Aduston Hall facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Aduston Hall
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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Aduston Hall in 2007
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 Location in Alabama
Location in the United States
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| Location | Gainesville, Alabama, United States |
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| Built | 1844–46 |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Part of | Gainesville Historic District (ID85002925) |
Aduston Hall is a very old and special house in Gainesville, Alabama. It was built a long time ago, before the American Civil War. This type of house is called an antebellum plantation house.
Aduston Hall has a unique design. It shows the strict, balanced look of the Greek Revival style. This style was inspired by ancient Greek buildings. But it's also spread out, like a modern ranch house. This was very unusual for houses built in its time.
This historic house is an important part of the Gainesville Historic District. This district is a special area recognized for its history. It was added to the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage in 1976. Later, it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1985.
Today, the Sumter County Historical Society owns Aduston Hall. They use it as a welcome center for visitors to the historic district. The society also hosts special events there, like their Sumter Heritage Days each spring. In 1994, money was raised to help fix up and preserve the house.
A Look Back: Aduston Hall's History
Aduston Hall was built between 1844 and 1846. It was a summer home for a man named Amos Travis. Mr. Travis lived in Mobile, Alabama. He used Aduston Hall to escape the hot, humid summers and common illnesses in Mobile.
The property was like a small, self-sufficient village. It had many buildings needed for daily life. Five of these original buildings from the 1800s are still there today.
Aduston Hall's Unique Design
Aduston Hall is a one-story house made of wood. It has a main rectangular part in the middle. On each side, there are wings that stick out, making the house look like the letter "H."
The roof of the main part runs parallel to the front of the house. In the center, there's a special porch called a pedimented Doric portico. It looks like a small temple front and sticks out from the main porch. The front door design was inspired by famous architect Asher Benjamin.
The side wings also have decorations called Doric pilasters. These are like flat columns attached to the walls. Because of its H-shaped design, the house had excellent cross ventilation. This meant air could flow easily through all the main rooms, keeping them cool.
Historically, two other houses in the area looked very similar to Aduston Hall. One is the Travis-Derryberry-Harwood House, which is also in Gainesville and still stands. The other was the Norwood Plantation in Faunsdale, Alabama. Sadly, Norwood Plantation was destroyed in the 1930s.
