This month I would like to write about the
town of Brewton. On February 13, 1885, the town of Newport was established.
It was named Newport for the new port established by barges making runs
on both Murder and Burnt Corn creeks to and from Pensacola, FL.
In 1861 the railroad came through this
area and a depot was constructed. This depot was named after the station
agent, Edmund Troupe Brewton. This eventually brought about the name change
from Newport to Brewton Station, later shortened to Brewton. The Brewton
family is a predominate family known in Escambia County. Since the Brewton
family connects to my husband's family I do have info on the Brewton family
that I would be glad to share with anyone reseraching this family.
The first county seat was located in Pollard.
In 1883 the county seat was moved to Brewton. Since Pollard refused to
send the records to Brewton, several residents of Brewton went to Pollard
and broke into the courthouse and brought the records to Brewton. This
is a story that I would like to go more in depth with at another time.
Agriculture and the Lumber Industry has
played an important part in the growth of Brewton and in it's economy.
In the early 1900's strawberries were an important crop and there were
several lumber mills, such as T.R. Miller in this area. Because of the
lumber employees, merchants started businesses. Some of the largest stores
in South Alabama such as Luttrell Hardware, Hainje's and Robbins &
McGowins were located in Brewton.
Downtown Brewton today remains much the
same as it did in the early 1900's. It is still a thriving and ever growing
town. Brewton is known as one of the "Top 100 Small Towns in America".
Below you will find a portion of the family of Edmund T. Brewton.
Source: The Historical News, Vol. 16 No. 7 - AL, February 1996
Please keep in mind that this is just portion of the Brewton family.
©2007 Kellie Crnkovich
