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:''This article is about the estate. For other uses, see [[Robin Wood (disambiguation)]].'' | :''This article is about the estate. For other uses, see [[Robin Wood (disambiguation)]].'' | ||
'''Robin Wood''' was the 110-acre estate of black business tycoon [[A. G. Gaston]] and his second wife, [[Minnie Gaston|Minnie]]. | '''Robin Wood''' was the 110-acre estate of black business tycoon [[A. G. Gaston]] and his second wife, [[Minnie Gaston|Minnie]]. It was built before [[1955]] at a cost exceeding $100,000. | ||
In addition to the main house, the estate included a guest house and swimming pool, all accessed by a private driveway with a remotely-operated gate. | |||
Despite precautions, the house was targeted twice by violence. In September [[1963]], as unrest over the looming integration of [[Birmingham City Schools]] rose to a fever pitch, someone threw firebombs through the living room window at the residence. The Gastons had just returned home from Washington D.C., having attended a state dinner at the White House with President Kennedy. Mrs Gaston had heard a car pull up the drive, but assumed it was one of their staff. They installed an alarm system at the house afterward and posted guards around the clock for the following weeks. | |||
Just after midnight on the morning of [[January 24]], [[1976]] Gaston and his wife were assaulted and Gaston was abducted from the house, handcuffed and forced into the back of his own 1972 Cadillac El Dorado under a pile of blankets. Minnie, also cuffed and suffering a dislocated shoulder, regained consciousness and alerted the funeral home, which in turn contacted police. She later said that she had forgotton to turn on the alarm system that night. | Just after midnight on the morning of [[January 24]], [[1976]] Gaston and his wife were assaulted and Gaston was abducted from the house, handcuffed and forced into the back of his own 1972 Cadillac El Dorado under a pile of blankets. Minnie, also cuffed and suffering a dislocated shoulder, regained consciousness and alerted the funeral home, which in turn contacted police. She later said that she had forgotton to turn on the alarm system that night. | ||
The car was located soon later with Gaston still inside. The driver, [[Charles Clayborn Jr|Charles Lewis Clayborn Jr]] was taken into custody and later convicted and sentenced to life in prison. The Gastons were treated at [[Baptist Medical Center Montclair]]. Minnie, in particular, remained haunted by the brutal attack and arranged for guards to patrol the grounds | The car was located soon later with Gaston still inside. The driver, [[Charles Clayborn Jr|Charles Lewis Clayborn Jr]] was taken into custody and later convicted and sentenced to life in prison. The Gastons were treated at [[Baptist Medical Center Montclair]]. Minnie, in particular, remained haunted by the brutal attack and arranged for guards to again patrol the grounds around the clock. | ||
==References== | |||
* Burley, Dan (April 14, 1955), "People Are Talking About". ''Jet'' magazine, Vol. 7, No. 23, pp. 48-49 | |||
* Jenkins, Carol & Elizabeth Gardner Hines (2003) ''Black Titan, A.G. Gaston and the Making of a Black American Millionaire''. New York: One World/Ballantine ISBN 0345453476 | |||
[[Category: | [[Category:Birmingham houses]] | ||
Latest revision as of 10:58, 7 April 2021
- This article is about the estate. For other uses, see Robin Wood (disambiguation).
Robin Wood was the 110-acre estate of black business tycoon A. G. Gaston and his second wife, Minnie. It was built before 1955 at a cost exceeding $100,000.
In addition to the main house, the estate included a guest house and swimming pool, all accessed by a private driveway with a remotely-operated gate.
Despite precautions, the house was targeted twice by violence. In September 1963, as unrest over the looming integration of Birmingham City Schools rose to a fever pitch, someone threw firebombs through the living room window at the residence. The Gastons had just returned home from Washington D.C., having attended a state dinner at the White House with President Kennedy. Mrs Gaston had heard a car pull up the drive, but assumed it was one of their staff. They installed an alarm system at the house afterward and posted guards around the clock for the following weeks.
Just after midnight on the morning of January 24, 1976 Gaston and his wife were assaulted and Gaston was abducted from the house, handcuffed and forced into the back of his own 1972 Cadillac El Dorado under a pile of blankets. Minnie, also cuffed and suffering a dislocated shoulder, regained consciousness and alerted the funeral home, which in turn contacted police. She later said that she had forgotton to turn on the alarm system that night.
The car was located soon later with Gaston still inside. The driver, Charles Lewis Clayborn Jr was taken into custody and later convicted and sentenced to life in prison. The Gastons were treated at Baptist Medical Center Montclair. Minnie, in particular, remained haunted by the brutal attack and arranged for guards to again patrol the grounds around the clock.
References
- Burley, Dan (April 14, 1955), "People Are Talking About". Jet magazine, Vol. 7, No. 23, pp. 48-49
- Jenkins, Carol & Elizabeth Gardner Hines (2003) Black Titan, A.G. Gaston and the Making of a Black American Millionaire. New York: One World/Ballantine ISBN 0345453476