House. WILLIAMS. COOK HOUSE HABS No.

AL-912 (Page 22) more delicate turned posts with spindle-work detailing often seen on earlier and more sophisticated Queen Anne houses. While the tapered columns on the first floor porch have greater capital detailing than those on the second floor, neither has the level of detailing generally associated with the style or suggested by the architectural drawings. Outbuildings once situated on the property include a barn, carriage house, chicken coop, and toilet. Foundations of all structures remain today. 2. Condition of the fabric: Excellent. B. Description of Exterior: 1. Overall dimensions: The house is a narrow (25 without porch), yet deep (51 two-story structure covered with a steep pitched pyramidal hipped roof. 2.

Foundations: The basement floor, walls, and original supporting piers are of poured-in-place concrete. At a later date the spaces between these piers were filled in and a smooth concrete finish applied. 3. Walls: The exterior wall surfaces are a constant 4" lapped clapboard siding without textural variation, except where the back porch was later enclosed with a wider clapboard. 4. Structural systems: wood frame, concrete foundation. 5. Roof: Asymmetrically placed cross gables on all four facades, an arrangement typical of over one-half of all Queen Anne style houses. C. Description of Interior: 1. The Cook House contains eight rooms.

The ground floor interior has an entrance hall with a staircase leading to the second floor, and is joined to the other four interconnecting first floor rooms: the parlor, the sitting room (complete with fireplace, mantle, and cast iron coverplate), the dining room, and the kitchen. On the south facade a one-story porch connecting the sitting room with the kitchen has been enclosed. The interior architectural detailing at the baseboards as well as the window and door casements is less refined than usually associated with Queen Anne style WILLIAMS. COOK HOUSE HABS No. AL-912 (Page 23) houses. The baseboards are 1" x 10 11 stock lumber with quarter round both at top and bottom, while the door and window casements are 1" x 6" stock lumber, butt jointed.

The simplicity of detailing is, again, probably the result of the rural location of the house and the capabilities of the saw mills. The interior doors are five-panel doors typical of the period and in accordance with the architectural plans. The second story has four bedrooms dispersed along a corridor running from the front of the house to the rear, connecting the main staircase to a secondary staircase leading into the kitchen. The single bathroom, present in the original architectural plans, is at the end of this corridor and was added after the house was completed. The house has a full basement. The basement contains an International One Pipe coal burning stove made by the International Heater Co.

of Utica, New York in Rough hewn timbers located here were identified as among those cut at company saw mill located across the tracks from the Cook House.M 2. Furnishings: The Cook House is filled with furnishings accumulated by the family through the 70 years of their continuous occupation of the residence.

These furnishings include a grey box that came with the newlyweds from Scotland and contained most of their belongings at that time, an Edison Victrola with a collection of records, and a parlor piano, two mirrors and a blue and cream colored Persian rug from the Southern Club (a downtown Birmingham men's club which defaulted in the Depression and paid a debt to Cook son-in-law Andrew Dillon with this rug), favorite family books inscribed with date of purchase, and various other family memorabilia. The dining room table and chairs were purchased shortly after the house was built. The mahogany desk belonged to son John Cook when he attended the polytechnic institute, now Auburn University.

The bedrooms contain three linoleum floorcloths with geometric and floral patterns, iron beds and Art Deco MHoward Atkins, Interview, 24 September WILLIAMS. COOK HOUSE HABS No. AL-912 (Page 24) bedroom sets. A blond desk in upstairs hallway belonged to daughter Nell Cook. Family photographs and items of clothing abound in all rooms. 65 65 Dillon, Jean Katherine, Introduction to the William Cook House, Typescript, WILLIAMS. COOK HOUSE HABS No. AL-912 (Page 25) PART III. SOURCES OF INFORMATION Primary Sources Alabama Polytechnic Institute Honor Certificate. Jean Dillon Collection. Nauvoo, Al. 6 June Black Creek Coal Company. Declaration of Dissolution. Walker County Corporation Records. 5 Walker County courthouse, Jasper, AL. 27 October Black Creek Coal Company. Declaration of Incorporation.

Walker County Corporation Records. 2 Walker County Courthouse, Jasper, AL. 8 May Black Creek Coal Company. Deed to Monro B. Lanier, Trustee. Book 427 and Walker County Courthouse, Jasper, AL. 26 March Black Creek Coal Company. "Miners of the Celebrated Black Creek Coal." General Offices and Mines at Nauvoo, Ala., Whitfield, Pres.; Wm. Cook, Gen. T. L. Sharpe, Sec. & Treas. statement of Accounts. Jean Dillon Collection, Nauvoo, AL. January, Black Creek Coal Company. Warranty Deed to William Cook. Walker County Courthouse. Jasper, AL. 7 April Cook Family Photograph Album. Jean Dillon Collection, Nauvoo, AL. This 24 page, 7 x 10' photograph album documents the construction of the residence. Cook, William. Citizenship Papers. 1 June White Tennessee. Jean Dillon Collection, Nauvoo, AL.

Cook, William and Jeanie. Marriage Certificate. Loanhead, Scotland. 13 May Jean Dillon Collection, Nauvoo, AL. Daily Mountain Eagle. Jasper, AL. 11 July 18 July 10 October 24 October 31 October, Deepwater Black Creek Coal Company to William Cook. Quit Claim. Walker County Courthouse. 12 June J. R. Cagle and wife Alice A. Cagle to A. F. Whitfield. Warranty Deed. Walker County Courthouse. Book 28. 14 April Jean Cook, William Cook and his wife, Alice King Cook, Elizabeth Cook, Nell Dillon and her husband, A. c. Dillon, Eve Ellis and her husband Tom Ellis, being the heirs and only heirs at law of William Cook, Deceased to Jeanie Cook. Quit Claim Deed. WILLIAMS. COOK HOUSE HABS No. AL-912 (Page 26) Walker County Courthouse.

1 April Cook died without a will so the children and their spouses deeded their interests in the property to their mother. Keystone Coal Buyers Manual, Chicago,IL: MacLean Hunter Publishing Company, Keystone Coal Industry Manuals, Chicago, IL: MacLean Hunter Publishing Company, and Plans Used for Construction of the Cook House. Jean Dillon Collection, Nauvoo, AL. The name of the architect of the plans is stamped on a seal on the drawings; however, it is not legible to the eye with the aid of magnifying glasses. The house was built in reserve image of the plans. Springer, H. A. Bituminous Production by States and Coal Production of the World. In State of Alabama Coal Mines Showing the Location of Mines, Character, Production, Employees, Etc.

for the Year Birmingham, State of Alabama Annual Reports of coal Mines. These are biennial reports from until After they are called the Annual Statistical Report of the Division of Safety and Inspection Fiscal Year xx. State of Alabama Annual Reports of Coal Mines, State of Alabama First Bi-ennial Report of the state Inspector of Mines for the Years beginning Dec. 31, and ending Dec. 31, State of Alabama Second Biennial Report of the Inspectors of Mines, Birmingham, AL: Dispatch Printing Co., State of Alabama Third Biennial Report of the Inspectors of Mines, Birmingham, AL: State of Alabama Report of Inspector of Alabama Coal Mines Showing the Location of Mines, Character, Production, Employees, Etc. for the Year Birmingham: Charles Bowron, State of Alabama.

Certificate of Death for Thomas L. Sharpe. Bureau of Vital Statistics, Montgomery, AL. 11 November Walker County Tax Assessor. Record. Walker County Courthouse, Jasper, AL. Walker County Tax Assessor. Record. Walker County Courthouse, Jasper, AL. WILLIAMS. COOK HOUSE HABS No. AL-912 (Page 27) Secondary Sources Alabama Gazetteer and Business Directory. R. L. Polk & Co.: Atlanta, GA., Alexander, James. Architectural Description of the William Cook House. Typescript. Armes, Ethel. The Story of Coal and Iron in Alabama. Reprint. Birmingham, AL: The Book-Keepers Press: Biography of Bryan Watkins Whitfield. Xerox of printed reference. Jean Dillon Collection, Nauvoo, AL, Birmingham city Directories. R. L. Polk & co. and Malone & Co.

Business and Professional Directory of Cities and Towns Throughout the State of Alabama. Atlanta, GA: Young & co.: Atlanta. and Dillon, Jean. Introduction to the William Cook House. Typescript. Jean Dillon Collection, Nauvoo, AL. Dombhart, John Martin. History of Walker County Its Towns and Its People. Thornton, AL: Cayce Publishing Company, Fies, Milton. The Man with a Light on his Cap-Being a Brief Chronicle of Coal Mining in Walker County: In Carl Elliott, ed. Annals of Northwest Alabama III Jasper, AL: Lanier, Monro B. Men of the South. New Orleans,LA: Southern Biographical Association and Jones Publishing Co., Lee, Margaret Early. Memories of Nauvoo.

Marietta, GA: Treasured Memories, Inc., Memorial Record of Alabama - A Concise Account of the state's Political, Military, Professional and Industrial Progress, Together with the Personal Memoirs of Many of its People. II. Spartanburg, SC: The Reprint Company, Publishers, National League of American Pen Women, "Gaineswood" in Historic Homes of Alabama and Their Traditions. Birmingham, AL: Birmingham Publishing Company, Sandlin, Winfred G. "Lysurgus Breckenridge Musgrove." Alabama Review. July, WILLIAMS. COOK HOUSE HABS No. AL-912 (Page 28) White, Marjorie L. The Birmingham District-An Industrial History and Guide. Birmingham, AL: Birmingham Historical Society, Who's Who in the South.

Washington, The Mayflower Publishing Company, Inc., Maps Map Showing Location of Mines in Operation by Alabama Coal Operators. Alabama Mining Museum Collection. Dora, AL. Map of Mines No.s 7, B, and 9 of Deepwater Black Creek Coal Co. in Sections 22, 23, 26, and 27 TWP 12 So., R(ange) 9 W(est) Nauvoo (Walker Co.) Alabama, State of Alabama Safety and Inspection Office Files. Dated with a mine office tag as This map shows the underground workings, above ground features, and the openings to the "old No. 2 Mine". Mccalley, Henry. Map of the Warrior Coal Basin with Collumnar Sections of Formation so far as it Carries Workable Coals. University, AL.: Geological Survey of Alabama, Walker County Tax Assessor. Tax Map. Tax Assessors Office, Walker County Courthouse, Jasper, AL. Adkins, Howard.

Sketch Map of Deepwater Black Creek Coal Co. c. Adkins Collection, Jasper, AL. Many features on this hand-drawn and not to scale map can be identified and coordinated with reference to the USGS Map of the Nauvoo, AL Quadrangle Base Map, dated with photorevisions. United States Geological Survey. Nauvoo, AL Quadrangle Base Map. photorevised in Black Creek Coal Company. Nauvoo No. 1 Coal Mine Map. Blueprints. Jean Dillon Collection. Nauvoo, AL. Interviews Adkins, Howard. (70 year old resident of Jasper who was born in and raised in the No. 2 Camp). Interview with author. 24 September Dillon, Jean. (Granddaughter of William and Jeanie Cook and current owner of the Cook House). Interview with author. 2 September 94 Dudley, Helen Boteler. (90-year old lifetime resident of Nauvoo).

Interview with author. 24 September WILLIAMS. COOK HOUSE HABS No. AL-912 (Page 29) Sutherland, Patsy. Telephone conversation with Bill Jones. 7 April WILLIAMS. COOK HOUSE HABS No. AL-912 (Page 30) Appendix: William Cook - A Short Biography William Cook was born in Ayr, a coal mining area of Scotland, in Little is known of his early years other than that his grandfather John Cook raised the young man, that his marriage bans to Jeanie Nelson, a 21-year old resident of Loanhead, were published on May 10, and that the couple were married on May 13, in Loanhead. They departed shortly thereafter aboard the ss Anchoria for America where Cook engaged in coal mining.

66 William and Jeanie Cook settled first in coal mining areas of Pennsylvania; then White County, Tennessee; Carbon Hill, Alabama; Oklahoma Indian Territory, and finally Nauvoo, Alabama. The Cook's moves across America are traced through the births of their seven children. Son John and daughter Lizzie were born in Pennsylvania, and daughter Jean and son William were born in Tennessee, and daughter Elizabeth (Babe) was born in Carbon Hill, daughter Nell was born in Indian Territory, Oklahoma, daughter Eve was born in Nauvoo in December, 19 oo 67 Five children 1 i ved to adulthood. Granddaughter Jean Dillon describes William Cook as a "good provider" who looked after his family and the men who worked for him.

68 Cook sent each of his five children to college, even the girls who attended the institution now called the University of Montevallo. Daughter Jean majored in music and taught many a Nauvoo area child to play the piano. Daughter Elizabeth ("Babe," became a school teacher and later worked as a bookkeeper for a mining concern. The boys went to Alabama Polytechnic Institute (now Auburn University) and studied engineering. John Cook completed with "Distinction" the Studies of Freshman Class in Drawing, History, Mathematics, and Mechanical Arts in June, The following year he became sick with tuberculosis and died after seeking treatment in Denver.

69 Son William also trained as a mining engineer at Auburn and managed coal mines in Kentucky 66 Jean Dillon, Interview, 2 September Marriage Bans of William Cook and Jeanie Nelson, 10 May Loanhead, Scotland, Jean Dillon Collection, Nauvoo, Al.; Photograph of William and Jeanie Cook on their marriage day, Jean Dillon Collection, Nauvoo, AL. 67Jean Dillon, Introduction to the William Cook House. 68Jean Dillon, Interview, 2 September 69Alabama Polytechnic Institute Honor Certificate, Jean Dillon Collection, Nauvoo, AL, 6 June WILLIAMS. COOK HOUSE HABS No. AL-912 (Page 31) where Cook family members are involved in the coal industry and investments to this day. Both family and other local sources describe Cook as generous to his men. Miners planted crops on the front lawn of the Cook House.

During efforts to unionize and the Strike of there was no violence at mines Cook managed. 70 His family described him as a Cook provider. A family friend responding to the question "Was Mr. Cook rich?" responded "He put five children through college." 70Introduction to the William Cook House; Howard Adkins, Interview. WILLIAMS. COOK HOUSE HABS No. AL-912 (Page 32) Appendix: Jeannie Cook - A Short Biography Granddaughter Jean Dillon, born in two years after "the tragedy," spent "every summer" with her grandmother Jeanie Cook until the date of her marriage. During this time, to make ends meet, her grandmother rented rooms to a school teacher and later to Howard Moss, timekeeper and bookkeeper for the Moss McCormick Mining Company of Birmingham.

By this time daughter Elizabeth ("Aunt Babe") had also moved back and worked as a bookkeeper for the same mining company. 71 The women held on to the family homeplace. Jean Dillon described her grandmother as a Scottish lady, 4' petite, straight, stately, of contralto voice. Jeanie Cook never lost her Scottish brogue and always wanted to go back to visit the old country. Quite literate, Jeanie Cook read constantly and enjoyed her record collection. Her favorite songs were those of Robert Burns, Sir Harry Lauder, and American opera star Alma Gluck. Her favorite authors were Charles Dickens, Bobby Burns and Sir Walter Scott. A favorite book which she read and reread was The Little Minister by Barrie.

In her later years, Jean and all the grandchildren fondly recall their grandmother in her favorite reading chair and the frequent hunts for her eyeglasses. 72 The family also recalls Jeanie Cook's culinary treats: her New Year's eggnog, Tom and Jerries, loaf bread, rolls, cinnamon rolls, home made fruit pies, and Scottish scones and short breads served with a "wee dram o 'port. Jeanie Cook lived at the family residence 35 years after her husband's death until her death in Daughters Jean and Babe, the two girls "lived over there ... and they was with one another just like this ... old maids."~ They resided at the homeplace until their deaths in and By the Babe Cook was spending the winter months in Jasper and visiting her sister Nell in Montgomery. She even considered selling the house.

In came a turning point. Nauvoo boosters organizing "Christmas in Nauvoo" for the town's Centennial year asked "Aunt Babe" to use the Cook House for public celebrations. When she agreed, on the condition that they "clean up the mess," 71 Memories of Nauvoo, 72 Jean Dillon, Interview, 2 September 73Jean Dillon, Introduction to the William Cook House, Typescript, Jean Dillon Collection, Nauvoo, AL, 74 Helen Boteler Dudley, Interview, 24 September WILLIAMS. COOK HOUSE HABS No. AL-912 (Page 33) the Cook House took on new dimensions interpreting the history of the region. 75 75 Memories of Nauvoo, WILLIAMS. COOK HOUSE HABS No. AL-912 (Page 34) PART IV.

PROJECT INFORMATION This Birmingham District recording project documenting the William Cook House is a part of the Historic American Buildings Survey/Historic American Engineering Record (HABS/HAER), a program to document historically significant architectural, engineering, and industrial heritage in the United States. This project was undertaken during fall and early by the Birmingham Historical Society in cooperation with the Auburn University Center for Architecture and Urban Studies and the Alabama Mining Museum. The field work, measured drawings, historical report, and photographs were prepared under the direction of Richard Anderson, James Alexander, and Marjorie White.

The recording team included Auburn architectural students: Donald Bowen, Jennifer Carzoli, Amy Curry, Mike Descurtins, Michelle Howard, Sharon Holder, Benjamin Loomis, Josh Mason, John Sexton, Joseph Swaika, and Joel Williams. The Auburn University Center, under the direction of Frank Setzer, is located in Birmingham. The Auburn students organized into three teams and under the general direction of Richard Anderson and James Alexander, completed the field work for the Cook House on a single day. This measured drawing project was part of the 10-week fall studio agenda to produce measured drawings using Form.z, a form synthesizer and computer-assisted drawing program. Dale Clingner supervised the computer work.

In addition to the Cook House assignment, the students gathered and entered measurements for the Wyatt Schoolhouse, also in Walker County, and many historic commercial buildings in the Birmingham city center. The effort was the Birmingham studio's first project to document historic sites through their newly acquired computer-aided drafting equipment. The drawings were inked by architectural student Jason Fondren, under the direction of James Alexander, over Christmas holidays. The historical report was prepared by Marjorie White with research assistance from Brenda Howell, Marjorie Lee White, Susan Atkinson, and Amy Hamilton. James Alexander contributed the architectural description. Large format photography was done by Jet Lowe.

The recording team is deeply grateful to Jean Katherine Dillon for invaluable assistance with research and for hosting the team at the Cook House; to Wes Finland, Alabama Department of Industrial Relations, Safety and Inspection Division, Homewood, AL. for location of historic maps and mine inspection reports; and to Eddie Key and the staff of the Alabama Mining Museum for technical support. ADDENDUM TO: HABS No. AL-912 WILLIAM S.

Cook House

Birmingham Industrial District Walker County Road 11 Nauvoo Walker County Alabama REDUCED COPIES OF MEASURED DRAWINGS HISTORIC AMERICAN BUILDINGS SURVEY National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior C St. NW Washington, DC