Whistler, Alabama, was an unincorporated town in Mobile County, until the 1950s when it was annexed into neighboring Prichard. The founding of Whistler, in the 1850s, coincided with construction of the Mobile and Ohio Railroad. The M & O, an early land grant railroad, eventually extended from Mobile to the Ohio River, and beyond to Saint Louis, Missouri, and Chicago, Illinois. The town, 7 miles north-northwest of Mobile, developed around the M & O shops. Whistler was named for famous railroad construction engineer and West Point Military graduate, George Washington Whistler, who was father of James McNeill Whistler. The younger Whistler was painter of "Arrangement in Grey and Black," which is better known as "Whistler's Mother."
Current, the US Postal Service ZIP code 36612 is accepted as Whistler. Sadly, only old timers cling to Whistler 36612 for mail. Others now use Mobile 36612 or Prichard 36612. Eight Mile Creek flows along much of the northern side of Whistler, before joining Chickasabogue, a tributary of Mobile River. During Whistler's heyday, both creeks provided popular swimming holes for cooling off during hot summer months. Currently, Mobile County's Chickasabogue Park offers a place to relive old times with a cooling dip in the creek. The park's swimming area has been used for generations.
U.S. Highway Route 45, which originates in Mobile, passes through Whistler en route to Chicago and on to Lake Superior, in Michigan's upper peninsular. Now, most would be U.S. 45 travelers use Interstate Highway 65, which passes on the eastern edge of the town. I-65 goes from Mobile to the shores of Lake Michigan, just east of Chicago at Gary, Indiana.
Whistler was annexed into the City of Prichard in the 1950s, thus the Prichard 36612 address. At that time, many historic Whistler street names were changed, due to duplication with Prichard street names or to continue Prichard street names. The annexation of Whistler and neighboring Eight Mile community resulted in the highest census population ever for Prichard: 47,371.
Casey Jones, legendary railroad engineer, was baptized into the Catholic faith at Whistler's St. Bridget Church. He joined the Catholic faith so he could marry the daughter of the owner of a local boarding house.
Billy Williams, former Chicago Cub great and member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame, is a native of Whistler. His nickname was "Sweet Swingin' Billy from Whistler."
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