Walter Agee residence: Difference between revisions

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The '''Walter Agee residence''' (called the '''Rucker-Agee House''' on the National Register, and '''Rucker Place''' by its current owners) is a 6,500 square-foot shingle-style house at 1804 [[12th Avenue South]] on the [[Five Points South neighborhood]]. It was constructed in [[1900]] as a wedding gift for grain merchant [[Walter Agee]] and his fiance [[Louise Rucker Agee|Louise Rucker]] by her father, General [[Edmund Winchester Rucker]], a veteran of the [[Civil War]] who settled in [[Birmingham]] in the 1880s and developed the [[Nabob Hill]] neighborhood of the [[Town of Highland]], on which [[Ramsay High School]] was later built.
The '''Walter Agee residence''' (called the '''Rucker-Agee House''' on the National Register, and '''Rucker Place''' by its current owners) is a 6,500 square-foot shingle-style house at 1804 [[12th Avenue South]] on the [[Five Points South neighborhood]]. It was constructed in [[1900]] as a wedding gift for grain merchant [[Walter Agee]] and his fiance [[Louise Rucker Agee|Louise Rucker]] by her father, General [[Edmund Rucker]], a veteran of the [[Civil War]] who settled in [[Birmingham]] in the 1880s and developed the [[Nabob Hill]] neighborhood of the [[Town of Highland]], on which [[Ramsay High School]] was later built.


The Agee residence is Birmingham's sole example of the "shingle style" of architecture, characterized by continuous horizontal banding, grouped windows, and flowing spaces. The surface of the house is "stretched" in order to accommodate interior functions, and the flowing surface is clad with flexible shingles rather than boarding.
The Agee residence is Birmingham's sole example of the "shingle style" of architecture, characterized by continuous horizontal banding, grouped windows, and flowing spaces. The surface of the house is "stretched" in order to accommodate interior functions, and the flowing surface is clad with flexible shingles rather than boarding.

Revision as of 19:46, 10 January 2011

The Walter Agee residence (called the Rucker-Agee House on the National Register, and Rucker Place by its current owners) is a 6,500 square-foot shingle-style house at 1804 12th Avenue South on the Five Points South neighborhood. It was constructed in 1900 as a wedding gift for grain merchant Walter Agee and his fiance Louise Rucker by her father, General Edmund Rucker, a veteran of the Civil War who settled in Birmingham in the 1880s and developed the Nabob Hill neighborhood of the Town of Highland, on which Ramsay High School was later built.

The Agee residence is Birmingham's sole example of the "shingle style" of architecture, characterized by continuous horizontal banding, grouped windows, and flowing spaces. The surface of the house is "stretched" in order to accommodate interior functions, and the flowing surface is clad with flexible shingles rather than boarding.

The Agees occupied the house until the mid 1950s, raising their five children there. It was then purchased by J. Clayton Davie who converted it into a professional office for his medical practice.

In 1986, the house was added to the National Register of Historic Places.

In 2002 it was sold to Gail Thompson and her husband Jack for $425,000. They renovated and remodeled the home for use as a reception hall. Handicapped ramps, fire protection and restroom facilities were added, as well as a new sound system and a glass wall to enclose the rear porch. The renovations were designed by Fuller and Thompson Architects, with assistance from historic preservation consultant Linda Nelson, and executed by contractor Kenneth Schatz. The restored home hosted its first event, a 40-person catered dinner for the Alabama Credit Union, on April 25, 2003. Executive chef Richard Bishop also runs Savoie Catering from the Rucker Place kitchen.

Programs

Rucker Place is open for public tours on Thursday afternoons and hosts "Jazz on the Porch" on Thursday evenings. Beginning in Spring 2007, high tea will be served on Tuesday afternoons. The house and lawn can be rented for weddings, receptions and special events. The house has three guest rooms available, including a honeymoon suite.

Reference

  • Adams, Cathy (2002) "A Southside sojourn: One couple restores an architectural gem." Portico.
  • Zganjar, Leslie (December 6, 2002) "This old house gets a new life – and livelihood." Birmingham Business Journal".
  • "May the spirit be with you." (January 2, 2004) Birmingham Business Journal
  • Cooper, Lauren B. (October 15, 2010) "Rucker Place chef to launch catering service from historic Southside venue." Birmingham Business Journal

External link

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