Bangor, Alabama

Bangor, Alabama
Unincorporated community
Bangor, Alabama Bangor, Alabama
Coordinates: 33°58′28″N 86°45′24″W / 33.97444°N 86.75667°WCoordinates: 33°58′28″N 86°45′24″W / 33.97444°N 86.75667°W
Country	United States
State	Alabama
County	Blount
Elevation	476 ft (145 m)
Time zone	Central (CST) (UTC−6)
• Summer (DST)	CDT (UTC−5)
Area code(s)	205
GNIS feature ID	157883[1]

Bangor, also known as Coopers Gap, Copperas Gap, or Coppers Gap, is an unincorporated community in Blount County, Alabama, United States. Nearby Bangor Cave housed a speakeasy during Prohibition and continues to be a popular attraction for area spelunkers.^[2]

The community lies east of Interstate 65 and approximately 30 miles north of Birmingham.

Bangor is located near the former resort community of Blount Springs. In 1937, the landowner of Bangor Cave, J. Breck Musgrove, convinced investors to provide funds for the construction of a nightclub in the cave. The cave soon included a bar, electric lighting, a bandstand, and a lounge for women. A locked room contained slot machines, roulette wheels and card tables. A spur track of the Louisville & Nashville Railroad could drop visitors off at the entrance to the cave. The caveowners faced legal battles with Alabama governor Bibb Graves, and the Bangor Cafe Club was permanently closed in January 1939.^[3]

Notable person

• Earl Reid, former professional baseball player for the Boston Braves

References

1. "Bangor". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
2. "Bangor Cave". Encyclopedia of Alabama. 2013-03-26. Retrieved 2014-08-25.
3. Strange Alabama by Beverly Crider. "Bangor Cave – Underground Nightclub and Speakeasy | AL.com". Blog.al.com. Retrieved 2014-08-25.