Conde–Charlotte House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Kirkbride House
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 Location in Mobile, Alabama
Location in Alabama
Location in the United States
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| Location | 104 Theater Street Mobile, Alabama |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1822-1849 |
| Architect | Peter Hobart |
| Architectural style | Federal, Greek Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 73000363 |
| Added to NRHP | December 12, 1973 |
The Conde–Charlotte House, also known as the Kirkbride House, is a special historic house museum in Mobile, Alabama. It's a place where you can visit and learn about the past. The oldest part of the building, which was once the kitchen, was built way back in 1822. The main part of the house was added later, a few decades after the kitchen wing. The whole building is made of handmade bricks covered with a smooth plaster.
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A Look at the House's Past
How did this house begin? The Conde–Charlotte House started its life in 1822. It was first used as Mobile's very first courthouse and city jail. It was built right between the southern walls of Fort Condé. At that time, the fort itself was being taken down.
From Jail to Home
In 1849, a man named Jonathan Kirkbride bought the land. He was from Mount Holly, New Jersey. Mr. Kirkbride changed the old courthouse and jail. He turned that part into a kitchen wing. Then, he built the main house next to it. The Kirkbride family lived in this home until 1905. After that, B. J. Bishop bought the house.
Saving History
Later, in 1940, the Historic Mobile Preservation Society bought the property. They started to fix it up. During this time, they made an exciting discovery. They found the outlines of four old jail cells in the kitchen wing! Another group, The National Society of the Colonial Dames of America, later finished the restoration work. This helped make the house what it is today.
What the House Looks Like
The house was first built in the Federal style. This style was popular in the early 1800s. Later, it was changed to look like the Greek Revival style. This style often uses elements from ancient Greek buildings.
Special Features
The front of the house has a large porch. This porch is called a portico. It has two levels. On the lower level, there are brick columns that look like the Doric style. On the upper level, there are wooden columns that look like the Corinthian style.
House Dimensions
The house is about 45 feet (14 meters) wide at the front. It is about 72 feet (22 meters) long on the eastern side. On the western side, it is about 90 feet (27 meters) long, including the carriage house. The first floor ceilings are about 10 feet (3 meters) high. The upper story ceilings are about 9 feet (3 meters) high. The whole building is made of brick with stucco. The front upper porch, back balconies, and other decorations are made of wood.
Bringing a Neighborhood Back to Life
The Conde–Charlotte House and the area around it became separated from the rest of Mobile. This happened when Interstate 10 was built. Many old buildings in the neighborhood were taken down for the highway project. One important part that was destroyed was Bloodgood's Row. These were old, tall townhouses along Monroe Street.
Fort Condé Village
The new highway construction left only a small part of the old neighborhood. This included parts of Theatre, Monroe, and Saint Emanuel streets. These streets were surrounded by the highway and its ramps. During the building of the George Wallace Tunnel, the old foundations of Fort Condé were found. After the tunnel was finished, a copy of the fort was rebuilt on the original spot. Now, this replica fort stands behind the Conde–Charlotte House.
In recent years, the city has worked on projects to restore this area. It is now called "Fort Condé Village." Old buildings that fit the time period have been moved and fixed up here. New brick streets and gas street lamps have also been added. This helps visitors imagine what the area looked like long ago.
