Discovered at Legion Field – Monument to city’s first black orphanage and old folks home

ByPat Byington
LAST UPDATED09/06/18

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Last week, while taking photos of Legion Field, in the midst of a vast asphalt parking lot on the north side of the stadium, stands a small green patch of planted, well kept, overlapping shade trees and vines, with two metal park benches and a monument in front.

Anticipating a plaque honoring football players or Paul Bear Bryant, we were surprised to see a monument recognizing the site as the first black orphanage and old folks home in Birmingham, established in 1912.

We searched the internet for stories about the home, but could only find it referenced in couple of books including:

Organizing Black America: An Encyclopedia of African American Organizations

Would love to learn more about this monument and place that predated historic Legion Field. Contact us at pat@bhamnow.com if you have details.

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Pat Byington

Longtime conservationist. Former Executive Director at the Alabama Environmental Council and Wild South. Publisher of the Bama Environmental News for more than 18 years. Career highlights include playing an active role in the creation of Alabama's Forever Wild program, Little River Canyon National Preserve, Dugger Mountain Wilderness, preservation of special places throughout the East through the Wilderness Society and the strengthening (making more stringent) the state of Alabama's cancer risk and mercury standards.

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