Part one in a series on the history of Summerdale.

Every year, especially during the summer months, hundreds of thousands of people pass through Summerdale, yet never get to know the depth of indigenous culture to the region. Much of that history lies to the east and west of Highway 59 and, while not known to the numerous visitors to the region, it is not lost on the locals who grew up as part of that rich tradition.

While the little town is quiet and peaceful today, you can still hear the echo of the hustle and bustle of the early 20th century if you listen long enough. And although Summerdale remains focused on agriculture, it was once one of — if not the — center of agricultural activity in Baldwin County. Today a visitor to the streets of Summerdale can see the remnants of what was and the foundation of what is to come.

The land that became Summerdale was, at the turn of the 20th century, owned by the Southern Development Company, which was established in Chicago. That company, based on information compiled by resident Edith Wynn, laid out the property into convenient lots that could then be sold and developed into a town.

That name has even undergone changes, especially in the early stages of development. Originally it was to be known as Summerville, but changed to Summerdale when it was learned that there was already a Summerville, Alabama. The name that stuck originated with a real estate agent named Summers that worked for the Southern Development Company. That same agent moved to the area, where he built a large two-story home that also served as a hotel for potential land buyers.

Although Summerdale was not incorporated until 1926, it was settled and developed much earlier. John Underwood, in a local news article, indicated that the town was founded in 1906 when Polish families (43 of them) settled in the area.

Other records indicate that the foundation of the town began even earlier. There is evidence in 1905 G.L. Sharretts established the first post office in Summerdale. Prior to that time, he was the postmaster in Marlow. Each week, the mail would arrive by boat up Fish River. Sharretts would retrieve the mail from Baldwin’s Store and Landing and then transport the items to the post office.

According to available information, the Marlow post office moved to Summerdale between 1904 and 1905. The first mail carrier in Summerdale was Charles Engstrom, who initially utilized a milk wagon pulled by a horse to run the route. Later, he switched to a motorcycle and sidecar and then an automobile to make his deliveries.

Businesses began to come to life in Summerdale not long after the first residents arrived. For example, the Summerdale Canning Factory began production in the summer of 1905. As a matter of fact, the July 13, 1905 edition of the Baldwin Times remarked, “the canning factory started up this week. They will begin on peaches them being ripe and ready for canning. The factory is not yet finished, some of the machinery not being in place, but the necessary machinery for canning peaches has been put in so as to be ready for that fruit.”

A little over a decade later, the cannery was torn down with the resultant lumber used to build a home for G.L. Sharretts. Prior to its demolition, however, the canning factory served as the home of Summerdale’s newspaper, the “Summerdale Record.” The paper, established in 1915, was edited by Mrs. Bessie Welch who had formerly been a teacher in Chicago.

Next week we will continue to examine the expansion of Summerdale at the beginning of the 20th century.