TRI-COMMUNITY HISTORY
(Coosada, Robinson Springs, and Millbrook)

Historic Robinson Springs United Methodist Church has recently completed refurbishing and is open for tours.  To view this historic and beautifully maintained church call Pastor Chris at 285-2488

Indians first settled this region after being driven out of Mexico in the mid 1600s. In their search for peace and tranquility, the Native Americas entered this part of Alabama. They hunted deer and squirrel and found ample fish in the creeks and rivers. Through the years, history has documented one hundred thirty-four known tribes that resided in Alabama. It is said that the Indians stopped at Coosada and followed a custom of site selection. Upon stopping their journey for the night, the prophet placed a white stick in the ground. The next morning if the stick was still standing, the Indians felt the Great Spirit wanted them to stay at that location. If the stick fell, they would continue to move in the direction the stick had fallen. Since the stick was standing the next morning, they decided to stay and establish a village. It was a beautiful location with a lovely forest, ample game and fish for eating, and a lovely, rippling stream close to their village. The Indians, happy to have found a home, named their village “Coosawda” after their Chief. The Indians lived in peace for a long time in Elmore County. Some of the more commonly known tribes that settled in Alabama include the Creeks, Chickasaws, and Chocktaws. The Creek Nation settled in this region of Alabama. Many different villages were established throughout what is now Elmore County. They lived by their own customs, obeying only their laws. The white man, as of yet, had not entered their new, happy home. A collection of arrowheads and artifacts that was found in the area can be seen at the Coosada City Hall. The town has also erected a marker in the shape of an arrowhead as a tribute to the Indians of Coosawda.

In 1763 traders entered Elmore County. They were bold, hardy men. They carried their goods through the winding trails the Indians had created in the forest. They exchanged goods with the Indians and were so pleased with the results that some of them returned to make this area their home. Several settled at Coosawda and married Indian women. Beginning in about 1775, white settlements began to appear; established by pioneers primarily from Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina. The first deed conveyed in Elmore County was to Isaac Ross in 1814. He bought Fort Toulouse, and the daughter of an Indian trader conveyed the deed. Several homes were built in this area between 1817 and 1837. Absalom Jackson built the Elms in 1837 on Lindsey Road in Coosada where it still stands today. The settlers built their homes on land they obtained by trading with the Indians. Later, after the government signed a treaty with the Indians, the pioneers bought land from the government. Colonel John Archer Elmore owned a lot of land and soon became one of the wealthiest men in the area.

One of the most outstanding characters in Elmore County history is William Wyatt Bibb. He came here from Georgia before 1815. Bibb made his home on Auburn Hill in Coosada. Bibb was appointed the first Territorial Governor. When Alabama became a state in 1819, William Wyatt Bibb was appointed the first Governor of the State of Alabama. The capital was in Huntsville at the time. He is buried in the family cemetery at Coosada. His brother, Thomas Bibb, became the second Governor of Alabama. Benjamin Fitzpatrick was one of the early pioneers who came to Elmore County. He served as Governor of Alabama from 1841 until 1845. He lived in a stately home located behind the current location of Edgewood Academy.

Elmore County was fortunate in the early days to have numerous schools. Most schools consisted of one room and served only the local community. However, the Baptists established an institute near the current town of Central. Some of the school locations were near Highway 14 across from Robinson Springs Cemetery; one was across from the current Wetumpka Municipal Airport and was called The Lumley School; another was at the current site of the Coosada Baptist Church; another was at the current site of First United Methodist Church of Millbrook called Edgewood; and another was at Rocky Mount.

Elmore County provided many soldiers to the War Between the States. A distinguished soldier was Captain Goodwyn of Robinson Springs. His family home was located near the current location of Hardy’s for many years. A Confederate Monument, with the names of 186 men from this area who served in the war, is located at the corner of Highway 143 and Monument Drive in the Robinson Springs area.

Elmore County was founded in 1866 and was formed from parts of Autauga, Tallapoosa, Coosa, and Montgomery counties. It was named for John Archer Elmore, who had been a Colonel in the Revolution. His home, Huntingdon, is located just south of Elmore near Rucker Road. It still stands today and is lovingly cared for by his descendants. Robinson Springs is named for Samuel Robinson who owned the land where the springs are located.

During the late 1890s and early 1920s and 1930s, when yellow fever was prevalent, most families thought they should leave the city and spend summers in the open-air countryside. Many families from Montgomery came to Millbrook, Coosada, and Robinson Springs and rented houses or cabins for the summer. They would return to Montgomery in the fall to allow their children to attend school. As time passed, more and more families stayed in the Tri-Community region all year and attended the local schools. About 1878 the Louisville and Nashville railroad was completed to Elmore with a spur line to Prattville. The spur line went through Millbrook and followed the current Grandview Road. The train was lovingly called “Old Pratt” and many who worked in Montgomery rode “Old Pratt” to their jobs each day. This improvement in transportation created a new accessibility to the city, and more people relocated to this area. Some children rode the train back to Montgomery daily to attend Lanier High School. Another spur line extended from Elmore to Wetumpka. This mode of transportation remained commonly used until the automobile became popular.

The City of Millbrook was incorporated in 1977. Many things have changed over the years, but many things remain the same. Today, we continue to enjoy beautiful landscapes, live peaceably and enjoy quality education, excellent recreational facilities, and outstanding avenues to travel. Many of our residents continue to travel to other locations for employment, but call the Tri-Community area “HOME”. Perhaps, we have the best of both worlds.

Regretfully, we are not able to provide an extensive history of this region in this format. We encourage you to visit the public sites mentioned. You also may want to seek additional information by visiting the Coosada City Hall and view the artifacts that are on display. The Millbrook Public Library has folders available that have been compiled by the West Elmore County Historical Society that provide a vast amount of information from cemeteries to Red Shoes and the Coosawda Indians.

We hope this has stimulated your desire for knowledge about our history. Please send recommendations and exceptions to the Millbrook Area Chamber of Commerce.

The Millbrook Area Chamber of Commerce appreciates and acknowledges the contributions of Mildred Shirley, West Elmore County Historical Society, toward completion of this “history of the Tri-Community Region”. Regretfully, space limited the amount of information we could publish; therefore, the Chamber of Commerce extracted this history from the facts that were provided.