Steve Gilmer
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Steve Gilmer (born May 20, 1949 in Birmingham; died November 22, 2023 in Birmingham) was a postcard collector, antiques dealer, and proprietor of What's on 2nd.
Gilmer earned his bachelor's degree in history at the University of Alabama. He got his start as a postcard collector after finding a cache of cards from 1914–1915 in a great-aunt's trunk. He developed an expansive knowledge of postcard history and Birmingham history. He opened his shop in 2007, featuring small pop-culture artifacts rather than fine antiques. He sold his personal postcard collection to Randy Merritt in 2018.
Gilmer died from pneumonia in November 2023. His friend Alfred Smith kept the shop open through December of that year.
References
- "What’s on 2nd? Now it's on 20th!" (February 9, 2021) About Town
- Davis, Carla (July 9, 2021) "Birmingham’s history captured in postcards from a century ago." Alabama NewsCenter
- Thornton, William (November 27, 2023) "Beloved Birmingham curio shop What’s On 2nd closing after owner dies." AL.com