Paper Money

[Yehuda]

One of my obsessions is currency, particularly 19th century Alabama obsolete currency. In the early 1800's, railroads, mines, industries, and all types of businesses, along with city and state governments issued their own currency redeemable at company stores, seats of government etc. In 1862 the Federal government began issuing its own paper money to fill the coinage vacuum created by the hoarding of money during the Civil War. By the 1870's, almost all other forms of currency were phased out, leaving only the Federal notes of which there were many types; Gold and Silver Certificates, United States Notes, National Bank Notes, Demand Notes etc. By the 1960's, all of these notes were replaced by Federal Reserve Notes. Here is one of my favorite pieces, an 1871 Alabama Furnace 25¢ fractional from Talladega County, less than five are known to exist. If you share this passion, post pics!

[Yehuda]

In 1863 the US government passed the National Banking Act which allowed National Banks to be issued a charter. The banks could deposit money with the Treasury and US currency with the name of the bank, city and state printed on the notes would be issued to the bank for circulation. The motivation for banks to participate in the program was advertising. Between 1863-1935 some 14,000 banks participated in the program. These banknotes were so prolific they were sometimes called hometown notes. It is relatively easy to acquire a note from any state and many cities. So many banks failed during the Great Depression that the National Banking Act was repealed and the program cancelled. I collect notes from my hometown, Birmingham Alabama. These three are from the 1920's. Here are a few examples from my collection. These are still legal tender and redeemable but are far more valuable than their face value. If you click on the photo it will open right side up.

[TripleF]

Cool collection!!

[btrwtr]

Very interesting historical items.

[jerryd6818]

Or I could set free my OCD.

Could those be spent nationwide?

[Yehuda]

Yup. The notes from Birmingham could be passed in New York City, Los Angeles... anywhere.

[Yehuda]

More obsolete Alabama currency. From top to bottom:

The Selma, Marion And Memphis Railroad Company $2 signed by then President of the company, Nathan Bedford Forrest, 1871. Not particularly rare but the stamped signature of a prolific Confederate general makes it very desirable.

The City Of Mobile $1, 1875, less than 6 known.

The State Of Alabama $5, 1867, 5-15 known.

[jerryd6818]

The OCD is alive and well.

[Yehuda]

You'll have to tell me how you do that.

[RobesonsRme.com]

Of the three bank notes, I believe The First National Bank of Birmingham is still in business.

Yehuda, do you still live in B'ham?

Charlie Noyes

[jerryd6818]

You'll have to tell me how you do that.

Read the threads in this forum: http://www.allaboutpocketknives.com/kni ... m.php?f=98

[Yehuda]

Of the three bank notes, I believe The First National Bank of Birmingham is still in business.

Yehuda, do you still live in B'ham?

Charlie Noyes

The FNB Birmingham became Amsouth Bancorp in the 70's. I haven't lived in Birmingham since 2005. I moved to the Gulf Coast and don't have any plans to move back. I was born and raised there and go up occasionally to see family but that's it.

[RobesonsRme.com]

What part of town?

Charlie Noyes

[RobesonsRme.com]

There are AmSouth owned banks here that are still called FNB.

Charlie

[Yehuda]

I've lived all over and around Birmingham; Irondale, Mt. Brook, Southside, Homewood, Moody, Leeds, Midfield. I bounced around a lot in my younger days. Where abouts are you?

It seems when I lived there I remember seeing FNBs. The Amsouth history page gives a little insight. I'd imagine some branch buildings maintain the old name for posterity but I can't be sure.

[RobesonsRme.com]

I am a lifelong resident of the Roebuck-Huffman area, graduated from Banks in 1965 and from UAB in 1972, with a three year hitch in the Army in between.

My Russell grandparents lived across the road from The Moody Cemetery when Moody Crossroads was simply that, two dirt roads crossing and three little ramshackle stores.

Charlie

[Yehuda]

OK. I didn't do much kicking around in that area. I did go to Moody High School for a couple years before moving to Huntsville.. I'd like to see a pic of the crossroads from that time period. I spent a lot of time in Moody. Do you know the old quarry in Leeds and the one in Trussville?

[Yehuda]

This is a fun piece I put together. I wanted a set of Union and Confederate paper money with vignettes of George Washington to display together. This is a Confederate postage stamp at left, and a Union piece of fractional currency with almost identical busts of Washington. Washington was a native son of Virginia and was considered a Southern hero, as of course did the North. Both of these pieces are almost uncirculated.

[Yehuda]

If the South ever rises again, I've got beer money!!

[RobesonsRme.com]

Not sure which quarry you are referring to in Moody. There is one on Carl Jones Road, I believe, from which they quarried the stone they used to construct I-20 in that area. Last time I saw it, it was full of water.

If, by "Trussville", you mean the quarry beside I-59 North in the Chalkville area, when I was a senior in high school, I did a swan dive off the highest point of the wall on the back side.

Stupid idea because when I surfaced I could neither feel nor move my legs. I treaded water with just my arms and a chest full of air in fifty-five feet of water for about ten minutes until feeling and use returned to my lower body and legs.

I was very fortunate not to have had permanent spinal injury.

Not the last foolish thing I ever did, but most probably the most stupid.

Charlie

[Yehuda]

I've been swimming in the one on Carl Jones Road. I saw it fenced off in 2004 though. I'm talking about the one off 78 near the railroad bridge as you're leaving Leeds heading towards I-20.

I've also been swimming in the Trussville quarry and know the side you jumped from. I saw a girl with the whole side of her body bruised from that jump. I only jumped from the "normal" side, about a 30-50ft drop. Did you go to the cave there?

[RobesonsRme.com]

I've been in the entrance, but never explored it to its end. I don't think it went back very far.

When I was a senior in high school in 1965, several of us spent afternoons and Saturdays there swimming. I only went off the high peak in a dive that one time. I jumped from it several times. It was reputed to be 110 feet and having stood atop it looking down, watching another swimmer below, I do not doubt that number.

Whoever owned the property showed up one afternoon with sheriff's deputies, ran us all off and then they fenced it in.

Now, it's right beside I-59 North and next to a large power company staging area and truck park.

I have no idea if anyone tries to swim there now.

I cannot picture the one in Moody that you referred to. There used to be one near Leeds in an area called Goat's Hill. I think people called it The Gravel Pit or something like that. It wasn't very large and the water, as I recall, was dingy.

Charlie

[Yehuda]

Yeah, the cave was a tight fit, you had to crawl through it. I was also told the height was 110ft. The last time I was there was 1993. In 2005 I was told it is now fenced off. I don't see how as you had to walk the railroad tracks to get to it.

[RobesonsRme.com]

I honestly have no recollection of how we got to the quarry back in 1965, of where we parked or any of that.

It's so visible now that it just looks like part of the Interstate right-of-way.

We had to have had to turn off old Highway U.S. 11 and then park somewhere and walk.

I do not remember walking along those RR tracks.

I remember one had to swim across the quarry to access the bottom of the climb that would take you to that grey rock from where we jumped. By the time you got up there, you had to rest before jumping off.

The time I did the swan dive, ala Johnny Weissmuller, I was standing there getting ready to do the usual feet first jump when I suddenly decided to dive instead. Big mistake. It hurt the top of my head entering the water and apparently sprained or stressed my spine as I described earlier.

That was the last time I ever made that climb.

Stupid eighteen year old.

Charlie Noyes

[Miller Bro's]

Charlie your damn lucky you didn't get paralyzed like Charles Krauthammer. He skipped class in college to go for a swim because it was a hot day, dove into the shallow end of a pool head first and was instantly paralyzed, lucky his friend was there to pull him out or he would have drowned right there.