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Not a lot of history about the little village town of Montezuma has been mentioned lately in historical circles. On Thursday, February 27, Paul Spears, Sr. who wrote a book about 20 years ago, “Montezuma, Alabama, Tenants in Common,” will lead in a discussion at the upcoming historical society meeting about the town that was the forerunner of Andalusia. His book and the information contained therein is a real treasure.

After much research on the Internet and with the encouragement of local historians, Wyley Ward and G. Sidney Waits, Spears uncovered documents from several websites that would prove to be the land claimed for the purpose of making the new town. Dr. Joseph M. Merrill, former Andalusian, can be credited with sharing his information on local history as well.

In 2003, Paul Spears along with Jimmy and Greg Caton, Charles, Chase, and Grayson Gantt, and Sidney Waits set out to visit the old site near River Falls of what was believed to be Montezuma. They were disappointed to locate any evidence of the village’s existence on either side, east or west, of the river.

Because no one really knew exactly where the settlement had been located, Spears was determined to solve the mystery at which time he proceeded to spend countless hours of study on Montezuma and the people involved in its formation.

In 1823 seven of the most prominent men of the area claimed two adjoining 80-acre parcels for the purpose of making a town – John Herbert, Sr., Eldridge S. Greening, John E. Graham, William Spurlin, Samuel Gates, Wiley George, and Thomas McDaniel. The land was purchased for $1.25 per acre near the falls on the Conecuh River. Maps were drawn with 100 foot wide streets where wagons and carriages could pass with ease. Street names were assigned on the east side of the river where most of the businesses were located – Main, Chestnut, Bluff, and Line Streets. On the west side which was mostly residential were Main, Spring, Ferry, Bay, Broad, Falls, and Pine Streets. Thus the town of Montezuma was born.

Spears penned, “The town flourished as homes were built; mercantile stores, a hotel, a gristmill, a blacksmith shop, a livery stable, a saloon, a dancehall, a racing horse track, at least one church, and a cemetery in the fork of the Evergreen and Brooklyn Roads on the west side of the river. Landing docks and warehouses were constructed for the boats hauling freight up and down the river to Pensacola, Florida.”

The first post office in Covington County was established in Montezuma in January 1826 with John William Devereux as the town’s first postmaster.

Spears writes in his book that it is his sincere hope that one day an archaeological study can be performed at the site of Montezuma to get a clear idea of Montezuma as it existed from 1824 to 1844 when the seat of justice was moved up the hill to the present day Andalusia due to repeated flooding at which time Montezuma was eventually abandoned.

An historical marker approved by the Alabama Historical Association was erected alongside U. S. Hwy. 84 W. in River Falls near the base of Devereux Hill honoring the town and its early settlers.

More information to be presented by Paul Spears, Sr. includes the courthouse at Montezuma, the McDaniel ferry, the river traffic up and down the Conecuh to Pensacola, the devastating fires, the diseases such as malaria and yellow fever, the seven men who can be attributed to starting the town and whose names appear on discovered land patents, and profiles on John William Devereux who is recognized today as the “Father of Covington County.” Devereux Hill led the early settlers up the hill from Montezuma to higher ground where Andalusia became the county seat around 1844.

Citizens for over 180 years have continued to acknowledge the existence of the early county seat. After all, there is a city street named Montezuma Street. A private school in the 1970s on Academy Drive was named Montezuma Academy. There is the local Montezuma Mexican Restaurant. The Montezuma Complex is part of South Central Alabama Mental Health.

Andalusians are invited and urged to attend the February 27 meeting of the Covington Historical Society to learn about the early beginnings of our town and county. The meeting will be held at the Charles Dixon Room of the Andalusia Public Library at 6:00 p.m. The public is invited to attend to be a part of preserving this important part of Covington County history and to Remember When.

Sue Bass Wilson, AHS Class of 1965, is a local real estate broker and long-time member of the Covington Historical Society. She can be reached at suebwilson47@gmail.com.