Moseley Work Revisits Normandale

By Michael Butler

Local author Willie Moseley has released his 18th book, “The Golden Age of Normandale – An Illustrated Remembrance of Montgomery’s Legendary Shopping Center.”

Moseley sifted through hundreds of photographs to select approximately 400 used in the book to tell the story of the former shopping mecca on the south side of the Capital City.

The majority of the pictures used for the book came from collections by Paul Robertson and John Engelhardt Scott.

“I grew up four blocks from there. It was a big part of my childhood and a lot of other Baby Boomers as well,” said Moseley. “When Normandale first opened in September of 1954, it was the first time people heard the term shopping center. Normandale didn’t become known as Normandale Mall until 1980 when it changed ownership.”

Normandale was 22 acres with 3,500 parking places.

Tallassee dance icon Vicki Baker was interviewed for the book. Pictured above are students from her studio with “Uncle” Dave Larson for his Dancing Dolls television show on WCOV (front – left to right): Lisa Griffith, Charlene Hill, Patti Moncrief. (Back, left to right): Joy Harris, Phyllis Nix, Brenda Johnson, LeAnne Estes. Photo courtesy of Vicki Baker.

“(It) was the first of its kind in Montgomery. When it opened, they had 17 stores. Two and a half years later, with the annex, the high point was 43.”

The book highlights not only the businesses from the district’s heyday but celebrity visits and promotions at the shopping district.

“Normandale had a lot of memories for a lot of folks,” said Moseley. “You used to dress a little nicer when you went shopping. One thing that was fascinating to me was seeing all the hats that the women were wearing. You’d see pictures of women shopping or attending one of the contests or Miss America’s visits.”

To place an order for the book, call Moseley directly at 334-283-1188 or e-mail him at willie@vintageguitar.com.