In 1873 Gilbert C. Jacks, son of James K. Jacks sold to Mr. John Young Miller and his wife, Nancy Copeland 80 acres, that his father James K. Jacks had purchased.
June 1, 1858 from THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA as recorded on certificate No. 32675 of the GENERAL LAND OFFICE. The 80 acres is listed as the West half of the South West quarter of section twelve. In 1873 John Young Miller opened a POTTERY FACTORY on this property and as a result the area was referred to as JUGTOWN. The pottery was produced by making coils of clay and laying those around and around then placing the coils onto equipment and pouring water onto those to form a solid. After the pottery was completed his brother Kip would load a wagon with the clay goods and be gone for 6 weeks selling the clay pottery.
The method of production required so much time he could not produce enough pottery to make a profit. Mr. Miller continued to lose money and sold the property to John F. Glasgow in 1876. The Miller's lived in a small house located in the area where Pasquale’s Pizza is located today. The Miller’s had come from Georgia about 1860 to settle in Crumly Chapel located in West Jefferson County. John Y. Miller wore many hats: Farmer, Son, Husband, and father, Private in the Creek Indian War, Corporal during Cherokee removal, Captain Company G. 28th Alabama Regiment, a very able Methodist minister, owner of the jug factory, and owned a grist mill in Pinson, Alabama. John Young Miller died January 4, 1894 and is buried in Crumly Chapel Methodist Church Cemetery.
The name of JUGTOWN remained with this area until it was changed in 1906 due the effort of a school teacher, Mrs. Hettie Thomason Cargo. At her request a drawing was held on the porch of Mr. James Issac Kimmons store located on the corner of Stouts Read, (now Main Street) and Fieldstown Road. Two names, Gordenville and Gardendale were placed in a hat and Gardendale was drawn out of the hat and from that time on we have been known as GARDENDALE and was incorporated as GARDENDALE in 1955.