115 North Side Square- Martinson & Beason, P.C. Office

More of this Feature • Part 1: Mike Gillespie Home • Part 2: Temple B'nai Sholom • Part 3: Judy Roper Home • Part 4: Martinson & Beason, P.C Office • Part 5: Central Y.M.C.A. Building • Part 6: Warren & Simpson, P.C. Office • Part 7: Peter Lowe Home

Top Picks • Top Picks for Huntsville

Related Resources • Huntsville From A to Z • Buildings, Houses & Places

Chautauqua is a festival that began in the early 1900's on the school grounds of East Clinton Street School.  It consisted of traveling performance arts groups as well as many of the local singing, dancing, storytelling, and musical groups.  East Clinton has carried on the tradition of holding a citywide festival each year in commemoration of this event.  Unfortunately the school was forced to cancel this festival about 15 years ago due to lack of support.  We began working in 2001 to begin the tradition of Chautauqua again.  Our goal is to have this be an annual city wide festival that the people of Huntsville look forward to each fall as they have in the past.  Chautauqua is a fabulous venue to focus on Huntsville history, the performance arts, unique local organizations, and the surrounding community.  Check the Events Calendar for details on this year's celebration.

Historic Homes Tour Part of Chautauqua Celebration

115 North Side Square- Martinson & Beason, P.C. Office

John Brown originally purchased the land these offices are on from Leroy Pope in 1815.  113 North Side Square has been occupied by various businesses. Some of the occupants were Mazza Bakery, Harold's Dress Shop, Marla's Dress Shop, Marja's Dress Shop, a computer company and various law offices. The land on which 113 is located was once the location of a home with a 9 foot sidewalk.  Laura C. Rand, heir to the Rand Shoe Company, owned it. She prevailed in arbitration in the Madison County Circuit Court to take the sidewalk as a part of her land and used it to build the building that is now 113 North Side Square. The original home burned in 1878.

115 North Side Square has been occupied by Howard Gentle Furniture, Howard Gentle Loan Company, and 2 restaurants. The first floor became offices and a portion of the second floor became a law library and one office. The second renovation was to expand the office onto the remainder of the second floor and a portion of 113 that would house 2 large offices. Original handmade bricks were used to repair the coal burning fireplaces and hearths that were restored in the 2 front offices. The original baseboards were restored and reinstalled in the renovated offices and the heart pine floors were retained and repaired to their original condition. The character of the building was retained as much as possible.

115 North Side Square- Martinson & Beason, P.C. Office
©2003 Jean Brandau, licensed to About.com
Photo ©2003 Jean Brandau, licensed to About.com
Previous Articles

Next page >Central Y.M.C.A. Building