Georgiana in Butler County, Alabama — The American South (East South Central)
Hank Williams’ Boyhood Home / Thigpen’s Log Cabin Popular Dance Hall
Side 1
Hiram Williams lived in Georgiana from age 7 to 11. In 1931, Mrs. Lillie Williams moved Hiram and his sister Irene from rural Wilcox County to this house owned by Thaddeus B. Rose. When he was 8, his mother bought him a guitar for $3.50. Black street musician Rufus (Tee-Tot) Payne became his teacher. Hiram practiced guitar under the raised-cottage house and sang on the streets for tips. The family moved to Greenville in the fall of 1934 and then to Montgomery in 1937 where, at age 14, Hiram began calling himself ‘Hank.’
Side 2
While still a teenager in the early 1940s, Hank Williams used his radio show on WSFA to promote ‘show dates’ at schools, theaters and honky-tonks in South Alabama. Fred Thigpen’s Log Cabin, which opened in 1931 a mile from Hank’s boyhood home, was one of the most popular dance halls. In 1992, Mayor Lynn Watson led the drive to buy the house for a museum. The city also relocated a portion of Thigpen’s to this site. With the help of fans and volunteers, the museum opened June 5, 1993. A park was created at the rear of the house for festivals. The house is listed on the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage.
Erected 2006 by the Alabama Bureau of Tourism & Travel.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Entertainment. A significant historical date for this entry is June 5, 1920.
Location. 31° 38.374′ N, 86° 44.509′ W. Marker is in Georgiana, Alabama, in Butler County. Marker is at the intersection of Rose Street and West Railroad Avenue, on the right when traveling east on Rose Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 127 Rose Street, Georgiana AL 36033, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 15 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. City of Georgiana / GA~ANA Theatre (approx. ¼ mile away); Early Native Americans in Butler County / Indian Trails and Travelers in Butler County (approx. 5.4 miles away); Old Federal Road (approx. 12.7 miles away); Pioneer Electric Cooperative (approx. 13.7 miles away); Butler County World War I Memorial (approx. 14.7 miles away); West Commerce Street Historic District/Historic Greenville Depot (approx. 14.7 miles away); Pioneer Cemetery (approx. 14.8 miles away); Site of Confederate Hospital (approx. 14.8 miles away).
Also see . . .
1. Exploring the History of Hank Museum: A Journey Through Time. Website homepage (Submitted on March 7, 2015, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.)
2. Hank Williams Official Website. Run by the Hank Williams International Society and Fan Club, a non-profit corporation. (Submitted on March 8, 2015, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.)
Credits. This page was last revised on October 22, 2023. It was originally submitted on March 7, 2015, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. This page has been viewed 1,347 times since then and 111 times this year. It was the Marker of the Week June 11, 2017. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. submitted on March 7, 2015, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.