Toomers Corner Is One of The Most Famous Landmarks in Alabama

Toomers Corner is one of the most fabled addresses not only in the history of Auburn football, but in the history SEC football.

It is located at the intersection of Magnolia Avenue and College Street in Auburn Alabama.

One of the things, other than tradition, that makes the landmark so unique, is that it marks the division of downtown Auburn for the campus of the University of Auburn.

The History of Toomers Corner

The University Side Of Toomers Corner

However, contrary to a lot of misconception, Toomers corner is the site of two landmarks: not just one.

While most everyone that is familiar with the city or the football program at Auburn is aware of Toomers Drugs, they are not as familiar with the other landmark.

The other landmark is the bank of Auburn, which is also on this famous corner.

The history of Toomers corner is rich in tradition; however, it also has a dark side where a crazed fan from the other team took things way too far.

The History starts when the employees of Toomers Drugs, and after a Tiger football win had been announced, they would throw ticker tape onto the power lines to celebrate,

This tradition carry’s on to this day, although slightly changed, even after more than a century since it was first started.

To this day, if you are on Toomers corner the day of a victory, you will see this as well as other traditions unfold.

The actual name for this famous corner was derived from a local businessman and former State Senator, Sheldon Toomer.

Mr. Toomer was a halfback for the first football team in Auburns long and storied history.

After this business venture was successful, he also started the Bank of Auburn in 1907, and both businesses to this day are on this famous corner.

The pharmacy was later sold by Mr. Toomer in the year 1952 to Mac and Elizabeth Lipscomb, who decided within minutes NOT to rename this famous drug store.

In 1962 the students decided to change the tradition for all away games by covering the power lines with toilet paper instead of ticker tape.

However, all of the history is not without some controversy.

It is “taken for granted” that this has been going on for well over seven to eight decades, when in reality it may be much younger.

It is believed by a lot of “college football experts” that the tradition of rolling Toomers Corner actually started in the late 1960’s or early 1970’s.

However, according to David Housel, the former Athletic Director at the University of Auburn, it actually stated in 1972.

The “Iron Bowl” is considered to be the Biggest Rivalry in college football, unless you are a Michigan or Ohio State fan.

If you are, the people in the South do not care for your vote anyway, so the Iron Bowl still wins.

In the year 1972 when Auburn beat their hated in state rival Alabama, the Auburn students went crazy.

They made the decision, that night, that instead of “ticker tape” in the rolling process, they would turn to the “real deal”; toilet paper ad cover the nearby trees.

So, Mr. Housel may be correct, the “rolling” of Toomers corner truly began in 1972.

The Tradition of Toomers Corner

The Majesty of Toomers Corner After A Win

On fall Saturday in beautiful Auburn Alabama, fans and tailgaters gather with their coolers packed to the brim, as well as something else.

They will have all of the usual things including beer, wine, and barbeque of all kinds, salads, music and folding tables ready to party.

But they will have two more very important items for this party; Orange and Blue flags to help celebrate, as well as toilet paper—a lot of it.

Since any living Auburn fan can remember, a Tiger win of a Saturday afternoon or night means one thing: “rolling the corner”.

However, also since as long as they can remember, it has involved the Southern Live Oak Trees at Toomers corner, and not the power lines.

Pointing back to the year 1972 the students predicted that Auburn would beat Alabama, and when they did, the new “rolling the corner” came to life.

When the tiger’s football team finally arrived home from beating Alabama, they found that the Southern Live Oaks at Toomers Corner had “two-ply” all over them.

The Vandalism and Damage

The Dead Trees At Toomers Corner

The history and tradition of Toomers Corner has a lot of bright spots, but it also has a dark side.

In the winter of 2010, the Southern Live Oak Trees all started dying.

However, it was not a case where a few were dying or branch here or there was dying; instead, they were dying, ALL OF THEM.

It was almost like they were poisoned, and when the truth came out, that is exactly what had happened.

But the way it was discovered very extremely odd.

On January 27^th, 2011, on the very popular Paul Finebaum radio talk show, a caller to the show “confessed” live on air to poisoning the trees and killing them.

His motive was the Iron Bowl loss by Alabama to Auburn the previous fall.

The phone call was tracked by the authorities, and within days Harvey Updyke of Dadeville Alabama, was arrested.

He was sentenced with a fine and some jail time.

The corner was eventually completely redone with new soil and new trees, and they are now being monitored 24/7 to prevent future incidents.

Because of all of this history, Toomers corner is a “must see’ on your list of Auburn Day trips.

References

"Toomers Corner And The Bank Of Auburn - Auburn - AL - US - Historical Marker Project". Historical Marker Project. Retrieved 2018-11-27.