Ballard House Project
The Ballard House Project (or BH Project) is a non-profit organization which preserves and programs the former Edward Ballard residence at 1420 7th Avenue North in Fountain Heights as part of its mission to educate the public about African-American history in Birmingham.
During the Civil Rights Movement the house was owned by physician Herschell Hamilton Sr, who treated victims of police violence and hosted movement workers and meetings. The house was restored and converted into a cultural center by Herschell Jr and his wife, Majella, beginning in 2009. She serves as executive director of the Ballard House Project, which was incorporated in 2011.
In 2017 the Birmingham City Council approved a $50,000 grant to the Ballard House Project to gather and distribute oral histories relating to the city's role in the Civil Rights Movement. The resulting "Community-Wide Collective Memory Program" consists of public forums on various topics.
References
- Owens, Cody (June 20, 2013) "The Ballard House Project". Weld for Birmingham
- Bryant, Joseph D. (February 5, 2015) "Couple preserving Birmingham home that served as doctor's office, cultural center for decades." The Birmingham News
- Worthy, Ariel (November 9, 2017) "'Community Conversations' continue this week at the Ballard House." The Birmingham Times
External links
- Ballard House project website