Where is the lake on Lakeshore Drive in Homewood?

It happens every time you welcome and host a visitor to Birmingham.

You drive down Lakeshore Drive in Homewood and your guest will ask…. Where is the lake?

It’s true, nearly 80 years ago you could actually drive alongside a lake.

Edgewood Lake: 80 years ago

According to local historian James Lowery, a 117- acre lake called Edgewood Lake resided near Green Springs Highway and where the soccer fields and Homewood High School are today. 

Below is a sketch of the lake super imposed on today’s landmarks.

Fun facts:

• Race Track — The original owner wanted to build a racetrack around the lake. As a result all the streets developed around the lake are named after famous lakes or waterbodies — Riviera Road, Lucerne Boulevard, Fair Harbor Drive 
• Dam Breaks — The dam for the lake broke 3 times in 23 years — 1923, 1935 and 1946
• Trolleys — The lakes were created for recreation and families living in Birmingham. Residents would take the trolley up Red Mountain near Vulcan into Homewood by Central Park to where Green Springs Highway is today
• Lake Resorts — There were five Lake resorts around Birmingham. Others included — Lakeview, East Lake, Avondale Park, Westlake Park

After the third dam break and the demise of the trolley system, today’s Lakeshore Drive took root. In addition to the surrounding neighborhoods, recreation fields and Shades Creek Greenway, Lakeshore Drive is also where Samford University facilities and Homewood High School reside.

Edgewood Lake is a distant memory, but we will always remember it by the road — Lakeshore Drive.

Alabama Roads

Our series has just started across all three brands but here’s what you may have missed!

• Don Mincher Drive in Huntsville
• Charles Barkley Court in Leeds
• Don Sutton Street in Clio
• Demeco Ryans Street in Bessemer
• Marie Foster Street: Selma’s lesser known historic roadway