Hi Chick,
Back in the 1950s, there was only the TriCities: Tuscumbia, Sheffield, Florence. Even the newspaper was called the TriCities Daily. At that time, Muscle Shoals was considered part of Sheffield -- and all the kids living in the Muscle Shoals area went to Sheffield schools. I lived in Muscle Shoals, on Central Avenue, for several years -- and it was always part of Sheffield.
So, with Tuscumbia to the south and Florence to the north, that puts Sheffield in the middle. Hence, the center of the Shoals area. Makes sense to me.
And, at this ad from the 1920s tells us: Sheffield, Alabama: Heart Of Muscle Shoals.
Way to go, Ian.
God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,
Bill
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As that ad tells us, Shurfiel' had some things going for it in the 1920s that it certainly no longer has. Yep, Shurfiel'--"high rank as a manufacturing center" and "City of Opportunity!!
And note that description of "transportation unexcelled by any city in the Tennessee Valley."
They must not have had that notorious railroad crossing back in the 1920s.
Lo, how the mighty has fallen!
Shurfiel'--no place to go but up.