Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973.
“Overton Farm is a historic farmhouse near Hodges, Alabama, United States. The farmstead was founded by Abner Overton, a traveling tobacco merchant from Raleigh, North Carolina.”
Wikipedia article Overton Farm, CC BY-SA 4.0.
One of 3 National Register listings published here for Franklin County · listed in 1973 · category: District.
Sources: the Wikipedia article · the case file at the National Archives · the National Register database, National Park Service
Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal wildfire occurrence database lists 140 fires within 5 miles of Overton Farm between 1994 and 2018, burning about 1,770 acres in total. 1 started naturally. 100 were recorded as arson. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a fire counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.
| Reported cause | Fires |
|---|---|
| Arson/incendiarism | 100 |
| Debris and open burning | 19 |
| Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 17 |
| Equipment and vehicle use | 2 |
| Smoking | 1 |
| Natural | 1 |
The most recent of them, most recent first, with the day each was reported and the service that recorded it.
| Date | Cause | Size | Reported by | Name on the report |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 September 2016 | Debris and open burning | under an acre | Alabama Forestry Commission | 20160908-4 |
| 6 September 2010 | Arson/incendiarism | 20 acres | Alabama Forestry Commission | not named |
| 6 September 2000 | Natural | 30 acres | Alabama Forestry Commission | not named |
| 5 September 2010 | Arson/incendiarism | 5.0 acres | Alabama Forestry Commission | not named |
| 4 September 1999 | Arson/incendiarism | 3.0 acres | Alabama Forestry Commission | not named |
| 20 September 1999 | Arson/incendiarism | 10 acres | Alabama Forestry Commission | not named |
| 16 September 1999 | Arson/incendiarism | 1.5 acres | Alabama Forestry Commission | not named |
| 14 September 1999 | Arson/incendiarism | 6.0 acres | Alabama Forestry Commission | not named |
Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal mineral resources record lists 5 workings within 5 miles of Overton Farm: 4 unknowns, 1 occurrence. None of them still produces. What was taken out: Iron. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a quarry counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.
| Where | Site | Commodity | Status | Recorded |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unnamed | Iron | Unknown | ||
| Unnamed | Iron | Unknown | ||
| Unnamed | Iron | Unknown | ||
| Unnamed | Iron | Unknown | ||
| Unnamed Prospect | Iron | Occurrence |
Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The National Weather Service names Hodges, the town this property stands in, in 25 storm reports between 1995 and 2025: 12 thunderstorm wind, 8 hail, 2 tornado, 2 flash flood. No death or injury is recorded in these reports. Each account below is quoted exactly as the forecast office filed it, from the NOAA Storm Events Database, and each date opens the federal record of that event.
| When | Event | Place named | Harm | What the report says |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 2011 | Tornado (EF2) | Hodges | $600,000 | This tornado decreased quickly in intensity as it moved into southeastern Franklin county after producing EF-3 damage in Marion county. Just after crossing the Marion/Franklin county line, the tornado collapsed two chicken houses and ripped roofing material off of two others nearby along highway 187. The tornado continued its brief track northeast and ripped much of the roof off of a two story home as it approached highway 172. Based on roof damage observed and widespread nature of large trees blown down or snapped off near their base, winds were estimated at 120 mph -- EF-2 tornado. Another house nearby experienced significant roof damage as well. The path width at this point was around 300 yards. As it reached highway 31, some minor shingle and home damage was observed. However, the tornado moved over a mainly forested portion of this area, continuing to snap/uproot numerous large trees, snapping several near their bases. ||As the tornado moved toward Old Line Road, additional damage to houses was observed. A few homes had portions of their roofs peeled off. In addition, a mobile home was destroyed. In this area a car was totaled by the tornado. Numerous large trees were snapped off or blown down as well. A barn was heavily damaged by trees in this area as well. The path width of the tornado was largest at this point and was estimated to be around 550 yards. A path of numerous large trees being snapped or blown down continued just northeast of this road. The tornado appeared to gradually weaken and lift over the forested area northeast of Old Line Road as little additional damage was seen from ground surveys. New satellite imagery reveals tree damage extending a little over 1/2 mile east of Old Line Road. Due to this new information, the end point was adjusted slightly east from its original point (5/17/12). |
| March 1996 | Thunderstorm Wind | Hodges | $75,000 | no account filed |
| June 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | Hodges | $10,000 | A few trees were downed by thunderstorm winds on Wilson West Road. |
| April 2006 | Tornado (F0) | Hodges | $10,000 | A tornado briefly touched down and uprooted a few trees and damaged power lines. |
| March 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | Hodges | $5,000 | A roof blown was blown off of a house along Highway 187.. |
| January 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | Hodges | $5,000 | Several trees were downed in Hodges. |
| March 1997 | Hail | Hodges | $3,000 | no account filed |
| May 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | Hodges | $2,000 | A power line was knocked down in Hodges. Time estimated by radar. |
| December 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | Hodges | $2,000 | Trees were knocked down along Highway 172. |
| January 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | Hodges | $500 | A tree was downed by thunderstorm winds near Highway 172 and Overton Farm Road. The time was estimated by radar. |
| August 2020 | Flash Flood | Hodges | - | The roadway at AL Highway 172 and Lovett Lane was washed out due to flash flooding. |
| April 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | Hodges | - | Trees were knocked down on Highway 187 north of Hodges. Time estimated from radar. |
| July 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | Hodges | - | A few trees were knocked down in the Scott Bridge area. Time estimated from radar. |
| May 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | Hodges | - | A large tree was knocked down onto Highway 172 just southeast of Hodges. Numerous small branches were also knocked down. |
| December 2015 | Flash Flood | Hodges | - | Heavy rainfall caused a 12-foot sinkhole to open up near Hodges. |
| May 2008 | Heavy Rain | Hodges | - | Almost four and one third inches(4.27 inches) of rainfall was measured beginning Monday night and ending at 930 PM on Tuesday evening in the Hodges community. |
| April 2008 | Hail | Hodges | - | A severe thunderstorm produced nickel size hail in the Hodges community. |
| May 2008 | Hail | Hodges | - | Quarter size hail was reported in the Hodges community. |
| July 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | Hodges | - | Numerous trees blown down due to a line of severe storms moving southeast through the county. |
| June 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | Hodges | - | few trees down. |
| April 2001 | Hail | Hodges | - | Penny size hail reported near Hodges in southern Franklin County. |
| April 2001 | Hail | Hodges | - | Penny size hail was observed near Hodges in southern Franklin County. |
| April 1995 | Hail | Hodges | - | Three-quarter inch hail was reported by an amateur radio operator at Hodges in south-central Franklin County. |
| May 1995 | Hail | Hodges | - | Strong thunderstorm wind downed trees in scattered areas across the southern portion of the county. A tree fell on a house in Vina, considered one of the oldest in that town, destroying it. Damage was heaviest in the south-central and southeast portion of the county. |
| March 1998 | Hail | Hodges | - | no account filed |
No historic map-sheet match is published for this property yet. That does not mean no map exists. This record needs a coordinate-quality review before it can be joined to a sheet boundary. Browse the county's mapped places while that work is pending.
| National Archives record | The nomination case file for reference 73000344 in Record Group 79. |
| Wikipedia article | Community-written account of this property, licensed CC BY-SA. |
| Franklin County | All 3 listed properties in this county. |
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