The story of the single tax colony at Fairhope Alabama.

The world of 1894 was not so much different from ours. Many of the same problems existed, and brilliant and not so brilliant minds of the day were looking for ways to change what they saw as inequalities. The Fairhope story is a story of one such experiment, one rather more successful than most and one which endures to some extent today.

The formation of the Fairhope community was based on a concept popular in the reform movements of the late 1900's, Single Tax. Though not a perfect example of the concept, its success serves as a lesson to future generations that possibilities beyond the norm exist, and that people with vision will find a way to experiment with them.

The Fairhope Single Tax Colony Constitution
E. B. Gaston's Essay "TRUE COOPERATIVE INDIVIDUALISM"

The story of Fairhope has a cast of fascinating characters including Ernest Berry Gaston, who more than any other, has to be considered the founder of the Colony and Marietta Johnson, responsible for putting Fairhope into the world consciousness with her School of Organic Education. But a story like this cannot be just a story of one or two individuals. There are, throughout the history of Fairhope any number of interesting main characters and minor players to consider and learn about.

More interesting people to read about
Dr. Paul M. Gaston, grandson of E. B. and Historian/Writer
Marie Howland, a sample of the forward thinking individuals Fairhope attracted and Fairhope's first librarian.
Henry George whose ideas helped shape the single tax concept.
Mary Lois Timbes, writer, actor and producer, her book "Meet Me at the Butterfly Tree" tells the stories of some of the more interesting characters and places in the Fairhope saga.
Craig Shelton, artist, woodcarver, writer and all around indidivual.
Dean Mosher fine artist and historian.

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