June 11, 2020 at 6:30 pm
David Breland, Director of Historic Resources and Events for the City of Decatur, President of the Morgan County Historical Society, and a retired judge, will debut our Zoom meeting format with his talk, “Decatur in Civil War Times,” Thursday, June 11, 6:30 p.m. online. Mr. Breland was previously schedule to speak in July.
This meeting will be conducted online using Zoom software. Instructions about how to watch are included in this newsletter and will also be sent to you separately via e-mail and snail mail.
This is a presentation on how a community existed prior to the Civil War– its business assets, its transportation prowess and its people. It is the story of opposition to secession, causes for the war through the eyes of the local people, the horrors of war for the town with brief histories of some of the engagements leading to the virtual complete destruction of the town. And it is also the story of reconstruction leading once again to beautiful homes, vibrant industries and a booming economy… and significant Civil War history that is still interpreted today.
Judge Breland is a native of Decatur, Alabama, and a graduate of the University of Alabama (B.S. in Commerce and Business Administration 1975 and Juris Doctorate Degree 1978). He volunteers with many local community groups and has helped develop numerous preservation projects, including Decatur’s Historic Depot. He serves as Board member of the Alabama Historical Commission (elected Vice-Chairman 2020), the Alabama Mountain Lakes Association and the Historic Decatur Association. During his career as Morgan County District and Juvenile Court Judge from 1983 to 2008, the court was honored in multiple years for its case administration efficiency. More than 25 programs were developed with its partner agencies, to serve children and youth coming before the court.
