Foster House (Union Springs, Alabama) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Foster House
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The Foster House as photographed by the Historic American Buildings Survey in 1935
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 Location in Alabama
Location in the United States
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| Location | 201 Kennon St., Union Springs, Alabama |
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| Area | 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | 1854 |
| Architect | Sterling J. Foster |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival, Exotic Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 98001021 |
| Added to NRHP | August 14, 1998 |
The Foster House is a special old building located in Union Springs, Alabama. It's famous for its unique style, known as Moorish Revival architecture, which is very rare in Alabama. This style was inspired by the beautiful buildings found in North Africa and Spain.
The house was built by Dr. Sterling J. Foster, who was a doctor. He started building it in 1854, and it took him five years to finish. The Foster family lived in this house for a long time, until 1947.
The Foster House: What It Looks Like
The Foster House is a two-story building made of wood. It has a roof that is almost flat.
Special Features of the House
One of the most interesting parts of the house is its front porch. It has two stories and three sections. The top part of the porch has a fancy design with curved, pointed arches. These arches are called "ogee arches" and are a key part of the Moorish style.
There's also a small balcony on the upper level, right above the main entrance. The front door and the balcony door are double doors, meaning they have two parts that open. Both doors lead into a main hallway inside the house. On each floor, there are two rooms on either side of this hallway.
In 1896, a small, half-round section was added to the house. This addition holds bathrooms on both floors. Inside, most of the original wooden decorations are in the Greek Revival style. This style was popular in the 1800s and was inspired by ancient Greek buildings.
A Special Place in History
The Foster House is important because of its unique architecture and its history. Because of this, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places on August 14, 1998. This list includes buildings, sites, and objects that are important to American history. Being on this list helps protect the house and makes sure it can be enjoyed for many years to come.
