A couple of posts back involved the Phenix City police officer who was charged with rape. That post has nothing in common with this story except both took place in Phenix City, Alabama. I first heard of the legacy of Phenix City from my old high school principal who was a native of that area (Smith's Station) and used to tell some harrowing stories about the crime and corruption that went on in and around Phenix City/Columbus, GA. Most of the crime was prostitution and gambling and perpetuated on soldiers from nearby Ft. Benning. During WWII there were so many instances of soldiers from the U.S. Army Training Center being "rolled" in the town that Gen. George Patton threatened to roll his tanks into the town and to shut down the crime wave. He did not. The vice and violence continued on several more years and reached a climax when Phenix City native, Albert Patterson who had been recently elected Attorney General of the State of Alabama (ran partly on the premise of cleaning out Phenix City) was shot and killed outside of his office in the town by some of the local syndicate. I was wondering if anyone had seen the 1955 movie The Phenix City Story. In the movie the AG's son gives a rousing speech to the townsfolk and is insturmental in restoring decency to the town. In real life, Patterson's son Albert, went on to become governor of the the State of Alabama. The movie is "OK", but the real history is fascinating. This is especially true if one is lucky enough to hear it first hand. Here is the movie poster. Below is an excerpt from Wikipedia and a YouTube snippet.
Phenix City was notorious during the 1940s and 1950s for being a haven for organized crime, prostitution, and gambling. Many of its customers came from the United States Armytraining center at Fort Benning, Georgia. The leaders of the crime syndicate in Phenix City were Jimmie Matthews and Hoyt Sheppard. Albert Patterson, from Phenix City, was elected to become attorney general of Alabama on a platform of reforming the city, but was shot and killed in 1954 outside his office on 5th Ave, N of 14th Street. As a result, the city had a negative reputation, and many people still associate this legacy with Phenix City. The Tragedy and the Triumph of Phenix City, Alabama by Margaret Ann Barnes chronicles these events, which led the small town to be known as "Sin City, USA". The bordertown was the subject of an acclaimed film, The Phenix City Story, made in 1955.
I was told that the gangsters left Phenix City and moved north to the border of Tennessee and Mississippi. They became the “State Line Mob” that Buford Pusser, Sheriff of McNairy County TN had to deal with. That story was made into the 1973 movie "Walking Tall".
I have been told and have read the same thing. Allegedly, Louise Hathcock who was portrayed as "Cali" in the 1973 film, was an "ex-madame" of a a whorehouse in Phenix City.
Well shoot - If you study the history of Russell County, Alabama - you find that the highest point of navigation of the river had a town there named "Sodom" and although it may have been slightly downstream of Girard (the pre-destruction name of Phenix City) - it was a pretty exciting place. Girard/ Columbus were very important centers of industry during the war - and you find that like Sherman - yankee general Wilson came along and purposely destroyed the place after Lee had surrendered.
After the war there was an attempt to start a mill back up - and the workers were brought in under lock and key from prisons in UK - my recollection is that was 1890
So the unsavory aspect of Phenix City predates Ft. Benning.
Yes the unsavory aspect did predate Benning. What was the deal about the last "unoffical" battle of the CW being fought there? 1880's? I know it is a stretch, but thought you might expound.
I know a little about Wilson's Raid (largest cavalry force ever assembled on the North American Continent-over 12,000 mounted troopers) that started out from Tuscumbia and divided into two prongs sweeping southward and destroying anything that might benefit the war effort. They passed near where I live going south to Tannehill to destroy the iron/cannon works there. Before the yankee force liberated the 800 plus slaves there, they burned all of their houses. LOL
Smith Station is my home town, I've never met anyone from there since I left back in 1970. Seems they were always finding some poor boxhead from Ft Benning that had been rolled and dumped in the Chattahoochee!
It hadn't changed much in the 1970's. My dad was a CID agent with the U.S. Army stationed there and he had quite a few tales of corruption,murders and other things. It stil was so bad in the 70's that the Garrison commander considered putting "Sin City" on the banned list because of all the shenanigans pulled by the city on the GI's.
I have driven through Phenix City numerous times and briefly stationed at Fort Benning. We were told some whoopers about the local crime gang and some of the stuff that went on.
I was told that the gangsters left Phenix City and moved north to the border of Tennessee and Mississippi. They became the “State Line Mob” that Buford Pusser, Sheriff of McNairy County TN had to deal with. That story was made into the 1973 movie "Walking Tall".
ReplyDeleteI have been told and have read the same thing. Allegedly, Louise Hathcock who was portrayed as "Cali" in the 1973 film, was an "ex-madame" of a a whorehouse in Phenix City.
DeleteWell shoot - If you study the history of Russell County, Alabama - you find that the highest point of navigation of the river had a town there named "Sodom" and although it may have been slightly downstream of Girard (the pre-destruction name of Phenix City) - it was a pretty exciting place. Girard/ Columbus were very important centers of industry during the war - and you find that like Sherman - yankee general Wilson came along and purposely destroyed the place after Lee had surrendered.
ReplyDeleteAfter the war there was an attempt to start a mill back up - and the workers were brought in under lock and key from prisons in UK - my recollection is that was 1890
So the unsavory aspect of Phenix City predates Ft. Benning.
Yes the unsavory aspect did predate Benning. What was the deal about the last "unoffical" battle of the CW being fought there? 1880's? I know it is a stretch, but thought you might expound.
DeleteI know a little about Wilson's Raid (largest cavalry force ever assembled on the North American Continent-over 12,000 mounted troopers) that started out from Tuscumbia and divided into two prongs sweeping southward and destroying anything that might benefit the war effort. They passed near where I live going south to Tannehill to destroy the iron/cannon works there. Before the yankee force liberated the 800 plus slaves there, they burned all of their houses. LOL
Smith Station is my home town, I've never met anyone from there since I left back in 1970. Seems they were always finding some poor boxhead from Ft Benning that had been rolled and dumped in the Chattahoochee!
ReplyDeleteHa! It is a small world James. Hicks was the principal's name.
DeleteI also used to know a John Bishop from down that way.
Hey Jeffrey;
ReplyDeleteIt hadn't changed much in the 1970's. My dad was a CID agent with the U.S. Army stationed there and he had quite a few tales of corruption,murders and other things. It stil was so bad in the 70's that the Garrison commander considered putting "Sin City" on the banned list because of all the shenanigans pulled by the city on the GI's.
I've heard similar stories too.
DeleteI have driven through Phenix City numerous times and briefly stationed at Fort Benning. We were told some whoopers about the local crime gang and some of the stuff that went on.
ReplyDeleteHave you ever gone over to Seale and seen the abandoned courthouse ? Reconstruction in Russell County was pure hell-
ReplyDelete