Electra
Electra is the 23-foot-tall, golden statue atop the eastern end of the tiled roof of the 1925 Alabama Power Building at 600 18th Street North.
The original plans for the building included a lighted "Alabama Power Co." sign running along the top of the ridge. Architect William Warren suggested that the board consider an alternative, a statue representing "the state of Alabama rising triumphantly in her electrical progress". The suggestion was approved by a unanimous vote.
Electra, originally entitled "Divinity of Light," was sculpted by Edward Field Sanford, Jr of New York. His design consisted of a graceful nude female holding six lightning bolts over her head. The 4,000 pound bronze casting was covered in gold leaf.
The statue was secured in place on May 10, 1926. Soon afterward, The Birmingham Post ran a column by B. U. L. Conner describing a love affair between the heroine and Birmingham's man of iron Vulcan. This relationship became part of common folklore by the time Vulcan was moved atop Red Mountain in the 1930s. Later it was said that Vulcan frequently visited his girlfriend, leaving potholes in the streets with every step.
In 1996 to celebrate her 70th anniversary, Electra was completely cleaned and regilded.
References
- Conner, B. U. L. (1926) "Love Story of Vulcan and Electra." The Birmingham Post
- Kemp, Kathy (October 19, 2003) "Art show may rekindle mythic love." The Birmingham News