Jemison-van de Graaff-Burchfield House, 1305 Greensboro Avenue, Tuscaloosa

Source document Quoted word for word from HABS ALA,63-TUSLO,5-. Not written, edited or summarised by this site.

A. S. Van de Graaf (daughter of Senator Jemison) Previous Owners; Senator Eobert Jemison. Date of Erection; - Architect> Lewis, (Philadelphia Architect} Builder; Senator Robert Jemison Sr. Present Condition: Excellent. HumbBr of Stories: wo* Materials of Constructions Brick; stucco aid heart of pine; masonry; interesting from an architectural standpoint. jft O't*161' listing Eecordsj Seej "HISOJOBIC HOMES OF AL&BA&A MB 9H8IR gR&DITIOKS" By Alabama members of National League of American Pen Women. ADA - 605 page 2. ALA Additional Data; ffiiia house was designed by Lewis, Philadelphia architect who assisted the Senator in the development of his own U V Tus'-o plans.

Built in the design contrasts with the usual trend of this period, and is the Italian villa type with cupola and Italian blinds. Brick, stucco and heart of pine, all were produced An the property, the work being done by slaves* She house escaped destruction at the hands of Federal troops during the War between the States by a ruse of two youths who passed at a gallop on horse back yelling, "Forrest is coming1*, as the raiding sq^uad prepared the torches. They fled,. Interesting features of the building are, octagonal afcservatory, stairways - six in number, and wide heavily carved doors which extend from floor to ceiling with novel glass transom lights. Within are original and antique furnishings.

The house has remained - continuosly in the possesion of the family, "being at present owned and occupied by A# St Van de Graaf, daughter of Senator Jamison* Cherokee Place across the Warrior River from SHiscaloosa, almost from the State's very beginning was a factor in the making of Alabama history, and is now the holder of some of its most precious and tragic memories. Its history involves the story of the State's first effort at mining, lumbering, road building, iron making, stage coach operation, and railroad - construction, as well as the history of its social and political developement. Robe rt Jemlson, the master of Cherokee and of the home on Gceensboro Avenue, was largely responsible for the establishment of the Hospital for the Insane at Tuscaloosa.

It was at his suggestion that Borethea Dix came from the Horth to advocate such a hospital, and remained as a guest in his home until definite plans were made. His position on the State Board of Fiaance enabled him to plan and work for the passage of a bill to provide for a permanent fund for the insane in Alabama, and to build an institution to reflect credit to $he state. Source of Material; Historic Homes of Alabama add their Traditions. Compiled by? Catherine Floyd. Auburn, Alabama. Approvedi E. falter Burkhardt, District Officer, HABS Auburn, Alabama. Datet c^l iw4-fs4 ~trU)

Addendum to Nabs

No* AL-205 JEM ISDN-VAN DE GRAAF-BURCHFIELD HOUSE (Sen. Robert Jemison Housa) UAP^.1 Birmingham Industrial District i 305 Greensboro Ave. Tuscaloosa County &> I tOU-'j A Isbania p^ PHOTOGRAPHS XEROGRAPHIC COPIES OF COLOR TRANSPARENCIES staric Amer ican Bui I dings Survey Nationa I Park Service Department of the Interior P.O. Box Washingtons DC ADDENDUM TO JEMISON-VAN DE GRAAF-BURCHFIELD HABS No. AL--205 (Senator Robert Jemison House) Greensboro Ave. Tuscaloosa ALA Tuscaloosa County C>Z~TU$L0, Alabama WRITTEN HISTORICAL & DESCRIPTIVE DATA HISTORIC AMERICAN ENGINEERING RECORD national Park Servic Dep csrtment of the Interior P.O. Box 71 Washington, r ~N ADDENDUM TO JEMISON-VAN DE GRAAF-BURCHFIELD HOUSE (Senator Robert Jemison House) HABS No.

AL-205 (Page 3) HISTORIC AMERICAN BUILDINGS SURVEY JEMISON-VAN DE GRAAF-BURCHFIELD HOUSE (Senator Robert Jemison House) This report is an addendum to a 2 page report previously transmitted to the Library of Congress.

Source document Quoted word for word from HABS ALA,63-TUSLO,5-. Not written, edited or summarised by this site.

Greensboro Avenue, Tuscaloosa, Tuscaloosa County, Alabama. The house is located on Greensboro Avenue, a major traffic artery in Tuscaloosa, which leads from I to the city center and the riverfront. Ownership: City of Tuscaloosa Date of Construction: Builder/Architect/ Engineer: John Stewart (architect), formerly of the Philadelphia firm of Sloan and Stewart

Source document Quoted word for word from HABS ALA,63-TUSLO,5-. Not written, edited or summarised by this site.

This report is based on written documentation donated by the Birmingham Historical Society, reformatted to HABS/HAER guidelines. Description: This 26-room Italianate style brick (originally scored to look like stone) house is basically rectangular with a slightly advanced central pavilion and one story demioctagonal side bays, decorative open porches, and hipped roof surmounted with a large cupola. 7 A service wing is at the rear. A servants house and remains of a private coal-fired gas illuminating and cooking system are also located on the property. The interior features a center hall plan, 18' ceilings, inlay woodwork (walnut, oak and chinaberry) from Jemison's plantations and a rare survival of a mid-19th century bathroom.

Source document Quoted word for word from HABS ALA,63-TUSLO,5-. Not written, edited or summarised by this site.

The house is significant as the home of Robert Jemison, a major Tuscaloosa area planter who developed early coal and ore mines in the District and financed the development of JEMISON-VAN DE GRAAF-BURCHFIELD HOUSE HABS No. AL-205 (Page 4) transportation systems. Jemison reflects the divergent economic outlook of the planter class in Alabama. The primary remaining structure associated with Jemison, this house contained some of the earliest examples in the state of domestic technologies interior plumbing and a coal-fired gas illuminating system. Extensive papers document Jemison's activities. Date of Condition: The house is currently under restoration.

Harvie Jones, AIA, Huntsville, is directing the restoration efforts, working with the Tuscaloosa County Preservation Society headquartered on the property. Robert Mellown, University of Alabama professor of art, is currently researching the Jemison family papers for documentation to assist restoration efforts. JEMISON-VAN DE GRAAF-BURCHFIELD HOUSE HABS No. AL-205 (Page 5)

Historical Overview

Builder of this palatial residence was Robert Jemison a major plantation owner who had far flung interests in railroads, an iron foundry, coal and ore mining, and also served as a legislator in the Alabama house and senate and the Confederate State Senate. Jemison also owned the Jemison Flickin Stage Line, one of the first stage coach lines in the state which ran to Montgomery and into Mississippi. He also erected a plank road from his surface coal mines at Brookwood to Tuscaloosa. In at 58, Jemison decided to build a "city" house, moving his residence to Tuscaloosa from his many plantations, including "Cherokee" to the northwest of Tuscaloosa at Northport.

The 26- room Italianate house topped with domed cupola was designed by a Philadelphia architect and constructed with lumber from Jemison's mills. The house was lighted by gas. The property contained machinery which manufactured gas from coal. There was also a water system and deep well to act as refrigeration. Jemison took an active role in developing these systems and attempted to sell these services to other city residents. The Jemison House passed to Robert Jemison's granddaughter, Minnie Cherokee Jemison Vandergraaff, who raised five children in the house including Robert Jemison Vandergraaff, an MIT professor who invented a generator used in splitting the atom. In J. P. Burchfield purchased and restored the much deteriorated property that had been rented out to many individuals.

In Hugh Friedman purchased the house and gave it to the City of Tuscaloosa as a library. The City has recently worked out arrangements with local historical groups to restore the property to a new use. JEMISON-VAN DE GRAAF-BURCHFIELD HOUSE HABS No. AL-205 (Page 6) Sources Consulted Site Visit, HABS, Alabama Register, National Register, Tuscaloosa County Site Survey, p. 102 Gamble, Robert; The Alabama Catalogf p. 354 Clinton, Matthew, Historic Tuscaloosa - A Self-conducted Tour. pp. 5-6 Interview with Betsy Haslip, Director, Tuscaloosa Preservation Society, Alabama Members of the National League of American Pen Women, Historic Homes of Alabama and Their Traditions. Jemison, Robert Papers, University of Alabama Special Collections, William S.

Hoole Library, Tuscaloosa Me1lown, Robert, Historic Structures Report. Jemison-Vandergraaff Mansion, Alexander, Lawrence S., Knight, Vernon J., Phase I Archaeological Renaissance of the Oliver Lock and Dam Project Area Tuscaloosa County. Report of Investigators No. 33, Office of Archaeological Research, The University of Alabama, Prepared for U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Mobile District,