Green Street Historic District (Marion, Alabama) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Green Street Historic District
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Home of former governor Andrew B. Moore on Green Street.
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 Location in Alabama
Location in the United States
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| Location | 203-751 W. Green St., Marion, Alabama |
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| Area | 45 acres (18 ha) |
| Architectural style | Craftsman, Greek Revival, Federal |
| NRHP reference No. | 79000400 |
| Added to NRHP | May 30, 1979 |
The Green Street Historic District is a special area in Marion, Alabama. It's like a neighborhood where many old and important buildings are protected. This district is found along West Green Street. It shows off different styles of architecture, like American Craftsman, Greek Revival, and Federal style.
There are 33 buildings in the district. Many of them, 24 to be exact, are called "contributing buildings." This means they help make the district historically important. These buildings were built from the mid-1830s up to today. The Green Street Historic District was added to the National Register of Historic Places on May 30, 1979. This list recognizes places important to American history.
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What Makes Green Street Special?
The Green Street Historic District is famous for its beautiful old homes. Many of these houses were built before the American Civil War (which ended in 1865). These are called "antebellum" homes. They show a mix of Federal and Greek Revival styles. There's even an early example of the Gothic Revival style.
One very important house here is the Andrew Barry Moore House. It's so special that it's listed on the Historic American Buildings Survey. This survey records important historical buildings across the country. Besides these older homes, there are also two Victorian-style houses from the late 1800s. You can also find nine "Bungalow-style" homes from the early 1900s.
A Look at the Neighborhood
The Green Street area is bordered by downtown Marion on one side. On another side are newer homes. To the west, you'll find open countryside. The way the houses are grouped along Green Street makes it a clear, distinct neighborhood. Most of the homes are one or two stories tall.
As you move away from town towards the west, the houses are set further back from the street. The lots also get bigger. Most of the buildings are made of wood. Some have brick, concrete block, or stucco exteriors. Green Street is a main road into the city from the west. It has managed to stay a quiet, tree-lined street without many businesses.
Different Eras of Homes
The homes in the district can be grouped by when they were built. The most important group includes 13 antebellum homes. These are nearly 40% of all the buildings here. Seven of these old homes still look much like they did when they were first built. Six others have been changed over time. For example, some were updated in the Victorian style or with Bungalow features.
The two Victorian homes and nine early 20th-century bungalows are simpler examples of their styles. They have been kept very close to their original look. There are also nine buildings that were built after 1930. Most of these fit in well with the older homes.
History of Green Street
Green Street is about half a mile long and was a main way to enter Marion. It has many homes in the Federal and Greek Revival styles. It also has an early Gothic Revival home. These buildings are important for their architecture. They also show what life was like for wealthy families in the "Black Belt" region before the Civil War.
The Black Belt is a fertile area in west-central Alabama. It got its name from its rich, dark soil. This land was given to the U.S. government by the Creek Indians in 1814. People started moving in, and by the 1830s, farmers realized the soil was perfect for growing cotton. Cotton farming made the region very rich and important before the Civil War.
Marion was settled in 1817 and became the county seat in 1822. As cotton farming grew, Marion's economy boomed from the late 1830s until the Civil War began. The town was built on high, dry ground, which many farmers preferred. More people, including important leaders, moved to Marion for its opportunities. Green Street was a popular place to build homes before the Civil War. That's why 13 antebellum homes are still there today.
Famous Residents of Green Street
Many important people lived on Green Street.
- The Governor Andrew Barry Moore House was home to Alabama's 16th governor. Governor Moore was the one who called for the Alabama Secession Convention in 1861. This meeting led Alabama to leave the United States before the Civil War.
- Judge William Macklin Brooks, who led that convention, lived in the Brooks-Bailey House.
- Mark A. Myatt, a well-known merchant in Marion, built his home on Green Street around 1845.
- Magnolia Hill was built in 1847 by a rich landowner named King Parker. Later, it was sold to Archibald John Battle, who was the president of Judson College. Judson College was one of three colleges in Marion before the Civil War.
Green Street After the Civil War
After the Civil War, the economy of the Black Belt region changed. Not many new buildings were constructed right after the war. Only two modest Victorian homes were added in the late 1800s.
However, as the area became more prosperous in the early 1900s, new building started again on Green Street. Nine homes were built between 1915 and 1930. Most of these are simple, one-story Bungalow-style houses. They show the popular architectural style of that time. They also show how lifestyles in Marion had changed since the richer antebellum years.
Nine more buildings have been added since 1930. Six of these fit in well with the older Bungalow style. Three others look a bit different, but they don't spoil the overall look of the district. For example, the Nunnally House is similar in size to the bungalows, but its style and how close it is to the street make it stand out a little. The Madison Tucker House and Apartment look quite modern and are on the edge of their lots. Even with these newer buildings, the district still feels like a residential area from the mid-1800s.
Structures in the District
Here are some of the notable buildings in the Green Street Historic District:
- Harris House (214 Green Street): Built around 1930
- Lea-Thatcher House (302 Green Street): Built around 1838
- Moore-Drew House (304 Green Street): Built around 1845
- Drew House (306 Green Street): Built around 1930
- Myatt-Knudsen House (308 Green Street): Built around 1845
- Nichols House (312 Green Street): Built around 1930
- Horne House (402 Green Street): Built around 1915
- Horne House (404 Green Street): Built around 1890
- Victor Tubbs House (408 Green Street): Built around 1920
- Brooks-Bailey House (506 Green Street): Built around 1850
- Governor A. B. Moore House (508 Green Street): Built around 1832
- Moore-Williams House (751 Green Street): Built around 1840
- Boise Tubbs Rental House (513 Green Street): Built around 1920
- Boise Tubbs House (511 Green Street): Built around 1920
- Seawell House (509 Green Street): Built around 1840
- Washburn House (501 Green Street): Built around 1890
- Magnolia Hill (409 Green Street): Built in 1847
- Howze-Woodfin House (405 Green Street): Built around 1850
- Underwood House (309 Green Street): Built around 1850
- Hudson-Crew House (307 Green Street): Built around 1855
- Pope House (301 Green Street): Built around 1835
- Eagle Hotel (207 Green Street): Built around 1835
- Clinton House (205 Green Street): Built around 1925
- Yeager House (203 Green Street): Built around 1930
