Titusville

The Titusville community is as one of 23 "Communities" that participate in Birmingham's "Community Participation Program" that was drawn up to encourage local political activism and community development. The community is bounded by Elmwood Cemetery on the West, by the Norfolk Souther Railroad to the North (paralleled by Powell Avenue), and by the CSX Transportation Railway to the South and East (paralleled by I-65).

The neighborhoods that make up the Titusville community are North Titusville and South Titusville, (to either side of 6th Avenue South) and Woodland Park (south of Green Springs Avenue). Community officers are John C. Harris, President, Julius Matthews, Jr, Vice President, and Mamie A. Jordan, Secretary. Meetings are held at the Titusville Branch Library.

Historically, Titusville has been a close-knit community, centered on 6th Avenue South and made up, during the early and mid-20th century, of prominent middle-class African American families, including architect Wallace Rayfield and minister John Wesley Rice, Jr, the father of Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

The Titusville Branch Library was established in 1957 at the Southside Branch Library.

In 1978, South Titusville was selected by the Birmingham City Council as one of five neighborhoods, along with Woodlawn, North Birmingham, Five Points South, and Bush Hills, to share $10.5 in Federal community development grants. The money was used to cover open ditches, enhance lighting and resurface streets.

References

• Friedman, Richard (November 26, 1978) "South Titusville rejoices at news that problems finally to be attacked." Birmingham News.