EUFAULA’S PRESENCE IS HER PAST

We must be content with a short visit since we must get to the airport on time. As we drive past the immaculate tree-lined avenues, flourishing gardens and stately homes there is some recollection that this used to be “Irwinton” named after General William Irwin. By 1843, the town was renamed for one of the three Creek Indian tribes, the Eufaulas,

Thanks to General Irwin, the town developed into a major shipping and trading center for nearby counties in Alabama and Georgia. As a result visitors can now marvel at the opulent homes built by the town’s wealthy families.

No visitor can resist a nostalgic look at Eufaula’s legacy of architectural treasures created by cotton’s “royalty” (the Seth Lore and Irwinton Historic District tour is the oldest historic home tour in Alabama.) Eufaula has more than 700 listings on the National Registry of Historic Places, all fine examples of Greek Revival, Italianate, Queen Anne and Neo-Classical Revival mansions.

Perhaps the finest Neo-classical Revival masterpiece in the city is the Shorter Mansion built by cotton magnate Eli Sims Shorter II and his wife, Wylena, the Triple S Tonic heiress. Originally completed in 1884, it was later remodeled in 1906 and in 1965 the Eufaula Heritage Association purchased the building for its headquarters at a cost of $33,000.

It also houses a museum dedicated to six Alabama governors from Barbour County and Admiral Thomas Moorer, a former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Two rooms retain the original ceiling, floor, walls and fireplaces, showcasing the antiques and furniture donated by the local community.

Our special guide was Beth Morton, executive director of the Business Association who told us the mansion was once called “The Columns” most probably because it has 17 Corinthian columns.

There are six different designs on the ceiling and if you look carefully you will notice the beautiful lotus blossom design on the glass windows. The piano dates back to 1869 - an ornate beauty from upstate New York that features mother-of-pearl inlay and keys.

The mansion is filled with many items from a century or so ago. These include a foot pedaled sewing machine, an 1877 Fluting Iron and a 1907 gold-gilded Young Maiden statuette. Among the “unusual” displays in glass cases were the wedding gowns worn by our very own guide, Beth Morton, her mother and grandmother.

Visitors are welcome from Monday to Saturday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Sunday 1 to 4 p.m., except for major holidays. 340 N. Eufaula Avenue.

Another favorite is Fendall Hall whose first owner was a successful businessman. Edward Brown Young (1802-1879) and his wife, Ann Fendall Beall Young (1810-1876) bought the land in 1856 and built an Italianate mansion in1860.

A rare treat was to meet Dawn Thomas, a family descendant, who led us around her ancestral home, answering our curious questions. One of the Young’s eight children, Anna, and her husband, Capt. Stanton Hubert Dent, paid $4,000 for the property in 1879.

The Dent’s favored a Victorian décor that extended to painting the house brown and the now famous murals painted by an artist named Liefrank in the hallway, company parlor and dining room.

The hallway murals remained hidden underneath layers of wallpaper for many years, but in 1997 art conservators worked for nine months restoring them. The murals were “cleaned” with wet and dry sponges in preparation for “consolidation” (which means that any part of the painting that was flaking or blistering would have to be re-attached to the plaster wall by “injecting adhesive” and applying heat with a tacking iron.) The next step was “infill painting” using “new” paint reproduced from the original murals, followed by a final protective coat over the murals. Restoration continued in the company parlor and dining room, but it was less challenging because the murals were never wallpapered there.

The striking black and white marble floors at the entrance were laid back in 1860, and stand testament to the escapades of young Katherine (Dent Hurt) who loved to slide down the banister, much to Capt. Dent’s chagrin. It seems he despised tardiness and that was the fastest way to get downstairs, until one day she went crashing into the screen door.

It may seem strange that there was a screen door between the stairs and the front hall, but Capt. Dent had removed the servant’s staircase in order to install indoor plumbing (this was the first home with indoor plumbing.) The door was intended to block the servants from view whenever guests came to visit.

Another intriguing topic was the cupola at Fendall Hall. Dawn was gracious enough to lead three inquisitive minds up 53 stairs (from the entrance) for a close-up look at the “space” that architects also call a belvedere. Besides its decorative appearance the cupola also helped to keep the home cool since the hot air was funneled through the open windows – all-natural air-conditioning.

None of the period furnishings belonged to the first owners, but the 1890’s Neo-Greco parlor suite was bequeathed by one of their daughters to her great niece, Katherine. An “Easy Bake Oven” complete with kids’ cooking utensils from the 19th century rests in the corner of an upstairs bedroom, among what primarily donations that adorn the home.

Two years ago an archaeological excavation attempted to locate the original kitchen and the servant’s quarter (the kitchen was destroyed by a falling pecan tree during a tornado in 1919.)

It is also believed that the outbuildings at Fendall Hall sheltered convalescing soldiers during the Civil War.

As a tribute to her grandmother, Ann Fendall Beall Young, Katherine Louise Dent Hurt renamed the Young-Dent home Fendall Hall. In 1973 The Alabama Historical Commission became owners of the property, and as a house museum visitors will find it reflects the 30-odd years (1880-1917) the Dent’s spent there.

Fendall Hall was owned by four generations of Young descendants. It was the venue for Anna’s wedding (Edward and Ann Young’s eldest daughter) in 1860, although she did not live there until 1879.The last Young descendant to own the home was Mary Maude Hart McCullohs who died in 1980 at the age of 81.

Can you imagine the family get-togethers at Fendall Hall? At a recent reunion 270 descendants showed up (including Dawn.)

Located at 917 West Barbour Street, Fendall Hall is open for tours on Monday, Thursday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Call 334-687-8469.

After a visit to the Shorter Mansion and Fendall Hall, you’ll probably want to mark April 4, 5 and 6, 2003 on your calendar. For three days the annual Eufaula Pilgrimage features tours of historic churches and homes (some are private residences), art exhibits, tea gardens and an antique show. (Call the Eufaula Heritage Association for more information, toll-free (U.S.) 1-888-EUFAULA or 334-687-3793.