4 minute read
Encore: The Twickenham Historical Preservation District
The circa 1834-35 Lane Home on Adams Street is considered to be in the vernacular Greek Revival architectural-style with a Queen Anne-style front porch supported by square columns. The porch was added in the 1890’s, changed in the 1960’s during remodeling and in 1992 restored to its 1890’s appearance.
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TWICKENHAM – A MUSEUM OF ARCHITECTURAL STYLES
Written by Nancy Wilkinson Van Valkenburgh Photo by Richard Van Valkenburgh
Imagine visiting a museum that charges you no admission. The owners take on all the expenses on your behalf and all you have to do is enjoy the experience… Huntsville, Ala., has such a place!
That is what we have in our Historic Preservation Districts. You can see a museum of architectural styles right here in our city, as well as historic architectural treasures throughout the county. Our historian predecessors, architect Harvie P. Jones, educator Dr. Frances Roberts, historian/artist Sarah Huff Fisk, and others worked hard to establish a Preservation District in what is now known as “Twickenham.” This is what Huntsville’s oldest historic district is named because it was once the city’s name when Leroy Pope purchased the land from the federal government in the early 1800’s. The Twickenham Historic Preservation District, established 1972, was described by Harvie Jones as a museum of architectural styles from 1814 to 1972.
To enjoy this “Museum” of about 13 blocks, all you need to do is choose a nice day and enjoy the stroll. The Huntsville Madison County Convention and Visitors Bureau also offers great information online or in print format at huntsville.org/events/tours/guided-history-tours. For a special experience, you can pay a small fee and enjoy private guided “ghost” tours or step back in time to the Weeden House Museum and Garden. There are approximately 527 sites, homes, businesses, churches, and various structures, of which approximately 360 are considered as contributing to the Twickenham District’s historic designation. Other noncontributing sites come within district guidelines so that they complement existing architecture.
The city has one of the state’s largest collections of pre-Civil War structures in a small area. A number of them were documented by the Historic American Buildings Survey of the 1930’s. The HABS program was a United States Government program during the Great Depression to give employment to out-of-work architects and to record valuable structures that could be lost to neglect, changing times, or future development.
Architectural styles in the Twickenham District are many and varied. Among the twenty-seven identified styles are Georgian, Federal, Greek Revival, Gothic Revival, Italianate, Second Empire, Queen Anne, Egyptian Revival, Classical Revival, Spanish or Mediterranean Revival, Colonial Revival, Bungalow, Prairie Style, and others. It is interesting to identify these styles and see where different elements are blended during periods of architectural transition. We can see where Federal or Italianate were modified to add Greek revival elements or Victorian porches were added. Or we can see where a flamboyant Victorian of the late 19th or early 20th century was remodeled in the period of 1910 to 1935 into the then fashionable Prairie Style.
Harvie Jones often said that it takes at least fifty years for an architectural style to be appreciated. We see that trend today when in many neighborhoods, mid-century ranchers are modified by adding bungalow porch entries, making an attractive but changed blend of styles. Harvie noted that changes start occurring about every twenty-five years as each generation starts to make its mark. The Twickenham District maintains its character, but continues to evolve, due to modifications needed by t echnology, change needed for living in the twenty-first century, and unfortunate fires. Our city’s preservation commission oversees exterior changes for appropriateness as established by law with approval of residents. It helps preserve the architectural heritage for all our city and for the future. It is hoped that this “museum” of over 200 years of architectural styles will continue to bring enjoyment to all residents and visitors to our community. n
The ca. 1820 and ca. 1874 Wharton-Walker House on Williams is a Second Empire style home, a style rare in our area. The original 1824 service wing survived a fire that destroyed the main structure. It was rebuilt in 1874 with extensive work done 2002. The Helion Lodge at 409 Lincoln Street is the First Masonic Lodge in Alabama. This was the site of an 1820 original building. A noted Huntsville architect and Mason, Edgar Lee Love, designed this 1917 Neoclassical Revival style temple.
Built by Leroy Pope in 1814, Poplar Grove on Echols is the oldest documented mansion in Huntsville. Its Federal styling was changed ca. 1850 with a Greek Revival front portico designed by the architect, George Steele. It was leased to the University of Alabama in Huntsville for the President’s home before the Lowe house on Williams was given to UAH for that purpose. Photo of a 1990 brochure, by Nancy W. Van Valkenburgh
Once you’ve found it, you know you’re home. Banking and mortgage loans are the same way.
At ServisFirst Bank, we offer a range of banking and mortgage products that are as varied as our clients’ tastes in homes. Each offers a competitive rate and our exceptional service. Perhaps that’s why homeowners feel so settled in once they find us.
Downtown Banking Center
Research Park Banking Center
Cindy LeBlanc
Vice President, Mortgage Lending 256.722.7821 | cleblanc@servisfirstbank.com NMLS ID: 776271
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