William Hassinger residence
- This article is about the Highland Avenue residence, for the home on Carlisle Road, see Hassinger Castle.
The William Hassinger residence (now the Hassinger Daniels Mansion Bed & Breakfast) is a Victorian / Queen Anne house located at 2028 Highland Avenue near 20th Street South now operating as a bed and breakfast.
The house was constructed in 1898 for William H. Hassinger. It was designed by Thomas Walter III, grandson of the architect of the U. S. Capitol dome. It is faced with light-colored brick and features prominent turrets and dormers punctuating its slate roof. A wrap-around verandah terminates at a molded gable over the front steps, which lead to an iron gate facing Highland Avenue.
For a long time, the house was used as an office for Daniel's Optician, and it remained the residence of Venoa Daniels until her death in 2010.
The Alabama Historical Commission and Alabama Preservation Alliance named the Hassinger residence to its 2003 "Places in Peril" list, due to the ever-increasing threat of commercial redevelopment. In July 2007 the residence was appraised by the Jefferson County Board of Equalization and Adjustments at $459,300.
In 2010 the house was acquired by Sheila and Ira Chaffin, owners of the Cobb Lane Bed & Breakfast. They renovated the property as a 10-room bed and breakfast. The Chaffin Carousel Carving School moved to the home's basement from space in the Terrace Court apartment building.
Ira Chaffin died in 2016. In 2022 Sheila Chaffin placed the home and business up for sale.
References
- Coumanis, Keri (Fall 2003) "Alabama's Endangered Historic Landmarks for 2003." Alabama Heritage
- Coman, Victoria L. and Jeff Hansen (September 24, 2006) "Five Points paying price of success." The Birmingham News
- Erdreich, Jeremy (December 15, 2010) "Five Points Reviving." Bhamarchitect's Blog
- Swant, Martin (April 21, 2011) "5 questions with Ira and Sheila Chaffin of Birmingham's Hassinger Daniels Mansion Bed and Breakfast." The Birmingham News
- Watson, Nathan (November 4, 2022) "Historic Hassinger Daniels Mansion Bed & Breakfast listed for sale." Bham Now