RuralSWAlabama

Aimwell Baptist Church in south Marengo County, AL (established 1860; present church built 1921)

The Aimwell Baptist Church was organized on November 26, 1860. The articles of organization and the church name were chosen by the forty-three charter members and three local preachers – Reverends John W. Williams, John Talbert, and Jay Reeves. The con …

Alabama Rural Heritage Center at Thomaston, AL

The Alabama Rural Heritage Center is located on Hwy 25 at Thomaston, Alabama in the renovated Home Economics Building of the old Marengo County High School.  Students at Auburn University’s Rural Studio at Newbern, AL designed this facility and handled …

Allen Grove at Old Spring Hill, AL in Marengo County (built 1857; listed on the NRHP)

This Greek Revival style house was built for John Gray Allen in 1857 by David Rudisill. It is a two-story frame structure with a two-story front portico featuring square paneled columns. The roof is hipped with side dormers. In 1890 the rear facade was …

Altwood near Faunsdale, AL (built c. 1836 & later expanded; listed on both the NRHP and Alabama Register)

Altwood is a historic plantation house located approximately six miles southwest of Faunsdale.  It was built circa 1836 by Richard H. Adams.  It began as a log dogtrot house and was then expanded until it resembled a “Tidewater cottage” style house.  B …

Ashe Cottage at Demopolis, AL (built ca. 1832 & remodeled 1858; listed on the NRHP and ARLH)

Ashe Cottage, also known as the Ely House, is a historic Carpenter Gothic house in Demopolis. It was built circa 1832 and expanded and remodeled in the Gothic Revival style in 1858 by William Cincinnatus Ashe, a physician from North Carolina. The cotta …

Barney’s Upper Place at Putnam, AL (built ca. 1833)

It is believed that this house was built for Jehu Bates and his wife, Janet Barnes Bates. Jehu bought the property in 1833 and sold it after his wife died in 1851 to George W. and Mary L. Barney. This property included over 5,000 acres of land. The Bar …

Beaver Creek Baptist Church in south Marengo County, AL (organized 1885, present church building completed 1894)

The Beaver Creek Baptist Church congregation was organized in 1885 and their first services were held in the Pope schoolhouse which was located a short distance southwest of the present church site. The present church building was completed in 1894. It …

Bethel Baptist Church at McKinley, AL (established 1821, listed on the ARLH)

This church is located on Marengo CR 63 approximately 0.2 miles north of the junction of CR 63 & CR 38 and approximately 8 miles NE of Thomaston, AL in the community of McKinley (GPS coordinates 32.300342, -87.540733). Below are details about this …

Bethel Hill Missionary Baptist Church at McKinley, AL (erected 1894, remodeled in 1936.)

This church is located on Marengo Co. Rd. 38 approximately 0.4 miles from the junction with Co. Rd. 63 and approximately 8 miles northeast of Thomaston, AL in the community of McKinley (GPS coordinates 32.299380, -87.535042). Located beside the highway …

Bluff Hall at Demopolis, AL (built 1832 & modified 1840s; recorded in HABS; listed on the NRHP)

Bluff Hall is located atop a limestone cliff overlooking the Tombigbee River in Demopolis. The house was built in 1832 by Allen Glover for his daughter, Sarah Serena Glover, and her husband, Francis Strother Lyon. The Lyons used Bluff Hall as a townhou …

Boddie Law Office at Dayton, AL (built ca. 1858, listed on the ARLH)

This small brick building, known as the “Boddie” Law Office, is one of the few remaining buildings in Dayton, AL.  It was built by Oliver B. Boddie and his brother, John E. Boddie around 1858.  These brothers were graduates of the Cumberland School of …

Buck’s Livery Stable at Thomaston, AL (built ca. 1901-1910, listed on the NRHP)

Buck’s livery stable is a one-story brick building that was built circa 1901-10 prior to the automotive age. The building has a central entry and segmental-arched windows. A row of low “feeding” windows for horses extend on the north and south sides of …