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The Pike County Historical, Genealogical and Preservation Society will be dedicating the new historical marker for Monticello at 2 p.m. Sunday at Monticello Baptist Church.

The historical marker has been missing for 10 years.

Everyone who has a connection to Monticello or an interest in county history is invited

Dianne Smith, society president, said citizens of Monticello had asked the Pike County Historical, Genealogical and Preservation Society for assistance in replacing the historical marker.

“State Rep. Wes Allen was instrumental in assisting us in getting an Alabama Bicentennial Grant to purchase the maker,” Smith said. “We had planned to dedicate the marker in April but had to delay our plans due to the COVD-19 pandemic.”

Smith said the historical significance of Monticello dates back to 1827.

According to Margaret Pace Farmer’s “One Hundred Fifty Years in Pike County Alabama, 1821 to 1971,” Smith said Pike County was organized in 1821, four years after Alabama had become a territory and two years after it has been created a state.

Monticello became the county seat of Pike County in 1827 and the first courthouse for Pike County was built in Monticello in 1828.

Smith said, at that time, travel was slow and difficult. There were no railroads and few roads in the county. People traveled on horseback or in large covered wagons. Only a few settlements were dotted here and there over the county.

Ann Love, a poor but very pious woman, kept the inn at Monticello, Smith said. During court session, her inn was a lively place with women from all parts of the county.

For the ladies, it was a great social time of gossip, knitting and quiltings. It was looked forward to by the women because at home their nearest neighbor might be up to five miles away.

When court was over, Monticello and the inn were practically deserted places.

In 1838, the county seat was moved from Monticello to Troy, which was a more central location.