The historical spot on Shades Mountain known as Sunset Rock is located on a bluff overlooking Shades Valley in the city of Hoover, a suburb of Birmingham.  This beautiful spot has been, for many years, one of the tourist attractions of the city of Birmingham. 

     Colonel Thomas W. Farrar, one of the first two legislators in Alabama, a lawyer of note, and the first Worshipful Master of the Farrar Lodge in Old Elyton, and Worshipful Grand Master of the Masonic Lodge of Alabama, when it met at Cahaba, the then Capitol of Alabama, gave the name to this spot.  Colonel Farrar and his bride, Seraphine, whom he married in New Orleans, came through the Valley of Shadows, the name given the valley below the bluff by the Indians, on their way to their new home in Elyton.  Traveling by oxen-wagon they made their camping place for the night at the site of Sunset Rock.  Here on the high crest of rocks, on the bluff overlooking the Valley of Shadows, they camped for several days.  They carved their names and the date on Sunset Rock and it can still be seen today. 


     This rock also bears the legend of Lover's Leap.  A young Indian princess and her dashing young Indian brave were deeply in love.  After a while the Indian brave became tired of the love of the princess and, using a bone dagger, he stabbed her while standing on the bluff.  He immediately regretted his action and carried both himself and the princess over the cliff to their deaths.


                                               

     Today this area is located in the neighborhood of Bluff Park just off Shades Crest Road.  The Valley of Shadows is known as Shades Valley.  It is still a beautiful spot, especially in the fall when the leaves in the valley below and on Red Mountain beyond are turning fiery red.

     Sunset Rock Chapter was organized March 28, 1952, at the Mountain Brook home of Lois Bradley and Pat Pugh.  Mrs. R. W. Gilbert was the organizing regent.  The charter was presented by Mrs. Jim Lane (1928 State Regent), Mrs. John Luttrel (State Regent-elect), and Mrs. Smith Fallaw (State Regent and sponsor of Sunset Rock Chapter).  Each of the original fifteen members signed the charter.  They were:

                            Beulah Gilbert ---Regent           Others:  Lois Pugh Bradley
                                     Maud Craig------ Vice Regent                  Irma Creamer
                                     Pat Pugh----------Secretary                      Margaret Hickman
                                     Lillian Shelton----Treasurer                      Helen Knight
                                     Sara Gray---------Registrar                       Carol Morton
                                     Ruth Scholl-------Historian                       Martha McGaughy
                                     Helen Putman----Chaplain                       Elizabeth Piersol
                                     Mary Morris------Librarian                      

                                             

               Picture made at organizing meeting.   Seated in front (L-R) Mrs. Lane, Mrs. Fallow, Mrs. Luttrell.                                               
  

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