In 1840, Dr. James Levi Tunstall, a prominent physician and planter, purchased a smaller home located on this property. He and his wife, Eliza Croom Tunstall, made plans to build a new home, but Dr. Tunstall died in 1858 at the age of 41. Mrs. Tunstall proceeded with construction of the home and it was fortunately completed in 1859 before the outbreak of the Civil War.

This beautiful antebellum home has four Doric columns that extend the full height of the house. The front cornice work, described as “tear drops”, and the wrought-iron balcony add distinction to this home. Inside, there is the usual center hall with large rooms on each side. Uncharacteristic of this style home, the stairway to the upper floor is in a cross-hall on the left out of view from the front entrance. The kitchen was originally located away from the main house in case of a kitchen fire. During the 1960’s, this home was restored. A modern kitchen and a back porch were added on the lower floor and a bath and dressing room were added above the kitchen.

This house is a contributing property to the Greensboro Historic District that listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). It is located at 2100 Main Street in Greensboro, AL (GPS coordinates 32.704468, -87.604227).

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.

Photographs courtesy of RuralSWAlabama.

NOTE: This house is featured site #39, Tunstall-Cobbs House, 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.