In response to the explosive growth of industry in Birmingham, entrepreneurs and young families sought quieter areas to call home. The search led them to Shades Mountain, an area replete with flowering dogwood and pink honeysuckle�pure wilderness. There were no paved roads, no public services, and no merchants nearer than Homewood. Still, those seeking respite from the soot (of the steel mills) lingering over the �Magic City� persevered, establishing homesteads, stores, communities of worship, and basic public services. While the contributions of some of the area�s early pioneers�men like Edgar S. Smyer, George Ward, and Charles Byrd�are well documented, Images of America: Vestavia Hills contains lesser-known stories of citizens who helped shape the �city on top of the mountain.�