Pfau–Crichton Cottage facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Pfau–Crichton Cottage
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The house in June 2014
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 Location in Alabama
Location in the United States
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| Location | 3703 Old Shell Rd., Mobile, Alabama |
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| Area | 0.5 acres (0.20 ha) |
| Built | 1862 |
| MPS | 19th Century Spring Hill Neighborhood TR |
| NRHP reference No. | 84000120 |
| Added to NRHP | October 18, 1984 |
The Pfau–Crichton Cottage, also called Chinaberry, is a special old house in Mobile, Alabama. This charming home was finished in 1862. It's a type of house known as a Gulf Coast cottage.
The Pfau family built the house. But it's most famous for its later owner, Miss Anne Randolph Crichton. She was known for creating amazing gardens around the property.
Contents
The Story of Anne Randolph Crichton
Anne Randolph Crichton was a very interesting person. She joined the Navy when World War I began. She served her country for many years, retiring in the 1950s.
Anne's Travels and Hobbies
In the 1930s, Anne traveled a lot in Europe. She kept special scrapbooks. These books were filled with memories of her visits to art museums, beautiful gardens, and famous monuments.
Anne was also the last direct family member of Hugh Randolph Crichton. He was the person who founded the town of Crichton in Mobile County.
A Historic Home
The Pfau–Crichton Cottage was added to the National Register of Historic Places on October 18, 1984. This means it's an important historical building. It's part of a group of well-preserved homes in the old village of Spring Hill.
Discovering the Cottage's Design
This cottage has some very interesting and unique features. It's a two-story house. Each floor is about 700 sq ft (65 m2) in size.
Inside the Main Floor
The first floor is where most of the living happens. It has a kitchen, a library, a bathroom, a living room, a dining room, and one bedroom. What's special is that all these rooms connect to each other with doorways. There are no hallways on this floor!
The Upper Level
The top floor of the house is one large room. It was mainly used for storage.
Other Buildings on the Property
Besides the main cottage, there are two other buildings on the property. These include a separate kitchen and a small chapel. Brick walkways connect all the buildings and lead to the garden areas.
