Part two in a three-part series on the history and progress of the Baldwin County Department of Archives and History.

In 2005, the Baldwin County Department of Archives and History was operated out of a temporary office in the Baldwin County Commission Administration building in Bay Minette. It was another year before the dedicated facility that is now the office of the Archives and History Department was completed.

Now, in 2013, that once empty building is almost full of the documents produced by the Commission offices as well as those of the Revenue Commissioner’s office, the Circuits Clerk’s office, the Sheriff’s office and the Probate Judge’s office. In addition, the facility holds numerous works of art and artifacts that reflect the history and heritage of Baldwin County.

Beyond the original mission assigned to the Archives by the Baldwin County Commission, the duties of the office have expanded to reflect the growing desire by Baldwin County residents to preserve their pasts.

Projects like the Swift-Coles Historic Home in Bon Secour and Bicentennial Park in Stockton have become a part of the responsibility of the Archives. Initiatives like the Tensaw Parkway Scenic Byway and the Alabama State Military Museum have also added to the responsibility of the Archives over the past nine years.

Records

The collection of documents housed by the Baldwin County Department of Archives and History has grown at an enormous rate. Obviously the public servants that have served Baldwin County for the past 200 years have been excellent stewards of records, as the facility now houses over 7,000 collections, which range in size from just a few documents to collections that include thousands of pages.

The Archives facility maintains space enough for 8,500 cubic feet of records and comes close to that capacity now. Of course, many of those records have a predetermined time for which they must be kept and then can be destroyed as they surpass their useful life. Most of the records are accessible through our online catalog that can be accessed from the Archives website. The Archives provides research opportunities through the week Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.

Bicentennial Park

The Archives Department also provides historical and cultural support for the Bicentennial Park in Stockton. At present, the 367-acre site offers visitors the opportunity to walk the two-mile walking trail as a means of becoming more familiar with the wetlands associated with the Mobile-Tensaw Delta.

Tours of the park can be arranged by contacting Paula Tillman at 251-580-1695 or Erica Christmas at 251-937-0266. The facilities at the park are available for weddings, family reunions, meetings or other group activities. On site for tours include the completed renovation of a circa 1910 country store, a circa 1780 Indian lifestyles exhibit and a mid 19^th century blacksmith shop. The site also hosts events each year, such as the Old Time Country Festival and the Halloween Haunted Trail.

Swift-Coles Historic Home

Since 2007, the Archives has worked in conjunction with the Baldwin County Historic Development Commission to operate the Swift-Coles Historic home in Bon Secour. The home is open each Tuesday and Friday for guided tours and features sixteen rooms of period furniture that harkens back to the turn of the 20^th century. Each Christmas, the home is decorated for the season in period decorations and features music and refreshments on a special Saturday.

At present the grounds are being reviewed so they can be restored to the 1910 period as well. The home can be reserved for weddings, meetings, birthday celebrations, and other gatherings. The house was once the home of the Charles Swift family and was donated to the Historic Development Commission by the late owner Nik Coles.

More information can be obtained on these projects and other by calling the Baldwin County Department of Archives and History at 251-580-1897.