Growth and Development

The Old Town Historic District is eligible for the National Register of Historic Places under criterion A for its associations with commerce, transportation, education, industry, ethnic heritage and politics which all contributed to Selma's growth and development. The overall history of Selma is quite complex, however, the social history mirrors that of Southern cities and is included to provide a frame of reference for the broad patterns of history that occur within Selma and the city's connection to the regional and national history. Due to Selma's prominence as a transportation and manufacturing center, the city had a pivotal role in the Civil War. During the Reconstruction Era and the decades that follow the political climate made a distinct turn toward Republican ideology and the dramatic effect of African-American male suffrage only to return to the old order and the separate but equal standard. Jewish immigrants, who settled in Selma via Mobile, impacted local commerce through the creation of a large number of retail establishments in the Old Town Historic District. Additionally, members of the Jewish community attained local prominence and, which included three mayors. The original charter of Selma set out an academy for the education of Selma children. Dallas Academy one of the first private schools became the springboard of the public school system in Selma and lead to the building of other institutions of learning. The New Deal era that swept through the country under Roosevelt's presidency resulted in the construction of two key public buildings. Three properties that have current or historic ties to the judicial system, two of which are contributing, were instrumental in establishing Selma as a county seat and bolstering her importance to the region with a Federal Courthouse.

Residential Architecture

The Old Town Historic District is eligible for the National Register of Historic Places under criterion C for its evolution of residential architectural styles from the Federal period to the mid-twentieth century ranch homes and commercial architectural styles from Greek Revival to mid-twentieth century vernacular. The city's growth is evidenced in the architectural periods that correspond to national trends in architecture. Represented in this district are Federal, Greek Revival, Gothic Revival, Italianate, High Victorian Gothic, Queen Anne, Colonial Revival, Neo-classical Revival, Renaissance Revival, Romanesque Revival, Tudor Revival, Spanish Revival, Prairie, Craftsman, Art Deco, and Collegiate Gothic. Within the vernacular classification are Minimal Traditional, Ranch and the Shotgun forms. The Old Town Historic District is also significant for the local architects and builders who worked in the area such as Thomas Helm Lee and Andrew Jackson Mullen, but also for the nationally recognized architects R and R M Upjohn and Edward Tuckerman Potter. Pattern books such as those popularized by George F Barber played a significant role to the development of national trends. One of Barber's designs has been identified within the district. Mail order homes were sold across the country along with the molds to fabricate concrete block houses. One such house in Selma has been classified as a Sears & Roebuck Co house. A nationwide trend in apartment dwelling that began in New York in the late nineteenth century became evident in Selma early in the twentieth century. Within the district are seven apartment buildings within the period of significance, the oldest apartment building, Georgette, a three-story Georgian Revival. Many residences within the present commercial district have been replaced with buildings that were part of the material culture of the automobile. Not only were there buildings to provide maintenance facilities but a large building to display automobiles, 901 Selma Avenue is a contributing resource to the district. - NRHP, 29 September 2001