Florence and Her People

Florence is one of the prettiest towns in Northern Alabama. The climate is fine, the water good, and the scenery picturesque. It stands upon the banks of the majestic Tennessee, which is fast being opened to navigation; boats now come here from the Ohio and Mississippi rivers, and it is intended to open its channel so that it shall be navigable as far as Chattanooga.

Good air, pure water and magnificent scenery, ought to have a good influence upon its people, and it may truthfully be said that Florence furnishes a good example to our race; her people are healthy, cheerful and hospitable... One of the additions to the town is a beautiful Congregational edifice, which is a little gem, and the people, irrespective of race, say that it is an ornament to the city; but, best of all, it is paid for.

The A. M. E. and Baptist denominations have large and prosperous churches. The Sunday-schools of all the churches are well attended and in a flourishing condition. The educational work of the county is in full blast; the whites have good seminaries and normal schools and our people have good common schools... The great need of the place and demand of the colored people, is a good Normal school.

With the church to Christianize, and the school to educate the people, and the plow to cultivate the soil, the county of Lauderdale may well be considered a power for good.