Hugh Martin residence

The Hugh Martin residence, often called the Hugh Martin Cottage, is a 2,586 square-foot 4-bedroom cottage located on a 3,600 square foot lot at 1919 15th Avenue South. It was built in 1922 by Hugh Martin Sr, partner in the architecture firm of Miller & Martin, for himself and his family after they moved out of the Ellie Robinson Martin's parent's home at 1900 14th Avenue South.

The cottage served as the residence of lyricist Hugh Martin Jr. He was staying there while working on the songs for the 1944 MGM feature Meet me in St Louis, including "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" which has become a seasonal classic.

The cottage was renovated in 1959 and was listed on the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage on April 11, 1984.

From 1998 to 2001 the property was used as the home of Agnes gallery, and then for a short time as a yoga studio. It was sold to landscape architect Randy McDaniel in 2002. He expanded the rear patio and worked to improve the exterior "curb appeal" with new plantings and surfaces. The cottage was renovated again in 2017 and sold that year for just over $246,000.

References

• Yelton, Graham (September 2012) "If These Walls Could Talk: This Southside cottage wears its history well" B-Metro