Title
George Searcy House, 815 Greensboro Avenue, circa 1930
Subject
Public libraries
Tuscaloosa Public Library
Houses and homes
Description
This photo shows the Searcy House when it was used for the Tuscaloosa Public Library from 1926 to 1958.
The two-story Searcy House was built in 1904 by George Searcy, a Tuscaloosa banker and businessman. It was sold to Tuscaloosa County in 1925 for $35,000. The building was used for both a public library and the administrative offices of the Tuscaloosa County Board of Education.
Previous to the purchase of the Searcy House the Library, from 1921 to 1926, was housed in the basement of the County Courthouse. In 1958 the Library moved to the Jemison Mansion through the generosity of Victor Hugo Friedman.
In 1968 the Board of Education renovated it for more functional office use. At that time, a cylindrical spiral staircase, constructed in 1840 and salvaged from the E.N.C. Snow House which once sat on the site of the present Tuscaloosa County Courthouse, was moved to the Searcy House.
The house was an excellent example of the Neo-revival style of architecture popular at the beginning of the 20th century. In 1904, Tuscaloosa was once again becoming more socially and financially active and the Searcy House was one of the first large houses built in the area since the 1870's.
The house was approximately square with a wide veranda on front and four fluted Ionic columns. The entrance had an arched transom and lights on each side of the door. The details of the woodwork, dentils, rails and supports of the balcony added distinction to the Greek Revival style of the house.
In 2012, the Board of Education acquired the Federal Courthouse Building on Greensboro Avenue after a new Federal Courthouse was built on University Boulevard. The Board of Education sold the Searcy House to Frederick Hahn Sr., the lone bidder, for its appraised value of $600,000. Hahn donated the house to the adjoining First Baptist Church.
Attempts by the Tuscaloosa County Preservation Society to save the Searcy House, which was on the "Places in Peril" list of the Alabama Historical Commission, were unsuccessful.
An estate sale to sell of parts of the house was held. Mantels, windows, pocket doors, moldings and other period parts of the house were sold. The spiral staircase was salvaged for use in another historic home or stored for safekeeping. Any remaining items of value were removed to a location for a later sale before the house was demolished in 2014.
The two-story Searcy House was built in 1904 by George Searcy, a Tuscaloosa banker and businessman. It was sold to Tuscaloosa County in 1925 for $35,000. The building was used for both a public library and the administrative offices of the Tuscaloosa County Board of Education.
Previous to the purchase of the Searcy House the Library, from 1921 to 1926, was housed in the basement of the County Courthouse. In 1958 the Library moved to the Jemison Mansion through the generosity of Victor Hugo Friedman.
In 1968 the Board of Education renovated it for more functional office use. At that time, a cylindrical spiral staircase, constructed in 1840 and salvaged from the E.N.C. Snow House which once sat on the site of the present Tuscaloosa County Courthouse, was moved to the Searcy House.
The house was an excellent example of the Neo-revival style of architecture popular at the beginning of the 20th century. In 1904, Tuscaloosa was once again becoming more socially and financially active and the Searcy House was one of the first large houses built in the area since the 1870's.
The house was approximately square with a wide veranda on front and four fluted Ionic columns. The entrance had an arched transom and lights on each side of the door. The details of the woodwork, dentils, rails and supports of the balcony added distinction to the Greek Revival style of the house.
In 2012, the Board of Education acquired the Federal Courthouse Building on Greensboro Avenue after a new Federal Courthouse was built on University Boulevard. The Board of Education sold the Searcy House to Frederick Hahn Sr., the lone bidder, for its appraised value of $600,000. Hahn donated the house to the adjoining First Baptist Church.
Attempts by the Tuscaloosa County Preservation Society to save the Searcy House, which was on the "Places in Peril" list of the Alabama Historical Commission, were unsuccessful.
An estate sale to sell of parts of the house was held. Mantels, windows, pocket doors, moldings and other period parts of the house were sold. The spiral staircase was salvaged for use in another historic home or stored for safekeeping. Any remaining items of value were removed to a location for a later sale before the house was demolished in 2014.
Source
Tuscaloosa Public Library
Date
Circa 1930
Contributor
Elizabeth Bradt (Description)
Type
Photograph
Identifier
1978
Coverage
Tuscaloosa (AL)