Nathaniel Barrett: Difference between revisions
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'''Nathaniel A. Barrett''' (born c. [[1970]]) was the mayor of [[East Lake]] before its annexation into [[Birmingham]] in [[1910]]. He was later elected to a four year term as President of the [[Birmingham City Commission]] from [[1917]] to [[1921]]. | |||
[[Barrett Elementary School]] in | Barrett worked as a physician in East Lake before entering politics. He had a large home on the 7900 block of [[Underwood Avenue]]. He married the former [[Annie Pearl Troup]] on [[May 5]], [[1891]]. | ||
The former [[Barrett Elementary School|East Lake School]] was named for him in [[1909]]. | |||
Barrett was publicly endorsed in the [[1917 Birmingham City Commission election]] by the [[True Americans]], an anti-catholic secret society which took issue with incumbent [[George Ward]]'s stance on honoring the Lord's Day. Barrett, a Baptist, had been a leader in the campaign to prohibit the showing of movies on Sundays, which Ward had voted to uphold. During the campaign Barrett labelled Ward, an Episcopalian, as a "tool of the Catholics". | |||
Barrett, for his part, was called a "narrow, bigoted, intolerant type, thoroughly incapacitated for the big task he seeks," by the ''[[Birmingham News]]'', which had led efforts to put experienced business leaders into office. | |||
Barrett won the election with strong support from the [[Greater Birmingham|recently annexed]] suburban communities outside the business district. His first act as Mayor was to fire [[List of Birmingham police chiefs|police chief]] [[Martin Eagan]], a Catholic, and install [[Ku Klux Klan]] member [[Thomas J. Shirley]] in his place. | |||
In [[1920]] Barrett supported a move to increase property taxes and reduce merchant's license fees by 20 percent. | |||
During his last year in office, Barrett celebrated the [[Semicentennial of Birmingham]]. The week-long event was crowned by his welcoming President Warren G. Harding for an [[1921 Presidential visit|eventful day]] in Birmingham. | |||
Despite his interest in reforming the [[Birmingham Police Department]], Barrett's administration was accused of being soft on vice as [[prostitution]] and [[gambling]] flourished, especially during [[World War I]]. His entire administration was replaced in the [[1921 Birmingham City Commission election]] by a new slate of reformers headed by [[D. E. McLendon]]. | |||
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{{start box}} | {{start box}} | ||
{{succession box | | {{succession box | | ||
before=[[ | before=[[George Ward]] | | ||
title=[[Mayor of Birmingham|President of Birmingham City Commission]] | | title=[[Mayor of Birmingham|President of Birmingham City Commission]] | | ||
years=[[1917]] - [[1921]] | | years=[[1917]] - [[1921]] | | ||
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{{end box}} | {{end box}} | ||
[[Category:Birmingham City Commission | ==References== | ||
[[Category:Mayors of Birmingham | * Harris, Carl V. (1977) ''Political Power in Birmingham, 1871-1921''. Twentieth-Century America Series. Knoxville: University of Tennessee Press. ISBN 087049211X, p. 86-7 and 127 | ||
{{DEFAULTSORT:Barrett, Nathaniel A.}} | |||
[[Category:Doctors]] | |||
[[Category:Birmingham City Commission]] | |||
[[Category:Mayors of Birmingham]] | |||
Revision as of 23:43, 28 November 2007
Nathaniel A. Barrett (born c. 1970) was the mayor of East Lake before its annexation into Birmingham in 1910. He was later elected to a four year term as President of the Birmingham City Commission from 1917 to 1921.
Barrett worked as a physician in East Lake before entering politics. He had a large home on the 7900 block of Underwood Avenue. He married the former Annie Pearl Troup on May 5, 1891.
The former East Lake School was named for him in 1909.
Barrett was publicly endorsed in the 1917 Birmingham City Commission election by the True Americans, an anti-catholic secret society which took issue with incumbent George Ward's stance on honoring the Lord's Day. Barrett, a Baptist, had been a leader in the campaign to prohibit the showing of movies on Sundays, which Ward had voted to uphold. During the campaign Barrett labelled Ward, an Episcopalian, as a "tool of the Catholics".
Barrett, for his part, was called a "narrow, bigoted, intolerant type, thoroughly incapacitated for the big task he seeks," by the Birmingham News, which had led efforts to put experienced business leaders into office.
Barrett won the election with strong support from the recently annexed suburban communities outside the business district. His first act as Mayor was to fire police chief Martin Eagan, a Catholic, and install Ku Klux Klan member Thomas J. Shirley in his place.
In 1920 Barrett supported a move to increase property taxes and reduce merchant's license fees by 20 percent.
During his last year in office, Barrett celebrated the Semicentennial of Birmingham. The week-long event was crowned by his welcoming President Warren G. Harding for an eventful day in Birmingham.
Despite his interest in reforming the Birmingham Police Department, Barrett's administration was accused of being soft on vice as prostitution and gambling flourished, especially during World War I. His entire administration was replaced in the 1921 Birmingham City Commission election by a new slate of reformers headed by D. E. McLendon.
| Preceded by: George Ward |
President of Birmingham City Commission 1917 - 1921 |
Succeeded by: D. E. McClendon |
References
- Harris, Carl V. (1977) Political Power in Birmingham, 1871-1921. Twentieth-Century America Series. Knoxville: University of Tennessee Press. ISBN 087049211X, p. 86-7 and 127