B. M. Montgomery
Bishop Martiene "Fess" Montgomery (born in Belleville, Conecuh County) was the principal of Rosedale School from 1926 to 1967. He also served on the executive committee of the Alabama State Teachers Association.
Montgomery was he son of Samuel Montgomery and his wife, the former Sallie McCants. His family moved to Rosedale in the early 1920s.
As principal of the Rosedale School, Montgomery created a positive atmosphere bounded by strict discipline. African American families from across Shades Valley sent their children. Montgomery petitioned the Jefferson County Board of Education to provide bus service. When the student body outgrew the basement of the house where they had been eating lunch, he petitioned for a cafeteria, which, due to financial constraints, was combined into a "cafetorium" which also served as the school's auditorium.
Montgomery also served on the board of A. G. Gaston's Citizens Federal Savings Bank.
Montgomery's house was located at 2703 Loveless Street. It was later named B. M. Montgomery Street in his honor.
References
- Collins, Jake (November-December 2017) "A Brief History of Rosedale". Homewood Life. Vol. 1, No. 2, pp. 48-53