Lintons Barbershop Renderings 2 — Latest renderings of the plaza project (Elevate Tuscaloosa)

A year after the historic Linton Barbershop was torn down, the city of Tuscaloosa has taken another step towards extending the shop’s legacy.

Earlier this week, the city’s projects committee approved funding for the Linton Barbershop Plaza, a new project from Elevate Tuscaloosa. The plaza will become part of the Tuscaloosa Civil Rights History Trail.

Keep reading to find out more about the project + learn about the history behind the Linton Barbershop.

Linton Barbershop Plaza

Lintons Barbershop Renderings 3 — An overhead view of the proposed plaza (Elevate Tuscaloosa)

The plaza is still considered to be in the design phase but the latest renderings can at least give us an idea of what to expect once the project is completed.

The historic barbershop was torn down last year but it remains a key piece of the city’s civil rights trail. This project is expected to expand on that trail, providing more meaningful connections and interactions on site.

The new green space will be located on the same block as the old barbershop, on the corner of T.Y. Rogers Avenue and 13th Street.

Lintons Barbershop 4 — (Elevate Tuscaloosa)

Rev. Thomas Linton

The Howard-Linton Barbershop played a big role during the civil rights movement, providing a safe haven for activists traveling through Tuscaloosa.

Owner Rev. Thomas Linton made his barbershop into a museum, keeping several artifacts from the movement.

“Beginning in the 1950s, black ministers met here and planned their campaign for civil rights. Autherine Lucy sought refuge here after a mob of about 1,000 whites threatened to kill her as she sought to be the first black to attend the University of Alabama. Here beauticians bathed and cleaned Lucy after she had been pelted with stones, garbage, and eggs. During ‘Bloody Tuesday,’ injured blacks lined the floors of the barbershop and sought treatment after being beaten by police. Linton himself coordinated relief efforts with Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Robert F. Kennedy.”
Tuscaloosa Civil Rights Trail