Garden club shares Sibyl’s history

Eight white columns welcome drivers home as they reach the top of the hill on U.S. 31 near Shades Crest Road. The Sibyl Temple stands where it is today thanks to one local garden club.

Efforts are underway to make sure the landmark remains a proud symbol of Vestavia Hills. The Alabama Historical Commission recently awarded the city  a $2,500 grant for improvements to the structure. 

Many residents may be unaware of its history, which dates back to 1925 when George Ward, former mayor of Birmingham, completed his home on the crest of Shades Mountain. Ward’s home sat on 20 acres and was surrounded by gardens. 

The Sibyl Temple was built as a gazebo in one of the gardens as a replica of the Temple of the Goddess Vesta in Tivoli, Italy. 

When Ward passed away, his home fell into ruins. In 1958, Vestavia Hills Baptist Church bought the land to build its church, but the Sibyl Temple remained standing. In 1972, the Vestavia Hills Garden Club’s president, the late Barbara Spradling, met with the deacons of the church and offered to buy the Sibyl Temple. 

The garden club wanted to preserve this landmark, and the task of moving the temple began. Between 1973 and 1974 the temple was dismantled from one location and moved piece by piece to its current home on Montgomery Highway and Shades Crest Road.

The Sibyl Temple has been the special project of the Garden Club since that time. In 1985, it was named a Historical Landmark by the Alabama Historical Commission. 

The Sibyl Temple Foundation was formed in 1992 with members of the garden club serving to help restore, maintain and beautify the temple.

“The Sibyl Temple is the landmark of Vestavia Hills and a legacy for our community,” said Vestavia Hills Garden Club President Dawn Bendig.

In 2003, the foundation, in partnership with the Vestavia Hills Garden Club, began a fundraising campaign to restore the temple. Using these funds, the temple was restored in 2004.

The foundation and garden club continued their fundraising efforts in order to re-landscape, expand the property and construct restrooms. 

“We want the grounds to be gorgeous,” said Sibyl Temple Foundation President Celeste David. “We couldn’t do it without the generosity of the Vestavia Hills community and support of donors.”

In September 2013, lighting was installed to illuminate the temple blue as part of the Vestavia Hills Police Department’s Operation Blue Shield traffic fatality awareness initiative. 

Through the years, it has been the site of wedding proposals, picnics and other community events.

The Sibyl Temple Foundation is inviting residents to leave their mark around the landmark by purchasing one of the bricks that surround the temple. The bricks are 4-by-8 inches and are $75 each.

“It can be a memorial, honorary, wedding, whatever you want,” said garden club member Sarah White. “All money goes to support the Sibyl Temple.”

To purchase a brick, contact White at 823-0052.