Mortimer Jordan residence: Difference between revisions
No edit summary |
No edit summary |
||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
The | The '''Mortimer Jordan residence''', known as the '''Jordan Home''', is a neo-classical mansion located at 2834 [[Highland Avenue]], at [[28th Place South]]. It was built between [[1906]] and [[1906]] for [[Mortimer Jordan III]] to share with his widowed mother, [[Florence Jordan]]. | ||
The house was designed by architect [[William Weston]] | The house was designed by architect [[William Weston]]. Construction began in [[1906]] and was completed in [[1908]]. The front of the two-story wood-sided house features a double-height porch consisting of a heavily-detailed classical portico supported on two pairs of monumental Ionic-style columns. The recessed entryway, with beveled-glass sidelites and transoms, is crowned by a smaller segmental arch. The hipped roof was covered with terra-cotta tiles, punctuated by four chimneys as well as a skylight and numerous half-round dormers to light the attic, which was used as a children's play room. | ||
The house | The flat roof of a one-story veranda on the west of the house provides an open raised terrace above. Mr Jordan married [[Lucile Jordan|Lelia Lucile Gaston]], daughter of [[Zell Gaston|Zell]] and [[Lelia Gaston]] in [[1909]] and their son, [[Mortimer Jordan IV]] was born at the house in [[1911]]. Mortimer III died in France in [[World War I]]. His mother remained in the house until her death in [[1925]]. | ||
The house was | The house was sold in [[1928]] to [[Annie Cabell|Annie Renfro Tomlinson Cabell]], widow of [[John Tomlinson]]. Mortimer Jordan IV told Mrs Cabell's children that there was a ghost in the house that came down from the attic every night at midnight. | ||
The [[ | In the 1950s the home was owned by [[Joy Carter]] and divided into apartments. The [[Frank George]] family lived in an upstairs unit from [[1951]] to [[1952]] and a downstairs unit from [[1953]] to [[1954]]. | ||
After Pilkington's death, the house was listed for sale for $995,000. It is currently owned by [[John-Bryan Hopkins]]. | The house was purchased and restored by nightclub owner [[Al Pilkington]] in [[1969]]. He removed the partitions between apartments and restored the original rooms with new parquet flooring. He added a breakfast room off the kitchen and combined the parlor on the left of the entrance hall with a former bedroom to make a large living room and enclosed the adjoining veranda to make a sunroom. Pilkington resided there until his death in January [[2016]]. After Pilkington's death, the house was listed for sale for $995,000. It is currently owned by [[John-Bryan Hopkins]]. | ||
The home was added to the [[Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage]] on [[July 21]], [[1977]]. The [[Alabama Historical Association]] placed a marker outside the house in [[1997]], honoring Dr Jordan's medical legacy. | |||
{{stub}} | {{stub}} | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
* Bell, Elma (n. d.) "Apartment dweller kept eyes on dream house." {{BN}} | |||
* {{Satterfield-1976}} | * {{Satterfield-1976}} | ||
* {{Dabney-2006}} | * {{Dabney-2006}} | ||
Revision as of 21:03, 30 April 2018
The Mortimer Jordan residence, known as the Jordan Home, is a neo-classical mansion located at 2834 Highland Avenue, at 28th Place South. It was built between 1906 and 1906 for Mortimer Jordan III to share with his widowed mother, Florence Jordan.
The house was designed by architect William Weston. Construction began in 1906 and was completed in 1908. The front of the two-story wood-sided house features a double-height porch consisting of a heavily-detailed classical portico supported on two pairs of monumental Ionic-style columns. The recessed entryway, with beveled-glass sidelites and transoms, is crowned by a smaller segmental arch. The hipped roof was covered with terra-cotta tiles, punctuated by four chimneys as well as a skylight and numerous half-round dormers to light the attic, which was used as a children's play room.
The flat roof of a one-story veranda on the west of the house provides an open raised terrace above. Mr Jordan married Lelia Lucile Gaston, daughter of Zell and Lelia Gaston in 1909 and their son, Mortimer Jordan IV was born at the house in 1911. Mortimer III died in France in World War I. His mother remained in the house until her death in 1925.
The house was sold in 1928 to Annie Renfro Tomlinson Cabell, widow of John Tomlinson. Mortimer Jordan IV told Mrs Cabell's children that there was a ghost in the house that came down from the attic every night at midnight.
In the 1950s the home was owned by Joy Carter and divided into apartments. The Frank George family lived in an upstairs unit from 1951 to 1952 and a downstairs unit from 1953 to 1954.
The house was purchased and restored by nightclub owner Al Pilkington in 1969. He removed the partitions between apartments and restored the original rooms with new parquet flooring. He added a breakfast room off the kitchen and combined the parlor on the left of the entrance hall with a former bedroom to make a large living room and enclosed the adjoining veranda to make a sunroom. Pilkington resided there until his death in January 2016. After Pilkington's death, the house was listed for sale for $995,000. It is currently owned by John-Bryan Hopkins.
The home was added to the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage on July 21, 1977. The Alabama Historical Association placed a marker outside the house in 1997, honoring Dr Jordan's medical legacy.
References
- Bell, Elma (n. d.) "Apartment dweller kept eyes on dream house." The Birmingham News
- Satterfield, Carolyn Green (1976) Historic Sites of Jefferson County, Alabama. Birmingham: Jefferson County Historical Commission/Gray Printing Company
- Dabney, Richard (2006) Birmingham's Highland Park. Images of America Series. Mount Pleasant, South Carolina: Arcadia Press. ISBN 9780738543437
- "Alexander H. Pilkington" obituary (January 5, 2016) The Birmingham News
- Moore, Tamika (April 13, 2016) "Want to own a Birmingham landmark? Historic Highland Avenue home for sale." The Birmingham News