The annual Birmingham Reunion will take place at 11am this Saturday, October 28th at Majestics in Draffenville.
Now inundated, the town of Birmingham was situated along the Tennessee River about 12 miles east of Benton and was founded in 1849. Shortly before the Civil War, the town was incorporated by an act of the State General Assembly on February 27, 1860 and a post office was soon designated. The name Birmingham was chosen by the founders who believed the town would become another Birmingham, England because of the iron industry that was thriving in the area
Following the devastating flood of 1937, the river which had been a huge part of Birmingham’s growth and prosperity also became the town’s undoing when plans were made to construct Kentucky Lake in order to bring electricity to the valley and control flood waters. The Tennessee Valley Authority purchased 35,133 acres and the residents were told to relocate. Today, when the waters are low, remains of foundations and the streets of Birmingham can still be seen under the water off Birmingham Point.
If you plan to attend, please RSVP by calling Thressa Cotham at 270-527-8742 or Iris Sims at 270-703-3920.