Wyman - Ashley House, 922 20th Avenue
Houses and homes
A two-story wood frame house, built around 1905, the Wyman - Ashley House has a porch around two sides and utilizes the bay room both upstairs and down. The entrance is framed in a display of leaded glass ("Past Horizons," Tuscaloosa County Preservation Society, 1978)
Betty Slowe
Betty Slowe
Jan. 17, 2014
Betty Slowe (Description)
Photograph
1119
Tuscaloosa (AL)
Anchor Civic Club - Watts Building, 1000 22nd Avenue
Houses and homes
According to "Past Horizons," published by the Tuscaloosa County Preservation Society in 1978, the history of this structure is uncertain, but it was known to have been built in 1875 as a home and has changed hands several times over the years.
The building was restored under the leadership of Carolyn Watts and was used for club meetings. It is used in 2014 as an office for Jerry D. Burnette of Capstone Insurance Group, who updated the building. Burnette says the building was used as a computer store and as an alterations business before he purchased it.
Betty Slowe
Betty Slowe
Jan. 17, 2014
Betty Slowe (Description)
Photograph
1121
Tuscaloosa (AL)
George Searcy House, 815 Greensboro Avenue, 2014
Houses and homes
School boards
County school systems
Tuscaloosa Public Library
This photo shows the Searcy House as it is being prepared for demolition 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. 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.
Betty Slowe
Betty Slowe
Jan. 17, 2014
Betty Slowe (Description)
Photograph
1122
Tuscaloosa (AL)
Miller-Harrison-Laseter House, 1601 Alaca Place
Houses and homes
This 2-story house is in the shape of a cross with 3 entrances and 3 porches. Originally the house was facing west with an avenue of Oak trees leading to it from Queen City Avenue. <br /><br />The house was probably built by William Miller in the late 1850's. Richard Baugh bought the home in 1863 for $23,000. He was a prominent cotton mill operator, but during the Civil War, he went bankrupt and was forced to sell the house. J. Calhoun Harrison bought the home in 1879 and his family resided there until 1920. Mrs. Harrison was a local poet knowm for her beautiful speaking voice. The Neilson Laseters also occupied the house.<br /><br />(Past Horizons, 1978, p.23)
Betty Slowe
Betty Slowe
Elizabeth Bradt (Description)
Photograph
Photograph
2583
Tuscaloosa (AL)
E.N.C. Snow House, 2414 Eighth Street, Tuscaloosa, 1934
Houses and homes
E. N. C. Snow was a prominent Tuscaloosa businessman and civic leader. The house was also the residence of Prof. Michael Toumey, Alabama's first state geologist. The Snow House was razed in 1964 to make way for the new Tuscaloosa County Courthouse. The circular staircase from the house was saved and used in the Searcy House that was home to the County Board of Education.
Historic American Buildings Survey
Library of Congress
Library of Congress
1934
Betty Slowe (Description)
Photograph
2353
Tuscaloosa (AL)
Martin-Comegys-Gluck House, 2012 7th Street, Tuscaloosa, 1934
Houses and homes
This house was also known as the Gluck House. The house was said to have been built by Judge Peter Martin. It was demolished in 1938 to make way for local businesses.
Historic American Buildings Survey
Library of Congress
Library of Congress
1934
Betty Slowe (Description)
Photograph
2354
Tuscaloosa (AL)
Martin-Randolph-Marlowe House, 816 22nd Avenue, 1936
Houses and homes
Located at 816 22nd Avenue, this house was built around 1840 by Alabama Governor Joshua Martin. It was demolished in 1964.
Historic American Buildings Survey
Library of Congress
Library of Congress
1936
Betty Slowe (Description)
Photograph
2355
Tuscaloosa (AL)
Samuel M. Peck House, 1934
Houses and homes
The home of poet Samuel Minturn Peck was located at 18th Street and 30th Avenue in southwest Tuscaloosa.. Peck was the first Poet Laureate of Alabama. He was born in Tuscaloosa on November 4, 1854. He died in 1938. The lovely old home was later remodeled to serve as a recreation facility with adjacent grounds used as a playground.
Historic American Buildings Survey
Library of Congress
Library of Congress
1934
Betty Slowe (Description)
Photograph
2356
Tuscaloosa (AL)
Jemison-Van de Graaff Mansion, 1305 Greensboro Avenue, Cistern excavation
Jemison-Van de Graaff Mansion
Cisterns
During an excavation on the Jemison-Van de Graaff Mansion grounds, the top of one of the two beehive cisterns was uncovered.
Jemison-Van de Graaff Mansion Foundation
Historical Commission of Tuscaloosa County
Photograph
413
Tuscaloosa (AL)
Jemison-Van de Graaff Mansion, Lounge, 1305 Greensboro Avenue, circa 1950
Jemison-Van de Graaff Mansion
Houses and homes
Burchfield, J. P,
Friedman, Victor Hugo 1878-1965
The lounge or television room of the Jemison-Van de Graaff Mansion during the time the J.P. Burchfields owned the house.
The house was purchased in 1945 by J. P. Burchfield, Jr. and Nell M. Burchfield. At that time the house was completely renovated with preservation of all the architectural design.
In 1955, the house was purchased by the YMCA for $70,000 and was then exchanged with Mr. Victor Hugo Friedman for the north half of the block containing the Battle-Friedman House. The YMCA used the property for a site for the new central YMCA building. Mr. Friedman gave the Burchfield property to Tuscaloosa County for use as a public library.
Jemison-Van de Graaff Mansion Foundation
Historical Commission of Tuscaloosa County
Circa 1950
Elizabeth Bradt (Description)
Photograph
415
Tuscaloosa (AL)