Delmar, Alabama facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Delmar
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Aerial of Delmar on Highway 13 South
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 Delmar
Location in Alabama
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| Country | United States |
| State | Alabama |
| County | Winston |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP codes |
35551
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| Area code(s) | 205 |
Delmar is a small, country community in west-central Winston County, United States. It's not an official town, but a group of homes and businesses. Delmar is about six miles north of Natural Bridge. It is also five miles south of Haleyville. The community is 15 miles west of Double Springs. Double Springs is the main town, or county seat, of Winston County. This area was once known as the ""Free State of Winston."" Delmar sits 881 feet above sea level.
Contents
Why is it Called Delmar?
Delmar wasn't always called Delmar. Its first name was "Frog Level." People believe it got this name because the land was quite swampy. There were likely many frogs around!
In the 1800s, people in Frog Level wanted a post office. The closest one was too far away. But the U. S. Postal Service said no. There was already another "Frog Level, Alabama" with a post office. To get their own post office, the people of Winston County's Frog Level had to pick a new name. Around 1887, the community became known as "Delmar."
How Delmar Got Its Name
No one knows for sure how "Delmar" was chosen. A popular story says it was named after a famous race horse. This horse belonged to a railroad engineer. The horse's name was "Delmar" or "Del Mar." In Spanish, "Del Mar" means "from the sea." The horse was very well-liked by everyone in the community. When the railroad work finished in 1887, the town was renamed after this special horse.
After the name change, Delmar's first post office opened. This happened on September 1, 1887. Newton L. Powell was the first Postmaster there. The post office building used today was built in 1971. Mrs. Martha Roberts Stewart was the Postmaster at that time. Today, people in the area say the name "Delmar" like "Delmer."
Delmar's Past: The 1800s
People say Delmar was once a very busy place. This was during the Coal Mining boom in the 1800s. There were several lively places where people gathered. It was a bustling community, much like towns you see in old movies about the Wild West.
Important Roads and the Civil War
Byler Road was finished through Winston County in 1820. This old road went through parts of Delmar, Natural Bridge, Lynn, and Haleyville. It connected towns in northern Alabama to Tuscaloosa. Tuscaloosa was the capital of Alabama back then.
When Alabama decided to leave the Union in 1861, people in Winston County felt differently. They didn't want to fight in the Civil War. They wanted to stay neutral. They believed if a state could leave the nation, then a county could leave a state. So, they formed the ""Free State of Winston."" People in nearby counties called them Tories. This was a name for people who supported the Union.
During the end of the Civil War, Union soldiers traveled through Winston County. They used parts of what is now Winston County Road 17. The soldiers set up their camps along this road. Today, this road is known as "Yankee Trace Road."
Railroads Arrive
After the Civil War, a rail line was built. It went from Sheffield, Alabama to Delmar. This was done by the Northern Alabama Railroad. Later, another rail line was built from Parrish, Alabama to Delmar. This allowed trains to travel from Birmingham to the Shoals area. Today, Norfolk Southern Railway still runs cargo trains through Delmar.
Delmar in the 1900s and Today
In the late 1960s, a company called Marshall Durbin built its main office in Delmar.
On April 3, 1974, a very strong tornado hit Delmar. This was part of a huge storm system called the 1974 Super Outbreak. It affected 12 states and Canada. The tornado caused great damage in Delmar. Many homes and buildings were destroyed. Some homes that were not directly hit lost power, telephone service, and water for days.
In January 1993, the people of Delmar decided to start a volunteer fire department. This department helps keep the community safe. Today, it has 30 firefighters. They have special trucks to fight fires. Ray Cantrell is the current Fire Chief.
In 1998, MSR Forest Products built a large factory in Delmar. This factory provides jobs for over 100 people.
On January 27, 2000, Delmar had a special visitor. Richard Shelby, a U.S. Senator, came to the small town.
Like many small towns in Alabama, Delmar has seen good economic times and tougher times. Today, Delmar is growing. New businesses are opening in and around the community. Tony BrakeField is currently the Mayor of Delmar.
Famous People from Delmar
One of the most famous people from Delmar is Federal Judge Frank Johnson, Jr.. He was born in Delmar in 1918. But he grew up and went to school in nearby Haleyville. He fought in World War II. After the war, he became a lawyer.
In 1955, President Dwight D. Eisenhower made him a federal judge in Alabama. Judge Johnson soon heard important cases about civil rights. He made a ruling about the Montgomery bus boycott. He said that separating people by race on public transportation was against the law.
Judge Johnson often disagreed with Alabama Governor George Wallace on racial issues. In 1965, Judge Johnson ordered Governor Wallace to let civil rights marchers go from Selma to Montgomery. Because of his rulings, he faced threats. In 1967, his mother's house was bombed.
Judge Johnson passed away in July 1999, at age 80. He was buried in the Winston Memorial Cemetery near Haleyville.
Churches in Delmar
There are five churches in the Delmar area:
- Delmar Baptist Church
- Union Grove Baptist Church
- Mount Zion Baptist Church
- Bethel #2 Baptist Church
- Botush Freewill Baptist Church
Images for kids
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A welcome sign for Delmar.
