This one-block strip of Fourth Street between Main and College Streets occupies a distinct place in Columbus history. As early as 1891 and throughout most of the 20th century, “The Alley,” as it was known, was one of two commercial districts where African-Americans shopped, dined, socialized and sold their wares. A unique feature of The Alley was the blending of races, a practice rare in the segregated South. In its heyday, its sidewalks and alleyways teemed with life. Music drifted from the jukeboxes of the cafes and the aroma of frying Tombigbee River catfish wafted from the kitchens. In addition to cafes, there were juke joints, pool halls and a dry goods store. In The Alley one could get a tooth pulled, a haircut, a pair of shoes resoled and even arrange a funeral. The late E.J. Stringer, the influential chairman of the Mississippi chapter of the NAACP during the civil rights era, conducted his dentist practice in an upstairs office in The Alley. In 2007, the historical importance of Catfish Alley was confirmed by the Mississippi Blues Trail marker erected at the College Street end of The Alley.
