The structure you see before you is the Old Shelby Hotel. Loosely
affiliated with the Shelby Iron Park next door, the hotel is closed
and off limits. You do not need to enter the grounds of the hotel
to find the cache.
According to This Web
Site, the current structure was built in 1900, and it is the
oldest hotel in Alabama to have Electricity and Running Water. The
original structure was built in 1863 and burned down in 1898. The
Shelby area in the Mid 19th century was booming with the production
of pig iron nearby. At one point, President Teddy Roosevelt stayed
in this very hotel.
Someone mentioned in their logs below that they were surprised
the site did not have a historic marker. The Shelby Iron Park next
door does have a historic marker, and the hotel is affiliated with
the park. However, some things go beyond the needs of their
neighbors and clearly the hotel, at 107 years old, needs more than
it is receiving. The heritage and history of Alabama is housed in
places like Shelby Iron Park and once it is gone, it is gone.
Along with so many other things that the state needs to do, it
also has a responsibility to protect the history of the state. Part
of the history of this great state is found… right here. Alas, the
state is not taking an active part in the upkeep of this place.
Maybe one day, that will change.
Please enjoy the cache and take some pictures so future
generations will be able to see these old structures.
