New Market, AL Real Estate, Homes For Sale, School & Area Information

I admire old church sanctuaries. Recently on a warm July Dixie day, I had some real estate business in New Market. After meeting with my clients, I turned on the same street that I have driven hundreds of times before in the little town of New Market, AL. There are a few old storefronts that date back longer than I can remember. But what always fascinated me on that little sleepy street is the small white church structure on the west end. It is a quaint little structure with no sign on the building, but there is a sturdy metal black yard sign that reads in Old English style, "New Market Presbyterian Church." There is an arch shaped window above the double door entrance. There are three windows on each side of the small building, each having an arch that compliments the arch at the front entrance. History tells me that the congregation was established as early as 1840. Some members of the small group are of the fourth generation to worship at New Market Presbyterian Church.

New Market Presbyterian Church has surely not survived without calamity. The first structure was destroyed by fire prior to the Civil War. A second facility was erected, a two story structure but succumbed to a tornado in 1884. Legend has it that several folks in New Market heard the church organ playing "Nearer My God to Thee" as it sailed into the sky.

Such structures scattered throughout the North Alabama landscape serve as monuments to the importance that our forefathers placed in a necessity to have a close relationship with our Creator.

There were others on the verge of getting a magnificent flying machine off the ground about the same time as the Wright Brothers at Kitty Hawk. One such aviation pioneer was Will Quick at Quicks Mill, Alabama or better known to old timers of the "area as Hump, Alabama". Hump is located between New Market and Hazel Green on Walker Lane. Will studied flying insects in the late 1800's and drew various designs, threw his designs away and drew more designs. His biggest hold back, due to shortage of funds and availability was the right engine for his craft. He finally obtained his engine and mounted it to his flying contraption. Sixteen year old Will, Jr., under close instructions from senior made the first successful flight in 1908. The plane has been restored and placed on display at the Alabama Space Museum in Huntsville.

North Alabama is blessed with many naturally beautiful areas. Our community leaders have planned with foresight to preserve our bounty of outdoor opportunities to be enjoyed by young and old for years to come. Nestled in the northeastern part of Madison County, sits the Sharon Johnston Park. Amenities of the 250 acre Sharon Johnston Park include a twelve acre lake stocked annually with catfish, an Olympic size swimming pool, campground facilities, a playground, a shooting range, an arena, soccer fields and a marked 5k running/walking course. The park is easy to find by traveling north on Winchester Highway to its location just south of New Market. The trip takes about 20 minutes from downtown Huntsville.