Editing Foley, Alabama (section)

==History==
Foley was named for its founder, John B. Foley of [[Chicago]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.epodunk.com/cgi-bin/genInfo.php?locIndex=11935|title=Profile for Foley, Alabama, AL|publisher=ePodunk|access-date=March 7, 2012|archive-date=September 5, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170905051806/http://www.epodunk.com/cgi-bin/genInfo.php?locIndex=11935|url-status=dead}}</ref> As Foley was traveling to President [[William McKinley]]'s funeral in 1901, he met a railroad agent who told him of the area in South Baldwin County.  Foley came down the following year, and liked what he saw, buying between {{convert|40000|acre|km2}} and {{convert|50000|acre|km2}} of land. He then returned to Chicago and formed the Magnolia Springs Land Company, currently known as the Magnolia Land Company.  As he began to sell off acreage, he realized the need for a better way for the people to come to Foley.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|title=Did you know that Foley, Alabama has a secret tunnel under the city – watch the [video] and see why [old photographs] – Alabama Pioneers|url=https://www.alabamapioneers.com/foley-secret-alabama-tunnel/|access-date=August 19, 2021|website=www.alabamapioneers.com}}</ref>

Foley used some of his own money to lay the rails so the train could come from Bay Minette. The first railroad station was built in 1905. The original station burned in 1908 and was replaced the following year by the station that is now the city's museum. John Foley donated parcels of land for a school, railroad station, park and churches. These included the current Catholic Church, Saint Margaret of Scotland, the Baptist church and the Methodist church.  He also invested in a hotel, a demonstration farm, a bank and the utility company.<ref name="auto"/>

The first train to service Foley was a wood burner called the "Pine Knot Special." It would leave Foley in the morning and make a return trip in the afternoon. As people cleared the land, they would place lighter knots in a wood box for the engineer to use as was needed. Foley was incorporated in 1915 with G. I. Weatherly serving as its first mayor.<ref name="auto"/>