City of Samson

16 East Main Street

Samson, Alabama 36477

334-898-7541

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Samson- We Grow Friendly People
The rich and diverse history of Samson, Alabama includes the tale of the town motto, which has undergone three changes since its founding.

 During the Great Depression, the T.S. Faulk and Company Store in downtown Samson purchased a large shipment of snuff, which remained stationary at the town's depot for an extended period of time. This led to Samson being nicknamed "Snuff City, U.S.A."

 In an attempt to shed this moniker, several community groups decided to plant extensive beds of red roses along all the roads leading into Samson. With this planting, they hoped the new slogan "City of a Million Roses" would take root. However, as the roses gradually disappeared, the old slogan resurfaced.

 In more recent times, the town has embraced a new motto, "Samson...We Grow Friendly People." Steven Baine, the son of councilman Roger and senior director Sherry Baine, devised the slogan during a high school contest. This contest received more than 50 entries, and Steven emerged as the winner, earning $100. The contest committee deemed Steven's slogan, "Samson-we grow friendly people," as a representation of the agricultural aspect and the amicability of the town. This phrase genuinely encapsulates the hospitality and warmth of the town's residents.

Alongside the relaxed and amicable lifestyle, Samson offers a wide range of attractions for everyone. Nearby, there are abundant recreational opportunities at major fishing and hunting areas, and the largest Alabama State Forest is just a short distance away, less than five miles. In addition, Camp Victory, located just outside of Samson, provides excellent facilities for campers to develop spiritually, socially, and physically.

 With its friendly populace, peaceful ambiance, and dedication to preserving its past, Samson is undoubtedly one of Alabama's most pleasant surprises. Situated in the western end of Geneva County, it is a hidden gem waiting to be discovered.
Samson Utilities Department Makes Interesting Discovery
Samson, Alabama residents found themselves without water on Nov. 6, 2023 as the Samson Utilities Department diligently worked to resolve a water issue. The following day, although the department had restored running water to the town, they continued in their efforts after pinpointing the issues on S. Johnson St. It was during this time utility workers made an interesting discovery - a square wooden sewer pipe measuring approximately 4.5 by 4.5 inches, with a 3-inch hole that would fit a pipe in the center.

Research revealed that the only other known example of such a pipe found in recent years in the United States was discovered in Panama City, Fl., documented by the Bay County Historical Society, in 2020.

According to an article by the society, these pipes were coated with creosote and made of pine. The pipe in Panama City was labeled as "Creopine Atlanta," indicating its origin from the Southern Wood Preserving Co., which had facilities in East Point, Georgia, and Chattanooga, Tennessee.


Research shows that wooden pipes have a long history dating back to ancient times. Wood was used for water pipes in 16th and 17th century Europe, and in 18th and 19th century Canada and the United States.


In the late 1800s, wood piping was machined to create smooth-bore, uniform-circumference piping that could handle flows up to 60 psi, according to MSW Magazine. The first wood stave pipe in New York for a water works system was built in Rochester, New York between 1867 and 1870, bringing water from a lake 16 miles distant through a pipe.


 Despite their extensive use, wooden pipes did present some problems. They tended to attract insects and rot over time. By the 1970s, all wooden pipes were being replaced by PVC pipe for water supply and ABS pipe for drain-waste-vent applications.


Water Environment Federation cited that in Philadelphia, the city installed its first wooden mains around 1800 as part of the city's new water collection and distribution system. In 1909, Philadelphia changed to modern piping. In Panama City, terracotta pipes and cast-iron outlet pipes were introduced in 1912 and the project was completed within two years. It can be speculated that Samson also transitioned to this type of infrastructure around the same time frame. If this hypothesis proves correct, the wooden sewer pipe uncovered by the Samson utilities department is well over a century old.