Enterprise
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Pea River Historical and Genealogical Society
About The Society
The Pea River Historical and Genealogical Society was begun in 1970 to collect, record, and preserve the history and genealogy of those who came to these piney woods to settle and make their home. Enterprise was incorporated on April 27, 1896.
Perhaps, Enterprise's most notable claim to fame is the only monument in the world dedicated to a pest--the BOLL WEEVIL. It was erected on December 11, 1919 in the center ofdowntown Enterprise. The Mexican boll weevil wrought destruction to "King Cotton", the principal "money crop" of the area and farmers began to diversify their crops and introduced the peanut which became their main crop.
The Pea River Historical Society shortly after their organization, acquired the old Atlantic Coast Line Depot in downtown Enterprise in which they operated their Society and began collecting items of interest to house in the museum.
The Depot is located immediately behind the historic Rawls Hotel, although the entrance next to the railroad was originally the front entrance. The passengers coming in on the train only had a short walk into the Hotel lobby.
One of the Society's members, an avid historian and genealogist, Miss Alla James, donated a plot of land on US Highway 84 Bypass to the Society.
The Society built a log structure on the site as a rest stop and information center for transients who travel through Enterprise, and the new-comers moving into Enterprise to make their homes. Souvenirs, books, maps and brochures of interest about places and things in Alabama are available. Thousands pass through the Welcome Center each year.
One of the volunteers maintains and beautifies the landscape around the Welcome Center. A rose garden graces the front of the site, which is dedicated in honor of Dr. James F. Stanley, Sr., one of the organizers of the Pea River Society, now deceased. His wife, Maizie Stanley is still a faithful volunteer at our Welcome Center.
Home Builders of Enterprise devoted a great deal of time and effort in constructing the Welcome Center of the Society and the City of Enterprise assisted with the paved parking lot.
The Welcome Center is located on an access road that is adjacent to the ByPass. (Note: Near Arby's and Winn Dixie.)
After the celebration of the Enterprise Centennial, the Society was given a replica of an old one-room schoolhouse which was placed on the Welcome Center lot.
The Boy Scouts have built a replica of an old outdoor toilet (outhouse) at the Welcome Center and a replica of an old fashioned open well which were quite common a few years ago.
Groups are taken through the facilities when requested. This facility, like the other facilities of the Pea River Society, are staffed by unpaid volunteers. The Society has no paid employees, and is supported by donations, membership dues and from profit from sales of books and novelties sold in the Gift Shop and Welcome Center.
The Little Red Schoolhouse is very popular with the children and young people who have never experienced saying their lessons before several classes.
A few years ago, the Pea River Society was fortunate enough to be able to buy a building on South Main Street in which is located their Gift Shop, Office and Library. This building is their center of activity.
The Library has microfilm, microfiche and readers for them. It also contains many historical books, family sketches, photographs and other memorabilia about days gone by. Many individuals spend hours looking through the materials, and learning about their ancestors who once lived in the area. A photocopier is available for making copies of material for the researcher at the cost of twenty-five cents per page. This is a nice price for most Societies today charge more.
The Gift Shop contains many sovenirs including pins, caps, shirts, historical and genealogical books by local authors which are available for sale.
The Pea River Historical and Genealogical Society was begun in 1970 to collect, record, and preserve the history and genealogy of those who came to these piney woods to settle and make their home. Enterprise was incorporated on April 27, 1896.
Perhaps, Enterprise's most notable claim to fame is the only monument in the world dedicated to a pest--the BOLL WEEVIL. It was erected on December 11, 1919 in the center ofdowntown Enterprise. The Mexican boll weevil wrought destruction to "King Cotton", the principal "money crop" of the area and farmers began to diversify their crops and introduced the peanut which became their main crop.
The Pea River Historical Society shortly after their organization, acquired the old Atlantic Coast Line Depot in downtown Enterprise in which they operated their Society and began collecting items of interest to house in the museum.
The Depot is located immediately behind the historic Rawls Hotel, although the entrance next to the railroad was originally the front entrance. The passengers coming in on the train only had a short walk into the Hotel lobby.
One of the Society's members, an avid historian and genealogist, Miss Alla James, donated a plot of land on US Highway 84 Bypass to the Society.
The Society built a log structure on the site as a rest stop and information center for transients who travel through Enterprise, and the new-comers moving into Enterprise to make their homes. Souvenirs, books, maps and brochures of interest about places and things in Alabama are available. Thousands pass through the Welcome Center each year.
One of the volunteers maintains and beautifies the landscape around the Welcome Center. A rose garden graces the front of the site, which is dedicated in honor of Dr. James F. Stanley, Sr., one of the organizers of the Pea River Society, now deceased. His wife, Maizie Stanley is still a faithful volunteer at our Welcome Center.
Home Builders of Enterprise devoted a great deal of time and effort in constructing the Welcome Center of the Society and the City of Enterprise assisted with the paved parking lot.
The Welcome Center is located on an access road that is adjacent to the ByPass. (Note: Near Arby's and Winn Dixie.)
After the celebration of the Enterprise Centennial, the Society was given a replica of an old one-room schoolhouse which was placed on the Welcome Center lot.
The Boy Scouts have built a replica of an old outdoor toilet (outhouse) at the Welcome Center and a replica of an old fashioned open well which were quite common a few years ago.
Groups are taken through the facilities when requested. This facility, like the other facilities of the Pea River Society, are staffed by unpaid volunteers. The Society has no paid employees, and is supported by donations, membership dues and from profit from sales of books and novelties sold in the Gift Shop and Welcome Center.
The Little Red Schoolhouse is very popular with the children and young people who have never experienced saying their lessons before several classes.
A few years ago, the Pea River Society was fortunate enough to be able to buy a building on South Main Street in which is located their Gift Shop, Office and Library. This building is their center of activity.
The Library has microfilm, microfiche and readers for them. It also contains many historical books, family sketches, photographs and other memorabilia about days gone by. Many individuals spend hours looking through the materials, and learning about their ancestors who once lived in the area. A photocopier is available for making copies of material for the researcher at the cost of twenty-five cents per page. This is a nice price for most Societies today charge more.
The Gift Shop contains many sovenirs including pins, caps, shirts, historical and genealogical books by local authors which are available for sale.