Magnolia Hall, also known as the McCrary-Otts House, is a historic Greek Revival mansion in Greensboro. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places (HABS) as a contributing property to the Greensboro Historic District and was photographed and recorded in the Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS) in 1935 and 1936.
David F. McCrary, a prominent cotton broker and planter, purchased the property where this house is located in 1850 and began work on the construction of this house shortly afterward. The house was designed by the architect, B. F. Parsons, who also designed the Perry County Courthouse in Marion, AL. Magnolia Hall was completed circa 1858.
W.E. Yerby, in his History of Greensboro, concluded that Magnolia Hall “is indisputably one of the finest antebellum mansions in Alabama…[and] a perfect example of late Greek Revival architecture.” The house contains front and rear facades that are almost identical. Each has the same stunning line of six fluted columns of Ionic design, a full portico and a balcony with delicate iron grill-work. A pair of small Ionic design columns flanks the double doors on the front of the house. Other features of this home include spacious rooms with 14-foot ceilings, chandelier medallions, a mahogany-railed staircase, and beautiful colored-glass transoms over the doors.
Magnolia Hall is located at 805 Otts Street in Greensboro, AL (GPS coordinates 32.702438, -87.590335).
This is a private residence – drive by only.
Sources: 1) Historic Hale County published by The Presentation Committee of The Alabama Reunion 1989; 2) NRHP “Greensboro Historic District” Nomination Form; 3) Wikipedia.
B&W photographs courtesy of the U. S. Library of Congress (HABS): photographer: Alex Bush, photographs taken 1935-1936.
NOTE: Magnolia Hall is featured site #58 on the Greensboro Historic Walking Tour. Tour brochures are available at a tourism kiosk that’s located on the southeast corner of Main and Beacon Streets at downtown Greensboro.