Drainage on the Mobile River Delta Flats
Theodore was known as Clements before 1900, when it was renamed for sawmill operator and postmaster William Theodore Hieronymous; it remains unincorporated today, bordered by the city of Mobile -- whose limits now cover Theodore's original center -- and by Tillmans Corner. The flat, low delta-adjacent land that drew Theodore's early sawmill trade is the same terrain its gutters have to manage now.
Why Flat, Low Land Raises the Stakes
Low elevation and a high water table make standing water a routine problem after Mobile County's heavy seasonal rain, so a gutter system that dumps water a few feet from the foundation instead of well clear of it creates a problem Theodore's flat terrain won't drain away on its own.
Gutter Work in Theodore
Discharge Point Is the Deciding Factor
On ground this flat, the final few feet of downspout routing decide whether roof runoff actually leaves the property or just relocates the puddle closer to the house.