Archives and Videos Record
Metadata
Object ID |
FSTC-V0015 |
Object Name |
Video, Digital |
Description |
Video interview dated September 16, 1994 with Gale Rowe who came to Fairhope with his parents in the late 1930's. He graduated from Fairhope High School in 1943 (where he met Eloise Nichols whom he later married), served in the Navy during WWII and the Korean War, and in between service stints, graduated from the University of Alabama in 1948. Upon retirement, the family returned to Fairhope where he was active in the Fairhope Single Tax Corporation in several capacities including the office of secretary from 1980-1996. Mr. Rowe initially ran for secretary because he thought he could be of help to the Corporation with issues about charges for rents, and the way rents were calculated. Rents had been raised in what was thought to correct deficiencies in the Somers System which had been adopted in 1914. Mr. Rowe explains this in detail in the interview. There were also problems with subdivision development. The FSTC felt that development should move from the center of town out without leap frogging since the Corporation was providing the improvements (streets, utilities). Crittenden Enterprises built Bay Meadows subdivision and the FSTC paid for the improvements. When Crittenden built the next phase of the project, FSTC approved the project but raised rents after they built a road. Crittenden filed suit in 1979. FSTC lost the suit; Mr. Rowe outlines the penalties to the FSTC as a result of the court case. Video runs 44 minutes, 40 seconds. From the Fairhope Single Tax Corporation Archives. |
Date |
1994/09/16 |
PDF link |
|
People |
Rowe, Gale W. Rowe, Eloise Nichols Rowe, Christopher Rowe, Becky Arnold, Claude W. Nichols, Marvin Dyson, Samuel (1908-1988) Rockwell R. Lucier Rockwell, Ruth E. Johnson, Michael |
Search Terms |
Videos Oral Histories Interviews Somers System Crittenden Enterprises, Inc. Fairhope Single Tax Corporation, Rent Study Committee Subdivision Fairhope Single Tax Corporation, rents Formula Land Development Fairhope Single Tax Corporation, law suits |
Title |
Interview: Gale Rowe |