Oakleigh Historic Complex (Mobile, Alabama) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Oakleigh
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Oakleigh, centerpiece of the Oakleigh Historic Complex
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 Location in Mobile, Alabama
Location in Alabama
Location in the United States
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| Location | 350 Oakleigh Place Mobile, Alabama |
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| Area | 2 acres (0.81 ha) |
| Built | 1833 |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 71000104 |
| Added to NRHP | May 27, 1971 |
Oakleigh is a historic house in Mobile, Alabama, built around 1833. It is the main part of the Oakleigh Historic Complex. This complex includes other old buildings like a working-class cottage, Union Barracks, and a modern building for old records. The name "Oakleigh" comes from "oak" and "lea," an old word meaning meadow. The neighborhood around it is also named after this important estate.
History of Oakleigh House
Oakleigh was built in 1833 by James W. Roper. He was a builder from Virginia who also sold goods and traded cotton. He chose this spot because there was valuable clay nearby. He even had a brickyard in downtown Mobile.
While building the house, James Roper faced sadness. His first wife, Sarah Ann Davenport, and one of his children passed away. He remarried in 1838 to Eliza Ann Simison and had four more children with her.
A big economic crisis in 1837 made things tough for Roper's businesses. He had borrowed a lot of money to build Oakleigh but couldn't pay it back. So, the bank took the house back. Roper and his family left Mobile in 1840 and started a lumber business in New Orleans. The bank then sold off most of the land and rented out the house.
In 1852, Alfred Irwin bought Oakleigh. He worked for a railroad company. During the American Civil War, his wife, Margaret Kilshaw Irwin, protected their home. She told Union soldiers that because she was British, the house was neutral. She even hung the British flag from the balcony!
Alfred and Margaret's sons, T.K. and Lee Fearn Irwin, were Civil War veterans. They became well-known in Mobile later on. Lee worked as Mobile's assistant postmaster and managed cotton and oil mills. His older brother T.K., who was an assistant to the Confederate president, started and led the Mobile Cotton Exchange. Many of their letters from the Civil War are still kept at Oakleigh today. The Irwin family owned Oakleigh until 1916.
Oakleigh's Architecture
Oakleigh is a large house built in the Greek Revival style. It is one of the biggest T-shaped homes in Alabama. This unique shape helps air flow through the house, keeping it cool in Mobile's humid climate.
The lower floor was originally a raised basement. It was likely built from bricks made on the site. This area was used for work and storage. The main living areas are on the second floor. The special staircase that goes up to the front door was designed by James Roper himself.
The Oakleigh Complex
The Oakleigh Historic Complex includes Oakleigh house, plus three other important buildings. Visitors can take guided tours from special guides called Oakleigh Belles or docents.
- The Union Barracks, built in 1867, was once called the Cook's House. It has been restored to show what life was like for people in Mobile after slavery ended. It is one of the few buildings left from the time after the Civil War.
- The Cox-Deasy Cottage, built in 1850, is a type of house common in the area, built up high. It is now used for activities by the Historic Mobile Preservation Society.
- Minnie Mitchell Archives is where the Historic Mobile Preservation Society keeps old documents and records. These include historic maps, files about family names, items related to Mardi Gras, old newspapers, scrapbooks, and many other special collections.
