About Us

The Madison Historical Society is precisely named the Madison Station Historical Preservation Society, Inc. It meets at 6:30 p.m. on the 4th Thursday of every month except November and December. Also, the Society's annual picnic comprises the June meeting, at 6 p.m. rather than 6:30 p.m. Meetings are held in the RoundHouse Replica Museum, located on the south side of Front Street across the railroad tracks from the Main Street Cafe in the historic district of downtown Madison.

Membership is open to ANY local citizen interested in helping to preserve the history of the area. Membership is NOT restricted to those who live in the Historic District. Furthermore, guests and visitors are always welcome at the meetings of the Society.

The Society maintains involvements in several projects, such as the conduct of an annual "Cemetery Stroll" in the old section of the Madison City Cemetery south of Mill Road at Maple Street. In 2005, this was done in concert with Discovery Middle School's three 7th grade classes, who enacted notable pioneers of the town of Madison. Likewise, the Society participates in the annual Madison Street Fair. The Society participates in the October Street Fairs by conducting period-costumed enactments of some of the city's notable pioneers, with a synopsis of their life stories presented at the RoundHouse Replica Museum. The 2005 events were first time for such Street Fair enactments, which are continued each year.

Additionally, on the first Saturday of each month, S. A. Hale of Hale Fire Glass on Main Street conducts "Spirit Strolls" beginning at 7 p.m. at his store, with narrated walking tours through the historic district of the town. During the "Spirit Strolls" (which are free of charge), S. A. tells stories of unusual events in the lives of Madison's pioneers.

The Society also continues expansion of the "Madison Memories Collection" CD-ROM set as appropriate to include newly discovered information and spin-offs of major topics, such as the "School History" CD-ROM for the city schools and CDs for historic books about the town, as well as the new "Oral History Series" of audio recordings of interviews with older residents of the town. The Society emplaces gas lights in the historic district and the restoration / repair / replacement of broken tombstones in the city's cemeteries are regular activities, as is conducting Christmas season tours of historic homes.

The Historical Society in January of 2005 acquired, emplaced, and dedicated an official marker from the Alabama Historical Commission to commemorate the two Civil War battles fought in the immediate area of the town of Madison. This marker is located beside the Roundhouse Replica Museum at Front and Church Streets, near the railroad tracks through town, in the historic district. We are currently making plans and acquiring funds to erect a suitable monument along the railroad tracks to commemorate the area's and town's pioneer settlers. The activities of the 2007 year-long celebration of Madison's sesquicentennial began on February 12 and will culminate in February of 2008. A separate website has been set up for those activities, at "www.madisonis150.com", and a coffee-table book of over 200 photos and historical stories has been available since April 1, 2007 at various outlets in Madison, including the Hartlex Antique Mall, Hale Fire Glass, the Madison Chamber of Commerce, City Hall, and Main Street Cafe.

Officers

President: S. A. Hale

Vice-President: David Ballard

Recording Secretary: Cindi Sanderson

Treasurer: Jeanne Steadman

Historian: John P. Rankin

Important Dates

Next Regularly Scheduled Meeting: 6:30 p.m., Fourth Thursday, 28 August 2008 at the RoundHouse.

Fundraising

The Society offers a small porcelain figurine of the Roundhouse (handmade in Romania) plus special Christmas ornaments in the colors of Auburn University and the University of Alabama, as well as throws (Afghans) depicting Madison historic scenes. Likewise offered are commemorative centennial plates, Madison car license holders, and personalized bricks (with the purchaser's name) for a walkway at the RoundHouse Replica Museum. See our photo gallery for pictures and also see the sesquicentennial coffee-table book for more photos and related stories.

Additionally, the Society sponsors special fundraising events such as Christmas Home Tours and the sale of commemorative T-shirts and Historical Society Cook Books. Since April 1, 2007, a "coffee table" pictorial book, which will surely become a collector's item, has been available at the outlets mentioned above. This book documents many of the interconnections of the pioneers of Madison during its first 150 years. It includes over 200 photographs.

The items mentioned above and the "Madison Memories Collection" CD-ROMs can be acquired by calling Jeanne Steadman. The CD-ROMs are also available at the Main Street Cafe, the Hartlex Antique Mall, and the Madison Chamber of Commerce Office on Main Street, as well as at the Madison County Records Center (Courthouse Archives) on the 3rd floor of the Huntsville - Madison County Public Library in Huntsville. Lloyd Lanphere's book "The Affair at Madison Station" (story of a Civil War battle here) can be obtained by contacting Jeanne Steadman at 461-8938 or by attending a meeting of the Society on a 4th Thursday of a month. The items are also offered at special events when the RoundHouse Replica Museum located at Front and Church Streets is open to the public, such as during the annual Madison Street Fair.