Joseph T. Smitherman Historic Building facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Dallas County Courthouse
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Joseph T. Smitherman Historic Building, the former Dallas County Courthouse, in 2009
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 Location in Alabama
Location in the United States
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| Location | 109 Union St., Selma, Alabama |
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| Area | 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | 1847 |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 75000310 |
| Added to NRHP | June 20, 1975 |
The Joseph T. Smitherman Historic Building is a very old and important building in Selma, Alabama. It was finished in 1847 and has been used for many different things over the years. This beautiful building is built in a style called Greek Revival. It was added to a special list of historic places, the National Register of Historic Places, in 1975. Today, it is home to the Vaughan-Smitherman Museum, which teaches visitors about Selma's history.
Contents
Building's Long History
Early Days as a School
The building was completed in 1847 by a group called the Selma Fraternal Lodge No. 27 of the Masons. They spent $15,000 to build it. Their goal was to create a school for children who had lost their parents or whose parents needed help.
The school opened in October 1848 as the Central Masonic Institute. However, the school did not do very well. After only a few years, the Masons lost ownership of the building.
Serving During the Civil War
During the American Civil War, the building was used as a hospital for soldiers from the Confederate side. It survived the Battle of Selma near the end of the war. After the war, it briefly became a hospital run by the Freedman's Bureau. This group helped formerly enslaved people.
Becoming the Dallas County Courthouse
Later, local leaders bought the building. They wanted to move the main government office, called the county seat, for Dallas County to Selma. Their plan worked! Selma became the county seat in 1866.
The building then served as the Dallas County Courthouse until 1902. A new courthouse was built in a different location that year.
New Schools and a Hospital
In 1904, the building was bought by the Henry W. Vaughan estate. They rented it out to a new school, the Selma Military Institute. This military school used the building until 1908.
After the military school moved, the building was changed into a hospital. It opened in 1911 as Vaughan Memorial Hospital. The hospital stayed there until 1960, when a new hospital building was finished.
Preservation and Renaming
The building was empty and neglected for several years. Then, in 1969, the City of Selma, Dallas County, and the Selma Housing Authority bought it for $82,500. This important effort was led by Joseph T. Smitherman, who was the mayor of Selma at the time.
The building reopened on May 16, 1971, as the Historic and Civic Building. In 1979, the Selma City Council renamed it in honor of Mayor Smitherman. This was to recognize his big role in saving and restoring the building.
Building's Design and Architecture
The Joseph T. Smitherman Historic Building is a three-story structure made of red brick. It is built in the Greek Revival style, which was very popular when it was constructed.
Key Architectural Features
One of its most noticeable features is the large porch-like entrance in the center. This is called a tetrastyle portico. It has four tall, round columns in the Ionic style.
The brick walls have seven sections, called bays. There is a decorative band, known as a belt course, between each floor. The triangular part above the portico is called a pediment.
Balconies and Railings
There are balconies on the upper levels that stretch across the covered area of the portico. The railings on these balconies are made of wrought iron. They have a special design with an open diamond pattern. This pattern is also known as a crowfoot baluster.
Vaughan-Smitherman Museum
Today, the building is home to the Vaughan-Smitherman Museum. This museum helps visitors learn about Selma's rich history.
What You Can See at the Museum
- The first floor has a collection about the Civil War. It also shows documents related to slavery.
- The second floor is dedicated to political history.
- The third floor is set up to look like a hospital room. This shows how it might have appeared when it was Vaughan Memorial Hospital.
The museum also displays antique furniture from the mid-1800s. You can see a collection of artifacts from Native American groups. The building also has rooms for clubs and groups to meet, and parlors for social events.
See also
In Spanish: Edificio histórico Joseph T. Smitherman para niños
