Central Library hosting display on Colony, Cullman County town founded by ex-slaves

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Ethel Alexander by Colony Town Mural Display in the Central Library

Birmingham, Ala. - A display compiling the history of Colony, a Cullman County town founded by ex-slaves, is available for public view inside the Central Library in downtown Birmingham to celebrate Black History Month. 

The murals were created by Ethel Alexander, a member of the Birmingham African American Genealogy Group. Alexander combined her love of genealogy with the display designed to educate the public about her adopted hometown of Colony, located about 45 miles north of Birmingham. 

According to Alexander, Colony was founded by ex-slaves freed after the U.S. Civil War ended who were able to carve out a productive an industrious community in Cullman County. Around 1900, the town was excluded from the boundaries of Arkadelphia and the area became known as the Colored Colony community. 

In 1981, the area became incorporated as the Town of Colony.
Colony was a beautiful small community surrounded by beautiful mountains to the north, the Mulberry River and Warrior River on the south, Alexander said. It was known for many springs that supplied a wealth of fresh water throughout the town. It is Cullman County’s only African American community.

 “Along with being a progressive community, Colony was known as a safe-haven for African-Americans throughout the Jim Crow South of Alabama,” Alexander said. 

Alexander poses by a window display of Colony in the Central Library.  




 To learn more about the town of Colony, click on these links below:

 YouTube video from 2018 on history of Colony, Ala. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLY0wFoW6uQ


 Blog by a writer who visited the town in 2016 (Alabama Yesterdays: Random wanderings through Alabama history) 


About Ethel L. Alexander, creator of the Colony Town Mural

A native of Tacoma Washington, Ethel L. Alexander received her Bachelor's in Technical Studies from Alabama A&M University and later a Masters of Education in Specific Learning Disabilities and African American Certification from the University of Alabama in Birmingham.

After graduating from UAB, Alexander became a school teacher. She retired as an educator after 22 years of service in the Birmingham City School System. Alexander currently serves as Mayor Pro Tem on the Colony Town Council. Her community involvements include serving as president of the Birmingham African American Genealogy Group. 

Alexander's love of history and family created a passion passion in her to develop many historical and civic groups. She has authored several family history books and articles. Alexander is the proud mother of four sons, and has four granddaughters and three great grandchildren.

Ethel Alexander in front of Colony Display 


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