Historic Tuscaloosa's Memory Of The Week: Snow & Prince Store (1889)

Editor's Note: As part of an ongoing partnership with our friends at Historic Tuscaloosa, Patch will be bringing you a quick piece of local history each week provided by those working hard to preserve the memories of our community.

TUSCALOOSA, AL — This week's installment of Historic Tuscaloosa's Memory of the Week takes us back over a century to what is now Greensboro Avenue in downtown Tuscaloosa.

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Historic Tuscaloosa's Event & Digital Media Coordinator Sarah-Katherine Helms points out in the photo that standing in front of the E.N.C. Snow Store — on the western corner of what is now Greensboro Avenue and University Boulevard — are Charlie Olmstead, Norfleet Harris, and E.N.C. Snow (or Raiford).

This is known, she said, by the information on the back of a copy of the photo owned by Camille Elebash. The photo also notes that to the left of the business was a saddle shop, while Hays Drug Co. was positioned on the opposite side.

E.N.C. Snow Store

Given these details, this would place the site of the stores at the current location of the Embassy Suites by Hilton.

Helms explained that E.N.C. Snow and A.P. Prince owned the store after it was established in 1889.

The name would eventually change to Prince and Son a few years later after Hugh Prince replaced Snow as his father's business partner.

Helms said A.P. Prince was the senior member of the firm, working as the buyer and making trips to New York every season to select the latest novelties and fashionable goods to bring back for his customers in Tuscaloosa.

Helms also said A.P. Prince once served as a City of Tuscaloosa alderman decades before the city changed to the City Council form of government it has today.

The Tuscaloosa Times in 1899 said Prince and his son were "members of high social standing and exceptional business ability."

Click here to learn more about our friends at Historic Tuscaloosa and be on the lookout for the next installment of our Memory of the Week.

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