Title
Somerville-Hale House, 709 Queen City Avenue, circa 1880
Subject
Houses
Whilldin, D. O. (David Oliver) 1881-1970
Description
Built in 1840 by Dr. James Somerville, the Somerville-Hale House, 709 Queen City Avenue, was built on property purchased from Samuel Strudwick, an ancestor of Julia Tutwiler's. The small Strudwick home was razed, although materials salvaged were incorporated into the Somerville-Hale house including doors, moldings and heart pine lumber.
Dr. Somerville built the "I-House" structure in the Federal style of earlier homes in his native Virginia, originally incorporating a secondary stair for the south wing. Dr. Somerville's widow, Helen Wallace Somerville, died in their downstairs bedroom in 1880 and the home was inherited by their youngest daughter, Eudora Somerville McEachin.
The house had a Victorian facade added around 1880 by Eudora Somerville McEachin when her family remodeled the home using architect H. Master, to transform the original Federal facade into the then-popular Victorian style.
The house remained in the family until 1919, when bought by Richard Harris Little, who enlisted Birmingham architect D.O. Whilldin to restore the original federal interior.
The individuals in the front yard are Captain McEachin, University of Alabama Land Commissioner, and his wife Eudora Somerville McEachin. The lady in the hat is thought to be their second daughter, Maebelle McEachin Wood.
Dr. Somerville built the "I-House" structure in the Federal style of earlier homes in his native Virginia, originally incorporating a secondary stair for the south wing. Dr. Somerville's widow, Helen Wallace Somerville, died in their downstairs bedroom in 1880 and the home was inherited by their youngest daughter, Eudora Somerville McEachin.
The house had a Victorian facade added around 1880 by Eudora Somerville McEachin when her family remodeled the home using architect H. Master, to transform the original Federal facade into the then-popular Victorian style.
The house remained in the family until 1919, when bought by Richard Harris Little, who enlisted Birmingham architect D.O. Whilldin to restore the original federal interior.
The individuals in the front yard are Captain McEachin, University of Alabama Land Commissioner, and his wife Eudora Somerville McEachin. The lady in the hat is thought to be their second daughter, Maebelle McEachin Wood.
Source
David Nelson
Date
Circa 1880
Contributor
Betty Slowe (Description)
David Nelson (Description)
Type
Photograph
Identifier
535
Coverage
Tuscaloosa (AL)
Original Format
Photograph
Physical Dimensions
10 inches by 13 inches