J. D. Holman House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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J. D. Holman House
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 Location in Alabama
Location in the United States
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| Location | 409 E. Broad St., Ozark, Alabama |
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| Area | 2.6 acres (1.1 ha) |
| Built | 1912–13 |
| Architect | C. Frank Galliher |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 82002007 |
| Added to NRHP | February 19, 1982 |
The J. D. Holman House is a very old and beautiful home in Ozark, Alabama. It's known for its fancy Neoclassical style, which looks a bit like ancient Greek or Roman buildings. This grand house was built over 100 years ago, between 1912 and 1913, for a well-known local businessman named Jesse DeCosta Holman. Because it's so special, the house was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982, which means it's recognized as an important historical building.
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A Look Back at the Holman House
Jesse DeCosta Holman grew up in Ozark. In the 1890s, he started his business by selling a mule that belonged to his father. His business grew very quickly. This success allowed him to invest in other companies. He even owned a cotton mill, which was one of the first in Southeast Alabama. He also owned a Buick car dealership.
The Holman House was built between 1912 and 1913. It cost about $75,000 back then. That would be like spending over $2 million today! Jesse Holman lived in the house until he passed away in 1960. His family owned the house until 1982. Then, a person named Jack Mizell bought it for $120,000. Later, in 2013, the city of Ozark bought the house for $296,000.
The Design of the Holman House
The Holman House is a large, two-story building. It measures about 62 feet (19 meters) on each side. A famous architect from Montgomery named C. Frank Galliher designed it. He used the Neoclassical style.
Outside Features
The house has two identical porticos, which are like large porches with columns. One faces Broad Street and the other faces Mutual Street. Each portico has four tall, fancy Corinthian columns. These columns hold up a triangular roof section called a pediment. In the middle of the pediment, there's a cool oval window with a detailed outline.
The main front door has a special design. It's surrounded by a latticed window above (a transom) and windows on the sides (called sidelights). Next to these are flat columns called pilasters. These pilasters have capitals that match the big columns. Above the main entrance, there's a balcony with pretty wrought iron railings. This balcony has a door that looks just like the one downstairs.
A wide porch wraps around three sides of the house: the west, south (front), and east sides. On the front, there are French windows that open onto the porch. These windows have fan-shaped windows above them. On the second floor, right above the French windows, are Casement windows with lattice designs. On the east side, you'll find two more French windows with casement windows above them. There's also a porte-cochère here, which is a covered driveway where people could get in and out of cars. It has a small balcony above it. Most of the windows on the west side are regular double-hung sash windows. However, there are also casement windows on a "sleeping porch" at the back of the house.
Inside the House
The inside of the house has a central hallway. On one side of the hall, there are two bedrooms and a library. On the other side, you'll find a dining room and a salon (a fancy living room). The mantel (the shelf above the fireplace) in the library is special. It has carvings of a horse and a mule. These carvings remind us of Jesse Holman's first business, selling livestock. At the end of the main hall, the stairwell is decorated with more Corinthian columns. The second floor is laid out similarly to the first. It has a central hall leading to three bedrooms, two bathrooms, a dressing room, and access to the sleeping porch.
See also
In Spanish: Casa de J. D. Holman para niños
