1922

1921 was the 51st year after the founding of the city of Birmingham.

Events

• January 21: The Birmingham Flying Club (Escadrilles) was reorganized as the 135th Observation Squadron of the Alabama National Guard.
• Spring: Writer Margaret Mitchell spent several weeks in Birmingham as a guest of Augusta Dearborn.
• May 1–2: Antonio Scotti's Grand Opera Company performed "Tosca", "La Boheme", "Carmen", "Pagliacci", and "Il segreto di Susanna" at the Jefferson Theatre, presented by the Birmingham Music Club. The event marked the "Tosca' debut of young tenor Armand Tokatyan, who joined the Metropolitan Opera the following year.
• May 18: William White founded the American Business Clubs service organization.
• November 11 (Armistice Day): The "Spirit of the American Doughboy" was dedicated at the corner of 19th Street North and Carolina Avenue.
• November 22: Dolomite No. 3 Mine explosion
• Members of the Phoenix Club developed the Hillcrest Golf & Country Club
• Industrial High School music director Fess Whatley began performing with his "Jazz Demons".
• The Kamram Grotto masonic society was founded.

Business

• January 1: Joseph Smolian bought Louis Pizitz' interest in the Pizitz department store chain.
• Joy Young Restaurant moved to 20th Street North.
• B. B. Comer and two partners purchased the Birmingham Age-Herald.

Establishments

• March 16: The Woodlawn Infirmary opened.
• April 24: WSY-AM went on the air.
• June 24: The Woodlawn Theatre opened on 1st Avenue North.
• August 19: Cotton's department store opened.
• September: WMAV-AM went on the air.
• October 23: Employers Mutual Insurance Company of Alabama was incorporated.
• November: The Todd-Witte Dry Goods Co. was organized.
• Martin, Thompson & Turner attorneys
• The Birmingham Baptist Hospital School of Nursing was founded at Highland Baptist Hospital on 22nd Street South.
• Busch's jewelers
• Seale Harris opened the Gorgas Hospital Hotel.
• The Simon Hubig Co. opened a bakery on 26th Street North.
• Joe Denaburg opened Levy's Fine Jewelry.
• Melrose Ice Cream opened on 26th Street North.
• Minnie Todd opened Mrs Todd's Cafeteria on 21st Street South.
• Victor Adding Machine Company branch on 5th Avenue North

Disestablishments

• The Rye-Ola Company closed.
• WIAG-AM signed off.

Government

• May: The Birmingham City Commission declined to vote on an ordinance to limit parking in heart of the business district, calling for more study of the matter.

Sports

• Smutter Matthews succeeded Carlton Molesworth as manager of the Birmingham Barons

Works

The Masonic Temple, built in 1922

• "The Green Apple," painting by Georgia O'Keeffe at the Birmingham Museum of Art
• Nigger, novel by Clement Wood

Buildings

• Alberta Baptist Church in Tuscaloosa
• Avondale Elementary School on 8th Court South
• Banner Baking Co. on 14th Street North
• Belcher-Nixon building at "Tuxedo Junction"
• Birmingham Baptist Hospital on Princeton Avenue
• Birmingham News building addition
• Birmingham Trust building on 20th Street North
• Buffalo Rock building and Buffalo Rock sign on 26th Street North
• Duke Brothers building on 3rd Avenue North
• Gorgas Hospital Hotel on Highland Avenue
• Hudson K-8 School in Collegeville
• Hugh Martin residence on 15th Avenue South
• Masonic Temple on 19th Street North
• Minor High School
• Pinson School (Old Rock School) and Triangle Park on Pinson Boulevard
• Retail Block on 5th Avenue North
• Roberts Field in Thomas
• Silver's Building on 2nd Avenue North
• Thomas School addition
• Woodlawn High School
• Woodlawn Infirmary
• Wylam K-8 School

Demolitions

• The Majestic Theatre was torn down.

Individuals

• J. L. Akin succeeded Sidney Middleton as chief of the Birmingham Fire Department.

Births

Fred Shuttlesworth, born March 18, 1922

Joseph Volker, born March 9, 1922

• January 2: Robert Guillot, Mayor of Vestavia Hills and college president
• January 3: Houston Blount, Vulcan Materials executive
• February 4: James C. Lewis real estate developer and investor
• February 15: Freddie Rogers, Mayor of Roosevelt City
• February 17: Ed Chandler, professional baseball pitcher
• March 9: Joseph Volker, first president of UAB
• March 18: Fred Shuttlesworth, Baptist minister and civil rights leader
• April 29: Hugo Black Jr, attorney and scholar
• June 1: Charles Todel, monk and social activist
• June 25: Johnny Smith, jazz guitarist
• July 15: Sister Mary Joseph, co-founder of Our Lady of the Angels Monastery
• August 2: Red Cochran, football player and coach
• September 14: Frances Bergen, actor and model
• December 10: Freeman Andress, florist and co-founder of Birmingham Landmarks
• Camille Baird, aviator
• Ralph Butler, FBI agent
• Frances Carter, war worker and educator
• Wendell Givens, sportswriter
• Jack Granata, sculptor and art instructor
• Louis LeVaughn, school administrator
• Brooksie Lovvorn, clothes cleaner
• John L. Martin, postal worker
• Ben McKinnon, radio executive
• Archie Millican, welder
• John Nixon, dentist and civil rights activist
• Walter Palmer, Tuskegee airman
• Madelyn Poole, pianist and music director
• Ildefonso Ramirez, restaurateur
• James Travis, Tuskegee airman

Deaths

Emmet O'Neal, died September 7, 1922

• February 23: C. I. Taylor, baseball player, manager & owner
• June 24: William Rushton Sr, ice manufacturer
• July 9: Edward Barrett,Birmingham Age-Herald publisher
• July 22: Edwin Taliaferro, attorney
• July 23: B. A. Thompson, Mayor of Birmingham
• August 1: Frank White, U.S. Senator
• August 10: Mattie Sloss, wife of James Sloss
• September 7: Emmet O'Neal, Governor of Alabama
  • See also: List of homicides in 1922 and List of Birmingham homicides in 1922

Context

1920s

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Births - Deaths - Establishments - Events - Works