Milestones:
leading events in the city's history
Since becoming an incorporated town, Rainsville
and its residents have enjoyed many achievements, triumphs and
other milestones as 50 years have passed. Here's a partial list
of some major milestones, listed in chronological order from
the incorporation to the present time. Most of the events on
this list are city government related milestones.
August 27 1956; citizens vote 41 to 11
in favor of incorporating town of Rainsville.
Oct. 13, 1956; first mayor & council
sworn in.
Oct. 22, 1956; Founding fathers make town
official - hold first town council meeting at the gin.
May 1959; First graduating class at Plainview
High School; varsity sports also began.
Jan. 19, 1960; city council voted to purchase
a four-way stop light
1962; City supports a public Housing Authority
Nov. 1962; Dr Marvin Barron attends Sand
Mountain Electric Coop board of trustees meeting; states that
the Co-op should relocate to Sand Mountain.
June 25, 1962; the Rainsville Town Council
approved the formation of the Industrial Development Board of
the Town of Rainsville. Following the council meeting, the board
met to elect permanent officers. The board members were Dr. Marvin
Barron, Roy Winkles, Leo Grimes, Luther Hendrix, Harvey Clifton,
Fletcher Deerman, Cecil Shirey and H.G. Johnson. The board elected
Dr. Barron as chairman, Leo Grimes as vice chairman, and Luther
Hendrix as secretary.
March 1963; leaders fight for a census
recount. Under the supervision of the Federal Housing Authority
(FHA) a recount was conducted.
Feb 1964; Rainsville purchased its first
fire truck for $3622.39
June 1964; (resolution 2-22-65 to purchase
land) Rainsville acquires six acres for first city park. The
Rainsville Business and Professionals Men's Club sponsored efforts
to acquire the land.
June 20, 1964; Presidential candidate George
C. Wallace is guest speaker at 2nd annual meeting of Sand Mountain
Boosters Club held at Plainview cafeteria
Aug. 10, 1964; Voted to start paying the
mayor. The rate was $25/month
Aug. 29-30, 1964; Triple Dedication Ceremony.
City Hall, Post Office, Bank openings commemorated over weekend.
Dec. 1964; Hired Adell Land as first full-time
town clerk.
1965; Rainsville citizens work along side
neighbors in support of Northeast Alabama State Junior College
May 10, 1965; City supports organizing
little league ball Bunk Willingham, VT Goggans, Jerrol Johnson
and Glenn Harrison to organize it.
February 1966; the Agricultural Stabilization
and Conservation Service announced move to Rainsville.
March 1966; Efforts were started to open
a Rainsville Public library.
Aug. 8, 1966; hired Sue Bowman as town
clerk, she was a city employee until 2004
1971; Sand Mountain Manufacturing Company
parent Croton Shirt Company announces plans to open shirt factory
in Rainsville.
May 10, 1971; Opened bids on swimming pool,
low bid $42,039.
August 23, 1971; City Council adopts resolution
to form Public Athletic Board. Dr. Marvin Barron, Grady Wade
and Edmond Burke had applied for permission to form the new board
which would seek to improve athletic and recreation opportunities
for Rainsville residents.
April 22, 1974; Officially changed from
Town to City of due to population passing 2,000.
July 11, 1972; Sand Mountain Recreation
Center grand opening.
August 23, 1972; Industrial Development
Board receives grant. The state provided a grant of $16,000 to
the Rainsville Industrial Development Board for site preparation
for Sand Mountain Manufacturing Company.
November 7, 1974; the City purchased the
old Farm Bureau Building to move the library
December 27, 1974; Republic Buildings Corporation
startup date announced. Officials announced the start of production
in January 1975 of pre-engineered steel buildings at the new
Republic plant in Rainsville. The announcement came at the Alabama
Capitol from Governor George Wallace.
1977; Rainsville's sewer treatment system
begins initial operation with a daily capacity of 500,000 gallons.
1981; The Rainsville Civic Center opened.
Oct 11, 1981; hired Judy Lewis who is still
city clerk today.
Sept 20, 1982; adopted zoning ordinance
for first time.
March 1983; first Northeast Alabama Home
& Garden Show held.
July 1984; Roy Sanderson was elected Mayor,
he was re-elected three times, no other mayor served longer.
August 1988; Donnie Chandler was elected
to the city council- he was re-elected three times and served
as mayor pro-tem for three terms before becoming mayor in 2004.
Feb 20, 1986; Voted to build pavilion /
shelter in park.
Oct 1987; named Ronnie Helton fire chief
where he remains today.
Feb 3, 1988; Voted to build walking track
in park.
Aug 19, 1988; purchased building for current
city hall.
1988; discussion of new library building
project started.
April 1991; Alabama Public Library Service
granted Rainsville a federal grant in order to build a new library
from the ground up; the new library opened May 1992.
December 1993; new community center, the
Tom Bevill Enrichment Center, opens.
April 1997; tornado changed the face of
park, pool, police station, and downtown.
May 1997; the new fire hall, named in honor
of V.T. Goggans opens.
May 1999 -City named Roger Byrd police
chief, where he remains today.
June 2000; RTI announced
July 2000; Field of Dreams opened.
Aug 9, 2001; Agricenter board formed.
|
