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Rural Southwest Alabama: Attractions

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Airmount Grave Shelter near Thomasville, AL (built 1853; listed on the NRHP)

Antebellum, Endangered | Thomasville in Clarke County  

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The Airmount Grave Shelter, also known as the Hope Family Grave Shelter, is a Greek Revival structure located in the Airmount Cemetery near Thomasville. It was built in 1853 by John Hope. The unusual splayed eaves and vaulted, or “compass” interior ceiling, of this grave shelter can be traced to Eastern Seaboard church yards in Delaware and Virginia. This is believed to be the only grave shelter of its type in Alabama. The shelter covers graves of six members of the John Hope family. The shelter was placed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) on February 24, 2000 as a part of the Clarke County Multiple Property Submission. In 2009, Hope Family Properties deeded this grave shelter and cemetery to the Clarke County Historical Society.

The Airmount Grave Shelter is located on the left side of Hwy 5 approximately 5 miles north of the intersection of Hwy 5 & Hwy 43 at Thomasville (31°58’08.4″N 87°40’10.1″W – Google Maps).

Sources: 1) Wikipedia; 2) “Airmount Grave Shelter And Cemetery” Historical Marker (located at the cemetery).

Tags: alabama, antebellum, black belt, clarke county, gravesite, thomasville

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About This Website

Welcome to rural southwest Alabama. This website is dedicated to twelve counties located in rural southwest Alabama which includes a large portion of Alabama’s Black Belt area. This region is known for its rich and diverse heritage, historic homes and churches, and natural beauty. This website contains details about historic and interesting places that you will find in this area of Alabama.

PLEASE NOTE THAT MOST OF THE HOMES INCLUDED ARE PRIVATE RESIDENCES AND, UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED, ARE DRIVE BY ONLY.

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Dedicated to the memory of Stacy Milstead Henson (1978-2008) & Inez “Sis” Watts (1924-2007).

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