Mitchener Station – where Selma was born.

When Col. John W. Sharp (or Sharpe), a Confederate veteran, came to this county in the fall of 1866 seeking consignments of naval stores and cotton for his firm in Norfolk, Virginia, he became interested in locating a town at the Station. However, investigation showed that the lands around the depot belonged to the minor heirs' of Agrippa Mitchener. Steps were taken to get an order of sale of the lots, but this took time because of the estate laws. In the meantime, Col. Sharp met Mr. Daniel Sellers who owned much of the land south of the railroad here, purchased 50 acres (some reports say 200 acres) from Sellers, and started a movement to have the depot moved to its present site. In spite of efforts by Thomas H. Atkinson, Sr., an uncle of the Mitchener heirs, to clear the Mitchener land titles for sale, Col Sharp was able to have the station moved. The original depot was moved to the place where it now stands as a part of the Southern freight depot on Railroad Street.
The newly purchased property was platted by Surveyor Charley Massey, and on May 1, 1867, a public sale of lots was held. This was a gala occasion as crowds came to the area for a barbecue, the sale, and a dance that night. Incidentally, very few lots brought as much as $100.00. Thus Selma was born on May 1, 1867-born at a barbecue, sale and dance held in the passenger-freight depot.
From the History of Selma - Centennial Program.