150 years ago today, Montgomery's brief reign as Confederate Capitol ended. The Confederate Congress adjourned and headed to Richmond where they would reconvene a month later.
Despite the briefness of the stay, both the Sons of Confederate Veterans and tourism supporters have embraced that status with varying success.
This week I developed a story we aired on CBS-8 about the return of a sign with the controversial Confederate Battle Flag on it. It's right back where it used to be, outside the Renaissance Hotel and Spa, and they've positioned it so the flag is difficult to see.
Some black members of The Montgomery City Council tried to have the sign removed in 2005 or so, without success, Then it did come down during construction of the new Hotel, with a city promise it would be back.
Wednesday morning, with no advance notice, the city returned the sign after a half dozen years.
The return comes after meetings attended by Montgomery city officials, historians and SCV members in which they negotiated the placement.Yet they apparently didn't invite Rep. Alvin Holmes or others who had fought to have the sign taken down in the first place.
Despite the briefness of the stay, both the Sons of Confederate Veterans and tourism supporters have embraced that status with varying success.
This week I developed a story we aired on CBS-8 about the return of a sign with the controversial Confederate Battle Flag on it. It's right back where it used to be, outside the Renaissance Hotel and Spa, and they've positioned it so the flag is difficult to see.
Some black members of The Montgomery City Council tried to have the sign removed in 2005 or so, without success, Then it did come down during construction of the new Hotel, with a city promise it would be back.
Wednesday morning, with no advance notice, the city returned the sign after a half dozen years.
The return comes after meetings attended by Montgomery city officials, historians and SCV members in which they negotiated the placement.Yet they apparently didn't invite Rep. Alvin Holmes or others who had fought to have the sign taken down in the first place.
Montgomery Mayor Todd Strange told me he wanted the sign put up at the White House of The Confederacy...but since that's not where the Confederate Officees were located, the historians agreed it should go back where it was.
Unlike most of the historic markers in the city, this one was not paid for and designed by the Historical Commission, It was paid for and put up by the SCV with the city's approval in the 70's.
If you are downtown near Bibb and Commerce, look for it next to the Wintzell's restaurant. This picture is from before it was taken down....I'll get some shots of the new location this week.
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