Deactur historical marker replaced after damage
DECATUR, Ala. (WHNT) — A Decatur historical marker commemorating African American Heritage has been replaced after it was damaged last month.
The African American Heritage marker in Old Town Decatur has been replaced after it was damaged on March 24.
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The marker chronicles the forgotten contributions of African Americans to the City of Decatur, going back to before the city was incorporated.
Established in 1821, Old Town was the home of many prominent African Americans and black-owned businesses before Urban Renewal took over in the 1970s. Decatur was incorporated in 1826.
A spokesperson for the Decatur Preservation originally said it would take a year to get a new marker and the replacement would likely cost thousands.
Historian Peggy Towns, who helped get the original marker placed, thanked Decatur Mayor Tab Bowling for helping get the marker quickly replaced.
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The mayor told News 19's Archie Snowden that he simply knew the right person to call for help.
'Nothing beats having reliable friends,' Bowling said. 'When I learned about this unfortunate incident, I knew which friend to call.'
Decatur Police said last month they were investigating what caused the damage to the marker but had not determined if it had been damaged intentionally or accidentally.
Authorities said on Tuesday that there were no updates in that investigation.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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