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:''This article is about the 20th century real estate developer. For his great uncle, the Tuscaloosa merchant and politician, see [[Robert Jemison Jr (Tuscaloosa)]].''
:''This article is about the 20th century real estate developer. For his great uncle, the Tuscaloosa merchant and politician, see [[Robert Jemison Jr (Tuscaloosa)]].''
[[File:Robert Jemison Jr.jpg|right|thumb|Robert Jemison Jr]]
[[File:Robert Jemison Jr.jpg|right|thumb|Robert Jemison Jr]]
'''Robert Jemison Jr''' (born [[February 28]], [[1878]] in [[Tuscaloosa]]; died [[1974]]) was a real estate developer, president of the [[Jemison Real Estate & Insurance Company]], and founder of [[Mountain Brook]].
'''Robert Sorsby Jemison Jr''' (born [[February 28]], [[1878]] in [[Tuscaloosa]]; died [[May 9]], [[1974]] in [[Birmingham]]) was a real estate developer, civic leader and founder of [[Mountain Brook]].


Jemison was the son of business executive and real estate developer [[Robert Jemison Sr]], and grandnephew of [[Tuscaloosa]] merchant and Confederate Senator [[Robert Jemison Jr (Tuscaloosa)|Robert Jemison Jr]]. His family moved to [[Robert Jemison residence|a house]] in [[downtown Birmingham]] in [[1884]] and Robert Jr attended [[Powell School]] and the [[South Highland Academy]]. He enrolled at the [[University of Alabama]] in [[1895]], but completed his degree at the University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee.  
Jemison was the son of business executive and real estate developer [[Robert Jemison Sr]] and his wife [[Eugenia Jemison|Eugenia]], and the grandnephew of [[Tuscaloosa]] merchant and Confederate Senator [[Robert Jemison Jr (Tuscaloosa)|Robert Jemison Jr]]. His family moved to [[Robert Jemison residence|a house]] in [[downtown Birmingham]] in [[1884]] and Robert Jr attended [[Powell School]] and the [[South Highland Academy]]. He enrolled at the [[University of Alabama]] in [[1895]], but completed his degree at the University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee.  


After returning to [[Birmingham]], Jemison began his career as a clerk in a hardware store before beginning a long career in real estate development. He married the former [[Virginia Jemison|Virginia Earle Walker]] in [[1901]] and had three children.
After returning to [[Birmingham]], Jemison began working as a clerk in a hardware store in [[1899]]. He married the former [[Virginia Jemison|Virginia Earle Walker]] in [[1901]] and had three children. He founded his own firm, the [[Jemison Real Estate & Insurance Company]] in [[1903]].


In [[1903]] Jemison was involved in the committee from the [[Commercial Club of Birmingham]] that commissioned the city's [[Vulcan]] statue for the [[Alabama_Mineral_Exhibit|1904 World's Fair]] from [[Giuseppe Moretti]]. In [[1907]], as chair of the [[Birmingham Chamber of Commerce]], Jemison was involved in commissioning [[Ethel Armes]]' history, ''[[The Story of Coal and Iron in Alabama]]''
That same year Jemison was involved in the committee from the [[Commercial Club of Birmingham]] that commissioned the city's [[Vulcan]] statue for the [[Alabama_Mineral_Exhibit|1904 World's Fair]] from [[Giuseppe Moretti]]. In [[1907]], as chair of the [[Birmingham Chamber of Commerce]], Jemison was involved in commissioning [[Ethel Armes]]' history, ''[[The Story of Coal and Iron in Alabama]]''


As an active civic leader, Jemison also served as the first president of the [[Birmingham Red Cross]], and also chaired the [[Birmingham Community Chest]]. He personally contributed $25 toward the purchase of the elephant named "[[Miss Fancy]]" for the [[Avondale Park]] [[Birmingham Zoo|zoo]]. In [[1931]] Jemison also donated a breeding pair of swans to the park.
As an active civic leader, Jemison served as the first president of the [[Birmingham Red Cross]] in [[1916]], and also chaired the [[Birmingham Community Chest]]. He personally contributed $25 toward the purchase of the elephant named "[[Miss Fancy]]" for the [[Avondale Park]] [[Birmingham Zoo|zoo]]. In [[1931]] Jemison also donated a breeding pair of swans to the park.


In [[1910]] Jemison was hired by [[Tennessee Coal, Iron & Railroad Company]] to plan and develop the new industrial city of [[Corey]] (later [[Fairfield]]) around its new [[Fairfield Works]] blast furnace site.
In [[1910]] Jemison was hired by [[Tennessee Coal, Iron & Railroad Company]] to plan and develop the new industrial city of [[Corey]] (later [[Fairfield]]) around its new [[Fairfield Works]] blast furnace site.


As president of the Jemison Real Estate Company, Robert Jemison Jr was involved in the development of the [[Ensley Highlands]], [[Earle Place]], and [[Central Park]] subdivisions in western Birmingham; the [[Mountain Terrace]], [[Glen View]], [[Forest Hill]], [[Redmont Park]] subdivisions on the slope of [[Red Mountain]] in [[Birmingham]]'s [[Southside]]; and the [[Roebuck Springs]] and [[Roebuck Terrace]] subdivisions in [[East Birmingham]], and the [[Ridgely Apartments]] and [[Tutwiler Hotel]] downtown.  
Robert Jemison's real estate company was involved in the development of the [[Bush Hills]], [[Ensley Highlands]], [[Earle Place]], and [[Central Park]] subdivisions in western Birmingham; the [[Mountain Terrace]], [[Glen View]], [[Forest Hill]], [[Redmont Park]] subdivisions on the slope of [[Red Mountain]] in [[Birmingham]]'s [[Southside]]; and the [[Roebuck Springs]] and [[Roebuck Terrace]] subdivisions in [[East Birmingham]], and the [[Ridgely Apartments]] and [[Tutwiler Hotel]] downtown.  


In [[1925]] Jemison purchased the historic [[William Reed residence]] in [[Roebuck]] and expanded it into a 500-acre working ranch, which he dubbed [[Spring Lake Farms]]. He sold the house and much of the property to [[Emmett Ware]] in [[1947]].
In [[1925]] Jemison purchased the historic [[William Reed residence]] in [[Roebuck]] and expanded it into a 500-acre working ranch, which he dubbed [[Spring Lake Farms]]. He sold the house and much of the property to [[Emmett Ware]] in [[1947]].
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Jemison's most lasting achievement is the planning and development of [[Mountain Brook]], an early automobile suburb designed as a picturesque retreat from the smoke-filled, noisy streets of [[downtown Birmingham]]. The development opened in [[1929]] and was later incorporated as an independent municipality.
Jemison's most lasting achievement is the planning and development of [[Mountain Brook]], an early automobile suburb designed as a picturesque retreat from the smoke-filled, noisy streets of [[downtown Birmingham]]. The development opened in [[1929]] and was later incorporated as an independent municipality.


In the early 1950s Jemison lent his support to efforts to win federal funding for creation of the [[University of Alabama Medical Center]]. Later that decade he chaired the [[Citizens Committee for Merger]] which sought to bring [[Homewood]] and [[Mountain Brook]] into the city of [[Birmingham]].
Jemison served as president of the National Association of Real Estate Boards in the 1920s. In the early 1950s Jemison lent his support to efforts to win federal funding for creation of the [[University of Alabama Medical Center]]. Later that decade he chaired the [[Citizens Committee for Merger]] which sought to bring [[Homewood]] and [[Mountain Brook]] into the city of [[Birmingham]].


Jemison was inducted into the [[Alabama Business Hall of Fame]] in [[1981]]. He and his father were both inducted into the [Birmingham Business Hall of Fame]] in [[2008]]. Mountain Brook's [[Jemison Park]] along [[Shades Creek]] is named in his honor.
Jemison died in [[1974]] and is buried at [[Elmwood Cemetery]].
 
Jemison was inducted into the [[Alabama Business Hall of Fame]] in [[1981]]. He and his father were both inducted into the [[Birmingham Business Hall of Fame]] in [[2008]]. Mountain Brook's [[Jemison Park]] along [[Shades Creek]] is named in his honor.


Jemison's personal and business papers are archived at the [[Birmingham Public Library Archives]], as part of its Birmingham Architecture & Design Collection.  
Jemison's personal and business papers are archived at the [[Birmingham Public Library Archives]], as part of its Birmingham Architecture & Design Collection.  
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* {{Barefield-1989}}
* {{Barefield-1989}}
* {{Morris-1989}}
* {{Morris-1989}}
* Givens, Wendell & Elbert S. Jemison, Jr (2005) ''Robert Jemison, Jr.: A Man with a Vision." Birmingham: Seacoast Publishing. ISBN 1594210187


==External links==
==External links==
* [http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=17836449 Robert Jemison Jr] at Findagrave.com
* [http://www.bplonline.org/resources/archives/Architecture/Jemison.aspx Robert Jemison Jr Collection] at bplonline.org
* [http://www.bplonline.org/resources/archives/Architecture/Jemison.aspx Robert Jemison Jr Collection] at bplonline.org


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[[Category:Real estate executives]]
[[Category:Real estate executives]]
[[Category:Developers]]
[[Category:Developers]]
[[Category:Elmwood burials]]
[[Category:Alabama Business Hall of Fame]]
[[Category:Alabama Business Hall of Fame]]
[[Category:Birmingham Business Hall of Fame
[[Category:Birmingham Business Hall of Fame]]

Latest revision as of 18:06, 15 November 2016

This article is about the 20th century real estate developer. For his great uncle, the Tuscaloosa merchant and politician, see Robert Jemison Jr (Tuscaloosa).
Robert Jemison Jr

Robert Sorsby Jemison Jr (born February 28, 1878 in Tuscaloosa; died May 9, 1974 in Birmingham) was a real estate developer, civic leader and founder of Mountain Brook.

Jemison was the son of business executive and real estate developer Robert Jemison Sr and his wife Eugenia, and the grandnephew of Tuscaloosa merchant and Confederate Senator Robert Jemison Jr. His family moved to a house in downtown Birmingham in 1884 and Robert Jr attended Powell School and the South Highland Academy. He enrolled at the University of Alabama in 1895, but completed his degree at the University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee.

After returning to Birmingham, Jemison began working as a clerk in a hardware store in 1899. He married the former Virginia Earle Walker in 1901 and had three children. He founded his own firm, the Jemison Real Estate & Insurance Company in 1903.

That same year Jemison was involved in the committee from the Commercial Club of Birmingham that commissioned the city's Vulcan statue for the 1904 World's Fair from Giuseppe Moretti. In 1907, as chair of the Birmingham Chamber of Commerce, Jemison was involved in commissioning Ethel Armes' history, The Story of Coal and Iron in Alabama

As an active civic leader, Jemison served as the first president of the Birmingham Red Cross in 1916, and also chaired the Birmingham Community Chest. He personally contributed $25 toward the purchase of the elephant named "Miss Fancy" for the Avondale Park zoo. In 1931 Jemison also donated a breeding pair of swans to the park.

In 1910 Jemison was hired by Tennessee Coal, Iron & Railroad Company to plan and develop the new industrial city of Corey (later Fairfield) around its new Fairfield Works blast furnace site.

Robert Jemison's real estate company was involved in the development of the Bush Hills, Ensley Highlands, Earle Place, and Central Park subdivisions in western Birmingham; the Mountain Terrace, Glen View, Forest Hill, Redmont Park subdivisions on the slope of Red Mountain in Birmingham's Southside; and the Roebuck Springs and Roebuck Terrace subdivisions in East Birmingham, and the Ridgely Apartments and Tutwiler Hotel downtown.

In 1925 Jemison purchased the historic William Reed residence in Roebuck and expanded it into a 500-acre working ranch, which he dubbed Spring Lake Farms. He sold the house and much of the property to Emmett Ware in 1947.

Jemison's most lasting achievement is the planning and development of Mountain Brook, an early automobile suburb designed as a picturesque retreat from the smoke-filled, noisy streets of downtown Birmingham. The development opened in 1929 and was later incorporated as an independent municipality.

Jemison served as president of the National Association of Real Estate Boards in the 1920s. In the early 1950s Jemison lent his support to efforts to win federal funding for creation of the University of Alabama Medical Center. Later that decade he chaired the Citizens Committee for Merger which sought to bring Homewood and Mountain Brook into the city of Birmingham.

Jemison died in 1974 and is buried at Elmwood Cemetery.

Jemison was inducted into the Alabama Business Hall of Fame in 1981. He and his father were both inducted into the Birmingham Business Hall of Fame in 2008. Mountain Brook's Jemison Park along Shades Creek is named in his honor.

Jemison's personal and business papers are archived at the Birmingham Public Library Archives, as part of its Birmingham Architecture & Design Collection.

References

External links

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