Stockton now a historical landmark

STOCKTON, Ala. (WALA) - More than one million Alabama voters made a decision for several hundred in the community of Stockton. Even though a legislative mistake put the issue on the state ballot, Amendment 3 passed, protecting Stockton from annexation.

STATE VOTED, COMMUNITY HUNG IN THE BALANCE

Alabama Amendment 3 passed by a large margin. Nearly 70 percent of voters said yes to something that would have no effect on them when a legislative error put the issue on the state wide ballot. That mistake made a local issue for a few hundred folks in Stockton a state issue and created a big challenge for supporters.

Georgene Conner, Amendment 3 supporter, said, “We got in the car, drove a thousand miles all over Alabama. We talked to every person we could run into.”

Conner said they had to get the word out, explaining that Amendment 3 gives the community of Stockton the right to vote on annexation. It was a simple message, but one that had to be taken across the state.

“Just with a few thousand dollars we had to publicize this, and it was just truly people doing what they could and was rewarding to see it came our way,” Conner said.

SHOOTING THE BREEZE

“We’re not sure what was going to happen when we went state wide,” supporter Ben Bailey told us.

Bailey also took to the road, shooting the breeze with everyone he came across.

“We stopped at every store, every restaurant, anywhere we could see people we stopped and meet them and talk to them,” Bailey said.

NOW A LANDMARK DISTRICT

Back in the 19th century, Stockton was where the stage coach line stopped and travelers boards boats for Mobile. Because of that history, you don’t have to go far in the Stockton community to find a historic marker. There are some thirty homes, a couple of churches, and other landmarks designated as historic. Stockton has character and the folks that live there want it to stay that way.

Now as the first landmark district in Alabama, there can be no annexation without representation, a big victory for the small community.