College Street’s Amazing History

Few if any residential streets in Alabama have produced more distinguished Alabamians than Troy’s College Street. Also, local soccer teams excel at state tourneys.

As this post card from 1910 depicts, College Street was even prettier 114 years ago. 

Within perhaps 50 yards of each other on College Street are the homes that produced a governor, a Chief Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court, two U.S. Congressmen and the founders of Golden Flake Potato Chips and Liberty National Life Insurance. In my opinion, this street deserves a historic marker from the Alabama Historical Commission.

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Editor’s Note: Until I re-booted The Troy Citizen, I didn’t know our town featured another local writer with a great interest in local history.

Kassey O’Hara didn’t grow up in Troy but graduated from Troy University and married Troy native Michael O’Hara, who works for the Police Department. Kassey, who also works in the IT Department for the City of Troy, has been publishing articles on the writers’ platform Medium for approximately five years. (Medium is somewhat similar to Substack).

Kassey quickly discovered The Troy Citizen and noted The Citizen’s recent article on my late father’s bus tours of historic Pike County locations. In that column, Bill Rice, Sr. mentioned many of the prominent and ultra-successful people who once lived on College Street.

It turns out that, in May, Kassey had written a wonderful piece on the very same topic -  an article that highlighted the same fact Dad always took pride in, namely that few if any streets in Alabama have produced so many notable citizens.

I also found it interesting that Kassey, who isn’t originally from Troy, had never heard of my late father’s two local history books, both of which devote many pages to the accomplishments of these distinguished former Trojans. 

However, Kassey’s history certainly jibes with Dad’s history. Dad would be thrilled someone who didn’t grow up in Troy also quickly picked up on the historical significance of this street.

(After thinking more about the unique history of Troy’ most famous street, I hope myself and other can lead an effort to get a historic marker from the Alabama Historical Commission which would summarize some of this street’s fascinating history.)

With very light editing, here is Mrs. O’Hara’s story on College Street … 

Troy’s College Street Was Once Home to Alabama’s Most Influential Citizens

By KASSEY O’HARA

Troy, Alabama was first settled in the 1830s and was originally known as Deer Stand Hill because of the deer that would graze on wild oats atop the hill. From its beginnings as a tiny settlement, it has become a bustling college town with lots of opportunities.

If you’re from this area, you are familiar with the name Charles Henderson. The local high school and middle school are named after him, as well as the city’s first pediatric clinic, and several streets and roads. But who was Charles Henderson and what impact did he have on the future of Troy?

During his residence in Troy, Henderson had a home on College Street, near downtown. However, he wasn’t the only influential person on the block. Oliver C. Wiley, Ariosto A. Wiley, Lucien Gardner, Frank Park Samford, and Sloan Bashinsky all lived within a 100-foot radius at one time or another. You may not recognize their names, but you will recognize their achievements.

Charles Henderson

Charles Henderson became Alabama’s governor. He also got Troy into the electric power business, helped establish Troy Normal School and one of the most successful banks in the state, TB&T.

Born on April 26, 1860, in Henderson, AL, Charles Henderson gained his business sense from helping out his father in his mercantile store. He enrolled in Howard College in Marion at just 15, but had to return home two years later after the death of his father.

Once back in Troy, he founded Troy’s first wholesale grocery company, co-founded the Alabama Midland Railroad Company, and owned a cotton-buying business.

In 1885, at only 26 years old, Henderson ran for mayor of Troy and won. As mayor, he was even more driven to lead his city into greatness.

The next year, Henderson helped to establish the Troy Normal School (now Troy University) to train educators to teach in Alabama schools.

In 1891, he literally brought Troy out of the dark ages by not only bringing electricity to the city but also working to form the Troy Utility Department to produce and sell power. His wife, Laura, did the honor of flipping the switch on May 7, 1891, at 8:10 p.m.

Obviously fond of technology, Henderson brought telephones to Troy and southern Alabama in 1904 by starting the Standard Telephone and Telegraph Company.

Another staple of Troy, Troy Bank & Trust was founded in 1906 by Henderson and his brother Clem. He had it detailed in his will that the bank’s stock could never be sold, but would remain in a trust, managed by Troy Bank & Trust. That means that it will always remain Troy Bank and Trust.

Henderson also served as Inspector General for Alabama Governor William Samford and as the personal assistant to Governor William Jelks. Later in 1906, Henderson resigned as mayor after he was appointed president of the Alabama Railroad Commission, a position he held until 1912.

Charles Henderson then became the 35th Governor of Alabama. Governor Henderson was sworn into office on January 18, 1915. During his time in office, he was dedicated to establishing a worker’s compensation program, new health laws to prevent contagious diseases, and a state child welfare department.

He also adopted several education reforms and worked to improve the state prison system. He became known as “The Business Governor” because of his strong business sense and ethics.

Henderson, who was Alabama’s governor in World War I, left office in January 1919 and spent the rest of his life focusing on community involvement and local business ventures. He created a perpetual trust to fund education and healthcare in Troy and Pike County.

After his death from a stroke in January 1937, Henderson’s contribution went on to fund Charles Henderson High School, Charles Henderson Middle School, and the Charles Henderson Child Health Care Center.

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Thanks to a reader for providing this great photo …

Citizen reader Bob Lawrence provided this photo of College Street, which clearly was taken in the early days of the automobile.

According to Mr. Lawrence, the photo shows Dr. Hamilton Weedon and his wife Julia Henderson Weedon in front of their home. Julia was the sister of Gov. Henderson and lived next door to her famous brother.

Note: Subscribers and readers are encouraged to provide Bill Rice, Jr. additional information and photos germane to that day’s dispatch. I can quickly add these photos. I hope readers re-visit the Citizen “home page” after stories have originally been published to see additional content. I appreciate Bob providing this great photo!

Oliver C. Wiley & Ariosto A. Wiley

Ariosto Wiley became a U.S. Congressman.

Ariosto Appling Wiley was born on November 6, 1848 in Clayton, but then moved with his family to Troy where they lived on College Street. After completing his education, he became a lawyer and practiced in Montgomery.

In June 1898, he was appointed by President McKinley as lieutenant colonel of the Fifth Regiment, United States Volunteer Infantry, and served during the Spanish-American War. He served as a legal advisor and assisted in the establishment of civil government in the eastern province of Cuba.

In addition to his law and military career, Ariosto was also serving in the Alabama State Legislature. He was a member of the Alabama House of Representatives in 1884, 1885, 1888, 1889, 1896, and 1897. He also served in the Alabama Senate from 1890 to 1893, 1898, and 1899.

He represented Alabama's Second Congressional District as a Democrat U.S. Congressman from 1901 to 1908. 

Ariosto passed away on June 17, 1908.

Ariosto’s brother, Oliver Cicero Wiley, also served in Congress among other lofty positions.

Oliver Cicero Wiley, Ariosto’s brother, founded the Troy Fertilizer Company and was one of the co-founders of the Alabama Midland Railroad, along with Charles Henderson. He also served as its president from 1887 to 1892. In fact, the first locomotive on the track was named in Wiley’s honor.

Oliver served on Troy’s town council for five years and following his brother Ariosto’s death, was selected to fill out the balance of his brother’s term in the Sixtieth Congress.

Wiley was married to Augusta Murphree and they had four children. He died on October 18, 1917.

Lucien Gardner

Also residing on College Street at one time was former Chief Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court, Lucien Dunbidden Gardner. Gardner was born in November 1876 and was an alumnus of Troy Normal School.

He was elected to the Alabama Senate in 1906 and was appointed to the Alabama Supreme Court in 1914. He was elected as Chief Justice in 1940 and again in 1946.

(Editor’s remarks: The above text reveals that Troy has produced two members who served in the U.S. House of Representatives in Washington, one state governor and one member of the State Supreme Court, who later became Chief Justice. All four men once lived on College Street.)

Frank Park Samford

Frank P. Samford started Liberty National Life Insurance. Samford University in Birmingham is named for him.

Joining the College Street crew was Frank Park Samford. Samford was born in Troy on November 1, 1893.

The grandson of former Alabama governor William J. Samford, Samford attended Auburn University and then went into the insurance industry in New York. He returned to Alabama, where he founded the Liberty National Life Insurance Company in Birmingham.

He also served on the Board of Trustees of Auburn University for 27 years and served 34 years as the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Howard College. In 1965, Howard College was renamed Samford College in his honor.

Samford, who died in 1986, was inducted into the Alabama Men’s Hall of Fame in 1989 due to his dedication to many educational, civic, cultural, and charitable organizations over the years.

Sloan Bashinsky

Sloan Bashinsky, founder and CEO of Golden Flake Potato Chips.

Also calling College Street home at one time, Sloan Bashinsky was born in Troy in 1919. 

He attended Princeton University before joining the Army Air Corps in 1940 where he trained as a pilot and a B-29 navigator and bombardier. He was stationed in Guam during the war and afterward, returned to Alabama, where he and his brother-in-law purchased Magic City Foods in Birmingham.

Bashinsky started as a route driver in 1946 for Magic City Foods and within ten years, had become president of the company that he renamed Golden Flake. He held that position until 1972 when he became Chairman of the Board, which he served until his death. He also served as Chief Executive Officer until 1991.

Bashinsky passed away in August 2005.

Yes, definitely …

It’s truly amazing how one little street in a little town can hold so much history. The street today is lined with historic homes that make you feel as if you are being sucked back in time.

While there are many things about that time that we would want to avoid, it’s obvious that hard work meant more back then. Success was possible, no matter where you were from, as long as you put in the work. I wonder what these men would think about the struggles of today, and how would they work to fix them.

(Final editor’s remarks: I’d add this is just a partial list of prominent people or families who once lived on College Street.)

Note: For more of Ms. O’Hara’s writing, readers can visit her Medium home page at: www.medium.com/@stillpenguins 

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Troy Soccer Teams Excel at State Tournaments …

For decades Troy’s Recreation Department was known for its outstanding tournament baseball teams. Now we should add the sport of youth Soccer as a sport where Troy youth are making their mark in state tournaments.

Eight teams went to state and six finished either as state champs or state runners-up!

1^st place:                 Troy 19U, Team 2

1^st place:                             Troy 12U Girls  

Runner-up:                         Troy 14U

Runner-up:                         Troy 12U Boys

Runner-up:                          Troy 10U Girls

Runner-up:                          Troy 8U Girls

Sportsmanship:                   Troy 10U Boys

And here are the names of the athletes who represented Troy so well …

Thank you to David Dickey of the Troy Parks and Recreation Department for providing me the names of the all-star soccer teams that won either a state title or finished as state runner-ups in recent Rec Department state tournaments.

This is impressive. Congratulations to all these fine athletes!

12U Girls - State Champions!

Adlyn Allen, Rilee Felch, Kirsten Gailes, Harper Gordon, Lila Joachim, Harper Little, Caroline Murphy, Mary Pennington, Ella Rhodes, Skileigh Sharp, Emme Slay, Jenna Vaughan. Coaches Brent Rhodes, Joe Murphy and Michael Slay.

19U Boys - State Champions!

Jealin Atwell, Jack Burttram, Cruz Cueyactle, Jesus Gutierrez, Sam Kreis, Howell Leverette, Robert Lawrence Lindsey, Dunn Lindsey, Cade May, Carter May, Jacob Meadows, Jahao De La Rosa, Kaden Simmons, Allen Tomas Solis, Christian Sutherland, Jose Tzitzihua. Coaches Doug McLendon, Baylor Barnes, Jaron Knox and Jaylen Hall

8U Girls - Runner Ups

Sawyer Blair, Claire Dixon, Lakynn Gordon, Libby Paul, Emerson Rhodes, Ansley Starling, Birdy Stephens, Zoe Sutherland, Mary Thomas Weed, Caroline Yarbrough, Coaches Jonathan Blair, Will Starling, Troy Weed.

10U Girls - Runner Ups

Cate Barron, Kennedy Bell, Brooklyn Brown, Baxley Holmes, Dara Joachim, Taylor Johnson, Finlay Jordan, Maria Cueyactle, Emri Ramirez, Za’Laiya Reynolds, Emmerson West. Coaches Derrick Bell and Charles Jordan.

12U Boys - Runner Ups

Cayden Allums, Felix Arellano, Bryant Barron, Brooks Boyles, Gray Garner, Adien Horn, Nate Jennings, James Johnson, Johan Solis, Noah Stillwell, Santiago Valencia. Coaches Travis Jacques and Cole Garner.

14-and-under Boys team finished as State Runner-Up in Dothan. See team names (not in order) below.

14U Boys - Runner Ups

Felix Arellano, Juan Arellano, Jadan Atwell, Troy Bolden, Joseph Drink-water, Jaxon Flowers, Currell Glenn, Wade Maddox, Wyatt Lindsey, James Wade Murphy, Tripp Royal, Patrick Slay, Christopher Vazquez, Will Yarbrough, Marcos Montealgre. Coaches Doug McLendon, Jaron Knox and Brady Barr.

14-and-under soccer athletes with their big team trophy and individual trophies.