(You may have traveled through the picturesque city of Foley many times on your way to a Gulf Coast vacation. Did you know the downtown area has a mysterious tunnel?)
The Foley Tunnel
John Snook owner of Gulf Telephone Company made a tunnel from the Magnolia Inn and his company across the street. There were also more mysterious uses and reasons for the tunnel involving a love story, communists, and women sharpshooters. Check out the video below for the story behind the Foley Tunnel.
Foley is a city in Baldwin County, Alabama, United States. The 2010 census lists the population of the city as 14,618.
Foley (Images of America) Paperback
Named for John B. Foley of Chicago
Foley was named for its founder, John B. Foley of Chicago. As Foley was traveling to President McKinley’s funeral in 1901, he met a railroad agent who told him of the area in South Baldwin County. Foley came down the following year, and he liked what he saw and bought up between 40,000 acres and 50,000 acres of land. He then returned to Chicago and formed the Magnolia Land Company.
Foley at night (Photo of Foley is courtesy of TripAdvisor)
As he began to sell off acreage, he realized the need for a better way for the people to come to Foley. Foley used some of his own money to lay the rails so the train could come from Bay Minette. The first railroad station was built in 1905. The original station burned in 1908 and was replaced the following year by the station that is now the City’s museum. John Foley donated parcels of land for a school and churches.
The first train to service Foley was a wood burner called the “Pine Knot Special.” It would leave Foley in the morning and make a return trip in the afternoon. As people cleared the land, they would place liter knots in a wood box for the engineer to use as was needed. Foley was incorporated in 1915 with G. I. Weatherly serving as its first mayor.
Street Scene of Foley ca. 1935 (Alabama Department of Archives and History)
Foley, Alabama postcard ca. 1915
Cutting and Threshing 40 Acres Soy Beans – Wm Goetz Farm – Foley, Ala ca. 1920
Rice and Velvet Beans – Murray’s Farm – Foley, Alabama ca. 1900
Cotton Gin, Grist Mill and Rice Huller in Foley, Alabama ca. 1900
Foley, Alabama 1928
Rex Stout mysteries 4 Pack Paperback
Alabama Footprints Confrontation is a collection of lost and forgotten stories that reveals why and how the confrontation between the Native American population and settlers developed into the Creek-Indian War as well as stories of the bravery and heroism of participants from both sides.
Some stores include:
- Tecumseh Causes Earthquake
- Terrified Settlers Abandon Farms
- Survivor Stories From Fort Mims Massacre
- Hillabee Massacre
- Threat of Starvation Men Turn To Mutiny
- Red Eagle After The War
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About Donna R Causey
Donna R. Causey, resident of Alabama, was a teacher in the public school system for twenty years. When she retired, Donna found time to focus on her lifetime passion for historical writing. She developed the websites www.alabamapioneers and www.daysgoneby.me All her books can be purchased at Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble. She has authored numerous genealogy books. RIBBON OF LOVE: A Novel Of Colonial America (TAPESTRY OF LOVE) is her first novel in the Tapestry of Love about her family where she uses actual characters, facts, dates and places to create a story about life as it might have happened in colonial Virginia. Faith and Courage: Tapestry of Love (Volume 2) is the second book and the third FreeHearts: A Novel of Colonial America (Book 3 in the Tapestry of Love Series) Discordance: The Cottinghams (Volume 1) is the continuation of the story. . For a complete list of books, visit Donna R Causey
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Cool
Ben Johnson Charlotte Perry Henrichs
Across the what????
Andy Kennedy Barclay how cool!
Did not know that! We should go!
Cool!!
Yes
Yes. It was built by John Snook who owned Gulf Telephone and was a real nut case. I don’t think you can visit it.
Very interesting bit of history. Thanks for sharing Betty.
That is so interesting
That is so interesting
I had the privilege of knowing Mr. Snook He was a man with a wealth of knowledge, and had a understanding of what was happening in the world and the local community. He was a very soft spoken person and lover of cats as he taught me to be. It was a pleasure to have him as a customer and a friend.
Logan Morris
It’s not a secret anymore
uh oh…the makings of a future sinkhole????
Not likely.
Stephanie Findlay Green. 🙂
I didn’t know that but now I need to know more!
Meredith Nesbitt
What are velvet beans?
i’ve read this before. interesting
No I did not know that
My aunt lived in Foley when I was a child. She worked at Western Union n my uncle owned a business in town. I heard him tell about a tunnel but don’t recall the details. I was to excited about going to the beach.
Tish McNeil-King
Been there, done that. Is the Magnolia Hotel still for sale?
Tunnels for Booze?
Interesting
It hasn’t been a secret since I was a child I remember taking man hole covers up at the foley park and exploring the drains looking for the tunnels this was in 1985
Very interesting.
Ben Johnson
Yep!! Heard about this when we moved here. Pretty cool. Btw the Magnolia Hotel is reopened. You need to come see it!
Kimberly Curtis??
Mary Jo Faulkner Steele, Tony May… Check this out.
Home of Snake Stabler!
I was sitting in the driving rain in a soaked through rain coat at the Alabama-Auburn game when the Snake kept the ball and started running right at us on that famous run. Alabama quarterbacks can take the elements! Remember Bart Starr in the Ice Bowl? Dadgum, but y’all put out some quarterbacks down around Mobile!!! AJ—Coker—Snake! I’m sure there’s some I don’t know about. Sure do wish Alabama had one o’them Mobile-Foley quarterbacks now! It’s not asking too much to have at least ONE white boy on Bama’s team.
I had no idea, I heard stories. But never knew.
Vell Gallegly Faw, did you know about this?
Yes I read about it about a year or so ago and then they had it on the new’s.I know where it is. Interesting story
Yep. Guy was nuts. I went to high school there. He also had a contingent of female body guards trained in martial arts. Oh and when I was a kid he used to burn crosses in the park across the street.
Very interesting. I enjoyed this very much.
I love the different things I have read here.
Neat story of history.
I know all about it. Installed the doors in it when it was under construction!!
Josh ShelnuttDavid McKeehanAlan Debbie Shelnutt
I did not know about this and I was born and raised in Foley. My sister forwarded this to me. It was quite interesting. Thanks Carolyn!
Very interesting…Foley AL has some of the most beautiful beaches that I’ve ever seen.
Can we go through the tunnel now, as of March 2017 ????
Can we go through tunnel now, as of march 2017 ?
Krista Ericksen
Yep
Sandra Schaff Wynn….
Interesting!
Lisa Seale
Patty Moscato Faircloth are y’all going near here???
Close
We should have stopped off there.
Tonya Gibson Fochtmann
Pat Parsons
Kaye Wales Dorning
Beth Lovell Carter
Ashton Carter
Lexie Ashley
Josh Hines
Dhoya Bentley is this true?
Yes Patt. I believe it is. I remember John Snooks, who had it built. He was charming and eccentric.
Yes I remember the tunnel
That’s where the “receipe” is hidden!
Do they offer tours?
Yes
Jennifer Garcia
Tuscumbia had some also
Knew the quaint little town of Foley during the 50’s and 60’s. My Daddy’s lung specialist retired to Foley fro NOLA. Spent a lot time there back then.Miss the small town feel !
Jessica Stevens when’s the last time you’ve visited?its not small anymore.
Pass through every trip to the beach! We used to stay at the small motel south of the Hospital when my Dad would be there for a few days. My parents considered moving to Foley at one time back then. There was very little in Gulf Shores at that time either.
Jessica Stevens Van Wezel
Jessica Stevens I went to that same doctor for my asthma! I was 5, so around 1957. I think the building that has the county school offices is where his office was. Allergy testing was primitive, but my granddaddy found the doctor, and we lived about an hour away.
Cheryl Holmes We lived near Tuscaloosa. My Daddy was in Oshner’s in NOLA when Dr VanWeizel became his Dr. Spelling is not correct!
Judy Quick John Self
Did y’all know this?
Very interesting video regarding history of tunnel
David Horton
Betsy Alexander Waggoner
Debra Ashlock Thanks. Fascinating. I tagged Brandon.
My home Town.
Angela Brown, have you heard of, or seen this!
Janet M Kampmeier No, I didn’t know this interesting info. I have been to the restaurant at the Inn. Thanks for sharing.
Lori Ann Renner
Ashton Carter
Beth Lovell Carter
Sandra Dorning love stuff like this!
My Aunt n cousins lived on Foley.
Cheryl Patterson Dean
I read this somewhere. Fascinating!
Brandon McCullar. Look at this
Stacin Wyatt
Hilary Holmes McKinney
Went to an Asthma specialist in 1957.. having gone back, I think the office is where the County School office is now, because I remember the glass cube windows.
Jared Summer trip?
Austin Jones Let’s
Kim Tyson
I was born in Foley, it was the first hospital in Baldwin county, now it is a museum. Kenny Stabler was also born there
Marti Jean
Steve
Wesley McGill
Marti Pulliam Messick
Jackie Zeigler I would love if they would make this accessible!
I’ve been in this tunnel! I worked at Gulf Telephone, John Snook took me down to see it