John B. Roden & Co.

John B. Roden Bookseller was a book, stationery and music dealer in early Birmingham. His large establishment, founded in 1875, occupied two stores at 1908 2nd Avenue North, and grew with the lease of the adjoining store at 1910 2nd Avenue in 1891.

The expansion housed a complete line of music and musical instruments, specializing in Smith organs and Everett pianos.

In 1893, after hearing a sermon on the evils of gambling, Roden burned all the decks of playing cards in his store's stock, valued at $200.

References

• Dubose, John Witherspoon (1885) The Mineral Wealth of Alabama and Birmingham Illustrated. Birmingham: N. T. Green & Co.
• The Jewelers' Circular (October 21, 1891) Vol. 23, No. 12, p.36
• The Friend (May 7, 1892) Vol. 66, No. 41, p. 327