Grave of Dr. Joseph D. Trammell at Williams Station Cemetery Atmore, Ala.
The Williams Station Cemetery is situated at the western end of Church Street in Atmore. Yet to find the location it becomes necessary to search and look beyond the houses at the western extreme of the street. A glancing scan soon takes the searcher down a tiny sidewalk which leads to the enclosed graveyard and, as if passing through time and space, the traveler soon finds a gem of local history among the stones erected to memories of those who passed long ago.
Among those faded memories is that of Dr. J.D. Trammell. Most are aware of the street which is named Trammell in Atmore. Yet many may not be aware of the impact of this early family on Williams Station and Atmore.
Dr. Trammell was born in Georgia but later moved to Southwest Alabama during "The Big Cut," a time when men made fortunes overnight in the logging and naval stores industries.
This enterprising doctor maintained a busy practice in Atmore, Perdido and Bay Minette. A newspaper ad from The Atmore Record from September 7, 1905 lists the doctor as a physician and surgeon. He also owned boarding houses in both towns, as well as other economic endeavors.
Dr. Trammell had several children, but his son G.W. Trammell was a notable local farmer and railroad agent for Atmore on the L&N line. It is also possible that G.W. or Dr. Trammell owned a hotel on the site of what would become the Cook Hotel and later United Bank. According to the July 16, 1914 edition of The Atmore Record, The Trammell Building, as it was called, set at the corner of Mill Street (Pensacola Avenue) and Nashville, Avenue.
The Trammell Building may also have served as the first motion picture theater in Atmore. Although The Strand is better known as Atmore's theater, a newspaper article from 1913 announces the opening of a "Motion Picture" show through a joint enterprise between J.W. Baker and Burton Smith. The two gentleman planned to show a different movie on each movie night which was scheduled for Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday nights.
Although G.W. Trammell would continue as a fixture in the Atmore area for many more years, his father, Dr. J.D. Trammell would not be as fortunate. While visiting in the home of G.W.; tragedy struck the kindly physician. Papers around the state carried the sad story as noted in The Brewton Standard, which quoted The Montgomery Advertiser's coverage of the accident which occurred on April 20, 1906:
"Dr. J.D. Trammell died last night. The Doctor, whose home was in Bay Minette, had been spending a few days with his son, G.W. Trammell, and had been out driving when his horse became frightened at a passing train and threw him from his buggy. He was given medical attention, and was thought to be doing nicely, there being no bruise that could be found, and he himself thought his injuries very slight. The accident occurred about 9 o'clock Thursday morning, and he was doing well up to 1:30 a.m. Friday, when he began vomiting blood, dying a few minutes later. Dr. Trammell was 74 years of age and was a native of Georgia, but had lived in Alabama for forty odd years, spending a large part of that time in Atmore and Bay Minette, where he practiced medicine, and had a large circle of friends....his sons are Dr. J.D. Trammell of Muscogee, Fla., Dr. R.H. Trammell of Lockhart, Ala., and G.W. Trammell of Atmore. His daughters are Mrs. R.L. Stewart and Mrs. M.L. Taylor of Saucier, Miss, and Mrs. H.C. Watson of Ralford, N.C."
Dr. Joseph Dunlop Trammell was buried at Williams Station Cemetery April 27, 1906.
Coming soon: The Butler Street Chronicles; this book will contain selected histories of the communities surrounding Butler Street and will include information on settlers at Steadham, Pond Fork, Sizemore, Sardine, Butler Street, Hollinger and other communities along this route.
Vote for and support the Canoe Landmark District referendum on the 2020 ballot. Call for more details.
Shadows and Dust Volume III: Legacies is available for purchase in the amount of $30.00+$5.00 shipping and handling to PO Box 579 Atmore, AL 36502 or visit Lulu Publishing.com; Amazon.com, Barnes and Nobles.com OR at the Monroe County Heritage Museum in Monroeville, Alabama or by calling 251 294 0293.
The Canoe Civic Club is proud to announce the date of the upcoming Canoe Homecoming in beautiful downtown Canoe from 8:30am-2:30pm on Saturday November 23, 2019. Call 251 294 0293 for free vendor spots.
