Silk Stocking District (Talladega)


The Silk Stocking District is a historic district in the city of Talladega, Alabama, USA. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on December 13, 1979. Architectural styles include Queen Anne, Classical Revival, Colonial Revival, American Craftsman, and other late Victorian types. The district covers and contained 120 contributing properties when first listed.
NameImageDate completedDescription
Miss Willie's House1907Built by Dr. Samuel W. Welch and his wife Ethel in 1907. Dr. Welch served as the Alabama State Medical Officer for most of career. Upon the deaths of Dr. and Mrs Welch, the house passed to their daughter, Miss Willie Wallace Welch, who lived in the house until her death in 1997. It was designed by Frank Lockwood of Montgomery and built by contractor Robert S. West of Talladega.
Jemison-Rew Home
Joe Cowan Home
Talladega's First Service Stationc.1920
Jemison-Carnegie Public Libraryc.1906Mrs. Lou McElderry Jemison donated the land and $10,000 towards building Talladega's Public Library in 1906. The building was built by local contractor Robert S. West. The Jemison-Carnegie library is one of only four remaining Carnegie-affiliated buildings in Alabama. The building now serves as the home to the Heritage Hall Museum for local history and the arts.
Whitwoodc.1836The heart of Whitwood is two log cabins that were moved close together to form the first part of this house. This is only one of two remaining log cabins from the first years of Talladega. The remaining ones have been torn down over the years. Over the years, the Whitson family improved on the original structure to build this home. It still remains in the Whitson family to this day.
Judge Vandiver Housec.1912Judge Jehu Wellington Vandiver build this dark brick house on the lot directly behind his father's house, Dr. John Vandiver. Judge Vandiver was a lawyer, editor, writer, lecturer, and served as mayor of Talladega.
Corner Housec.1890This Queen Anne cottage was built in the 1890s and has traditionally been called the Corner House because the entrance faces the corner of the lot
Plowman Housec.1848This imposing mansion was built by George Paris Plowman. He moved his family to Talladega in 1833, immediately after the founding of the town. George Plowman was elected mayor of Talladega and served as a member of the Alabama Legislature.
Wedgewoodc.1890
Grant Housec.1890
Thorton-Lee Housec.1888
Robbs Housec.1840This home was purchased by Ida Wallis Elliott in 1920 and extensively remodeled. Mrs. Elliot, the founder of the second largest travel agency in the U.S., added a marble porch and interior marble staircase, among other improvements. The house was sold to the Robb Family in 1964.
Dr. Salter Home
Henry Thorton Homec.1880
Abernathy-Shaw Housec.1908
Wren Housec.1903E.B. Wren House was designed by architect Frank Lockwood and build by Robert S. West between 1894 and 1903.
Johnson Homec.1905This house was commissioned by Dr. Hal Johnson in 1905 and took two year to complete. It was designed by Frank Lockwood of Montgomery and was constructed by Robert S. West of Talladega. It features a neoclassical style with Doric columns, gray brick, with matching limestone window beams secured by a key stone.
Clardy-Jemison Homec.1908This brick home on Coffee Street East was built around 1908 by W. Lyman Clardy and his father, who manufactured brick at the east end of Coffee Street. They built several other brick homes and commercial buildings.
John Crete Williams HomeThis brick home on Coffee Street East was built by John Crete Williams, the editor and publisher of Our Mountain Home, Talladega's Newspaper.
Dr. John Vandiver Housec.1840This home was built by Dr. John Vandiver and his wife Mary in 1840. Dr. Vandiver had long medical practice in Talladega. They also operated a drug store on the town square. During the 1940s the house was purchased by Dr. Wren, a local physician, and converted into apartments.
c.1890
This Queen Ann Victorian clapboard and shingle home was built in a style more familiar to the northeast United States. Built by Seaborne Johnson, son of Alabama Institute for the Deaf and Blind founder, it was soon sold to Dr. Groce Harrison who added a wing to serve as his and his father's medical office and operatory. Tinsley Harrison was born here in 1900. Tinsley is considered Alabama's most distinguished healthcare personality and arguably our nation's most famous internist. He was a founder and first dean of UAB medical school. The original servants' quarters remains. The house has also been home to Judge J. N. Manning and Sears Lee and is currently home to George and Andrea Montgomery.		--
Jim Ivey Homec.1908The Jim Ivey Home was originally built in 1908 and rebuilt by the same plans after it partially burned in 1913. Both times, the house was built/rebuilt by master homebuilder, Robert S. West of Talladega. Jim Ivey was a cashier at the Isbell National Bank from around World War I to World War II.
Ottis Cook Homec.1890Ottis Cook built this home in 1890 in Gother Brunel motif with Eastlake interior. Mr. Cook owned a large farm which was rented to others for work. After passing from the Cook family, the house served as Toddle Inn, a children's daycare center. It stood empty for years before being purchased restored by the current owners.
Reynolds-Kent-McGehee Homec.1906This mansion was commissioned by banker J.F. "Poley" Reynolds in 1905–1906. Frank Lockwood of Montgomery was the architect and Robert S. West of Talladega was the contractor. Originally, the home had four more columns and a balcony porch roof plus a widow's walk atop the structure. These elements were removed to give it the Greek styling you see here.
Boswell-Haywood Mansionc.1889The Dr. Harry Boswell – Paul Haywood Mansion was designed by renowned architect Frank Lockwood of Montgomery, Alabama, and built by Robert S. West of Talladega.
Johnson-Weaver Homec.1907C.S. Weaver lived in this home with his large family in Talladega, Alabama. The Weavers were one of the earliest families in Talladega and involved in the merchant business. The house remained in the Weaver family until it was recently purchased by the Alabama Institute of Deaf and Blind, who converted it to office space.
Link-Ragsdale Mansion
Warwick Homec.1838The Warwick-Paul Home was constructed in the 1830s along the road that eventually became East Street South. Simeon Douglas, a lawyer, built this house. It passed through several fine families over the years and was added-on to over the years. It was eventually inherited by W. Fancier and Dr. B.B. Warwich.
Thorton Mastonc.1888
Henkel-King Homec.1908William C. Henkel built this Dutch Colonial Revival bungalow in 1908. It still retains its original, ornate woodwork throughout and its original combination gas and electric lighting fixtures.
Wilson-Whetsell Homec.1890This house was built by Samuel Borders Wilson, a banker with the Talladega National Bank, in 1890. The house is Victorian in style with Caribbean influences.
Chilton-Gordon-Townsend Homec.1834This house was built using large, hand-hewn support timbers and laths. The main lumber used in the construction is heart pine. The house was built the same year that the City of Talladega was founded.
Cowan-Bath Homec.1890
Jackson-Mauk Homec.1888
McAlpine Placec.1826The McAlpine Place is one of the oldest homes in Talladega County and predates the founding of the City of Talladega by several years. It used to be the centerpiece of a large farm for one of the area's earliest settlers. The "bones" of the house are the original log cabin. The house faces one of the oldest roads in the State, which became East Street with the founding of Talladega.
Sims-Grice Homec.1890
First United Methodist Churchc.1921The Methodist Church began meeting in 1833 at a local house near the Big Spring, a few blocks away. The congregation moved into two larger buildings in 1837 and again in 1857. Construction on this church began in 1921. Upon completion, the Rev. Clare Purcell preached the first sermon in the new church on Friday evening, April 11, 1924.
Jemison-Purefoy Homec.1899The Jemison-Purefoy Home was built by E.S. Jemison in 1899 and later sold to Eva and Robert Purefoy, owners of the notable Purefoy Hotel, also located in Talladega. It was subsequently purchased by Alabama Institute for the Deaf and Blind and now serves as a dormitory for the school.
Browne-Elliott Mansionc.1912
Adams Housec.1890
Barclay-Merrell Housec.1833
Clardy-Fanin Housec.1890
Fleetwood Homec.1892
Harrison-Burton Homec.1898
House of Seven GablesUnknownThe history of Seven Gables is somewhat muddled. It is named for its many gables and is currently owned by Landmarks Foundation.
Johnson-Weaver Homec.1907
McConnell-Overbey Homec.1904
McElderry-Malone Homec.1905Hugh and Ruth McElderry built this beautiful home in 1905. Hugh McElderry was a prominent citizen and local banker in Talladega. The home was purchased by W.C. Malone in 1949 and remains in the Malone family to this day.
McMillan-Harrisc.1836
Johnson-Weaver Homec.1907
Middleton Housec.1887
Moseley-Baker-Fanin Homec.1846
Northern-Brown Homec.1912
Pollack-Rawls Homec.1880
Riddle-Hurst Homec.1920
Seavers Homec.1900
Sugar Hillc.1835