Bessemer Hall Of History

History: 

The Alabama Great Southern Railroad Company completed construction of the Bessemer passenger terminal in March, 1916. According to records,  railroad personnel constructed the depot thereby saving  the costs of architects. Total cost of the building was $30,000. The  structure  located at 1905 Alabama Avenue is 170 feet long and 50 feet wide with  exterior  walls of pressed brown brick. The roof plan is stacked in three levels which gives the  building's roof an interesting appearance. The heavy terra coda tile covering the roof is lighter in tone than  the  walls.Further details of the building include walls of plaster; a wainscoting of terrazzo which is created by  setting chips of marble randomly in cement and then polishing; woodwork of hand-finished heart of pine andwalnut; and windows near the ceiling made of glue glass -—a process of putting glue on the pane of glass and then drying the glue to create a design.

The railroad depot has changed little since its completion in 1916. The depot was placed on the National Register of Historic places in West Jefferson County in 1973. With the assistance of many people who recognized the value of preserving the rich history of the Bessemer area and (he old terminal, the Bessemer Hall of History Museum moved to the old terminal in 1985. This museum was begun by the Bessemer Junior Service League and was housed in the basement of the old Post Office building, another historic building in Bessemer which today houses the city public library.