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New discoveries being made at Old St. Stephens
University of South Alabama (USA) Archaeologist George Shorter, other archaeologists and volunteers, have been working on the site for a few weeks, unearthing more artifacts. Their work centers around the site of the Globe Hotel, which was a hub of activity during the town's heyday in the early 1800s.
According to Shorter, it is believed that the hotel was built around 1816 or 1818. By 1820 it had become a tavern. A few years later, it served as a dry goods store. Shorter said by that time the town had dwindled from several thousand people to approximately 300. Sometime around 1826, the Globe was sold to former military officer Ruben Chamberlain. He had his wife, Hannah, lived there until the mid-1840s operating a dry goods store. By the 1850s, the town began to disappear and was finally abandoned around 1860 just prior to the Civil War. Previous digs at the site of the Globe Hotel have unearthed countless artifacts. The hotel complex, which included the main building, an additional building, stables and slave quarters, occupied a corner lot. Excavations of the main building have revealed a good size cellar and what is believed to be the location of two fireplaces, which provided heat during the winter months. A recently received grant will allow work to continue at the site for at least another year. Shorter said the goal is to utilize the help of volunteers who are interested in the old town's history. "People don't have to know much about archaeology to volunteer," he said. "We need volunteers who can help with some of the excavation, but need even more for the analysis of artifacts that are unearthed." Old St. Stephens Historical Commission Director Jim Long is working to expand a building at the park to be used for cleaning and analysis of newly discovered artifacts. The building will be almost doubled in size, providing room for storage, weighing and processing of items. "It just makes sense that the artifacts be kept here instead of being transported to Mobile," added Shorter. Breedlove is excited about the work taking place at the old town site. "I think this is one of the most important archae- ological sites in the state," he said. "We should be interested in preserving and discovering whatever we can about Alabama's territorial capitol." Shorter is also making plans to build a framed replica of the old hotel at the site to give visitors an idea of the scale of the building. "I don't think most people can comprehend how large this building really was," he said. "It was two stories high and included room for a store, bedrooms and a storage cellar."
Most work at the Globe takes place on Wednesdays and Thursdays. Those interested in volunteering may contact Mike Breedlove at (251) 246-9788 or the St. Stephens Historical Commission at (251) 246-6790.
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