| Huntsville Pilgrimage Home Tour |
Dateline: 04/26/00
With two historic districts--Twickenham and Old Town--Huntsville is home to Alabama's largest antebellum district. Whether you live here or are just visiting you'll want to allow time to explore the majestic homes of yesteryear. The Huntsville Pilgrimage Home Tour is an annual springtime opportunity to glimpse the interior of some of the area's most fascinating historic homes.
The Huntsville Pilgrimage Association was formed in 1985 out of a love for Huntsville's past. It was the inspiration of Jayne Lowry and Leslie Crowson, partners in Huntsville Heritage Tours, who had seen other pilgrimage cities and felt Huntsville had just as much or more to offer. The organization's objective is "to advance the appreciation and preservation of the historic heritage of Huntsville and Madison County." Proceeds from the home tours are used for restoration and preservation of the historic area of Maple Hill Cemetery, the oldest cemetery in the state of Alabama.
This year the theme is "Porch Gatherings and Other Past Times" on Saturday May 6th from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm and from 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm. Special activities are planned at each house on the tour to highlight the porches of the Old South and the sense of community that sprang up around them. There will be storytelling, music, refreshments, and Maypole dancing at the various stops along Eustis Avenue. This year features the following homes and buildings:
White-Murray Home, 612 Eustis Avenue
This home was built in the Greek Revival and Federal
styles and owned by a prominent planter and landowner, Thomas
White and his wife, Susan. Stories of rebel soldiers hiding in
the upstairs while Yankee invaders slept below and a Civil War
sword found hidden under attic floorboards add to the history of
this house. In 1994, Dr. and Mrs. Rhett Murray bought the home
and restored and modernized it. The servant quarters with
original smokehouse was restored as a guest house.
Speake-Belmont Home, 704 Eustis Avenue
Judge Paul Speake built this one-story Victorian house
in 1898. Later, a second story was added and the exterior was
modernized in the Colonial Revival style. In the 1930's a
spacious front porch was added. Through the years more modernization took place. In 1994, Dr. and Mrs. Michael Belmont
bought the home and restored the home to its original
architectural elements.
Cummings-Robinson Home, 602 Eustis Avenue
Contractor James Hutchens built this Victorian Cottage
for Thomas White's daughter, Sallie Cummings. In 1984, Mr. and
Mrs. Thomas Robinson bought the house and make many architectural
improvements. One addition was a bricked side courtyard that
features a fountain and statuary.
Mayhew-Wheeler Home, 506 Eustis Avenue
Sidney Mayhew was the first superintendent of Huntsville
City Schools. His home was built in the late 1880's and was a
wood-frame Victorian cottage. In the mid-1990's, Dr. and Mrs. Don
Wheeler restored the woodwork and carved staircase. There are
corner fireplaces in the dining room and study. A large addition
was added behind the original house and includes vaulted
ceilings, wide screened porch, spacious master suite, modern
kitchen and family room.
Monroe-Husband Home, 407 Holmes Avenue
This house was built for two sisters, Elizabeth Monroe
and D. Castello Monroe, founder of the Monroe Printing Co. It was
purchased in 1997 by Mr. and Mrs. Floyd Husband and restored and
modernized. It features carved double doors from a church in
Philadelphia, wide staircase, high ceilings and thick moldings,
and large windowsills that serve as window seats. Painting
throughout the house are by Mrs. Husband's mother, Betty Grisham,
a nationally renowned fabric designer and artist.
Rand-Hash Home, 514 Holmes Avenue
This Colonial Revival home and office was built in 1902
for Dr. Edgar Rand. A large porch wraps around the front and east
sides. In 1995, the house was purchased by Dr. and Mrs. Robert
Hash, who created an inviting formal garden. The home features a
graceful staircase and massive double doors, a charming potting
shed, and fish pond.
Featured Churches:
Central Presbyterian Church, Corner of Lincoln Street
& Randolph Avenue
Built in 1899 in the Greek Revival style with beautiful
stained-glass windows.
Freeman House--Central Presbyterian Church, 205
Lincoln Street
This Colonial Revival style house was built in 1907 and
was operated as a boarding house by the Freeman family. It was
purchased by the church in 1991 and restored and renovated and
today houses the Hawthorne Conservatory which provides musical
instruction for young students.
Temple B'Nai Sholom, 103 Lincoln Street
This 1899 was designed by architect R. H. Hunt of
Chattanooga in the Romanesque Revival style. In 1993 extensive
renovation began in anticipation of the centennial celebration in
1999.
All proceeds from the tour will go for grounds and grave markers in historic Maple Hill Cemetery. On Sunday, May 7 from 2:00-4:30 pm you can stroll through nearly 100 acres and more than 80,000 graves in the cemetery and hear and see Voices from Past Times. More than 80 Huntsville residents will be in period costumes portraying famous and infamous people buried at Maple Hill Cemetery. Some of the personalities include five Alabama governors, characters from the Revolutionary and Civil War, a gypsy "queen," renowned architect George Steele, Huntsville artist Howard Weeden, and Tallulah Bankhead (visiting her mother's grave).
