Abundant water and fertile land south of the Tennessee River attracted pioneer settlement in the early 1800s. A community established there by three Virginia-born brothers, Hopkins, John, and Theophilus Lacy, took on their name and became the site of a U.S. post office in February 1831. “Lacy’s Spring” became “Lacey’s Spring” when the postal seal furnished by Washington officials inserted an “e” into the name. Hopkins Lacy had been active in Tennessee politics before immigrating to Alabama, and John reportedly had served in the North Carolina militia during the American Revolution. The Lacys became important landowners and leaders in the area, promoting settlement and serving in public office. All three brothers were buried in Bartee Cemetery west of the site. The spring that had drawn the Lacys to Alabama in the early 19th century was covered over by highway construction in the late 20th century. Built in the 1960s, the north-bound lanes of Hwy 231 obscured the spring, but a 48-inch tile placed into the water source allowed the spring to continue flowing.