Sanitary Survey Sheets of Wedowee, Alabama

Synopsis

A bound pad of printed survey forms, filled in by typewriter with pencil and colored-pencil annotations, titled in red pencil 'Sanitary Survey Sheets of Wedowee Alabama' and dated July 1, 1939. The survey records, block by block (Blocks 1 through 35) and house by house, every dwelling, business, church and public building in town: the tenant, the number of white and 'colored' occupants, the owner and owner's address, whether sewer and pressurized water were available, the present water supply (city water, open well, open spring, pressure pump, or none) and the type of existing sanitation, shown by a coded circle symbol. A 'Recommendations' column notes items such as 'Business House,' 'Church,' 'School,' 'Court House,' 'Jail' and 'Out-city.' Sewer service appears available only at the courthouse, jail and a garage. The survey gives a rare snapshot of how many Wedowee households still relied on wells and springs in 1939 and appears to have been prepared to document sanitation needs, possibly ahead of sewer or water-system improvements. It also records the racial segregation of the period, including the Wedowee Colored School and separate churches.

Key facts

• Dated July 1, 1939; cover initialed 'H.M.A.'
• Covers Blocks 1-35 of Wedowee, roughly 250+ properties
• Water supply recorded as city, open well, open spring, pressure pump, or none
• Sewer shown as available only at the Court house, Jail and a garage (Block 32)
• Lists landmarks: Wedowee Colored School, Wedowee Elem. School, Wedowee High School, U.S. Post Office, Bank of Wedowee, Parker Hotel, The Randolph Press, Randolph County Court house and Jail
• Occupants counted by race ('White' / 'Colored'), reflecting segregation-era record keeping

[Cover, red pencil:] Sanitary Survey Sheets of Wedowee Alabama  H.M.A.  July 1, 1939

[Column headings:] Block No. | House No. | Tenant in house | White | Colored | Owner of house | Address of owner of house | Sewer Available | Water under pres. Available | Present Water Supply | Type of Exist. San. | Recommendations

[First sheet, first rows:]
1 | 1 | Owner | 7 | | T. M. Willingham | Anniston Road | | | open well | [symbol] | Out-city
1 | 2 | Owner | 5 | | Crawford C. Haynes | City | | x | city | (S)
1 | 3 | Owner | 5 | | W. E. Mathews | City | | x | city | (S)
1 | 4 | J. R. Andrews | | 3 | Rev. C. B. Martin (white) | Blockton, Ala. | | | none
1 | 5 | Jessie Bell Pinkert | | 3 | " " | " " | | | open spring
1 | 6 | Wedowee Colored School | | | School | City | | | open spring | | School
1 | 7 | Owner | | 2 | Smith Johnson | City | | | none
[...]
2 | 6 | Owner | 2 | 1 | Mrs. A. L. Kent | " | | x | city | (S) | For negro servant who lives in house.
[...]

Physical description

Pad of forms with staple/binding holes at top; foxing and tan staining on cover and back; blank reverses show printed grid through. Entries typed; 'Recommendations' and some sanitation symbols added in blue pencil; cover in red pencil.

Reading notes

Meaning of the circle symbols in 'Type of Exist. San.' (S, half-filled, filled, dotted, empty) is not explained on the sheets; probably sewer/septic, privy types, or none. Identity of 'H.M.A.' and the agency conducting the survey not stated. Some typed names are faint and may be misread (e.g., 'Wehadkee', 'Pinkert'). People list is a selection of owners, not exhaustive.