Although Chantilly is in sound structural condition, its future is uncertain because the current owner wishes to use the property for other purposes and would like the house moved. The Commission has located a prospective mover-restorer, but prohibitive estimates for moving the structure have brought the project to a halt.
The term cottage orne as employed by Victorians could refer to any small- or medium-sized house rustically situated in a rural or semi-rural setting and ornamented so as to convey a picturesque effect. Often these houses had "Gothic" window or "Italian" brackets or even neo-classical details. The primary object was not to mimic a particular architectural style but to suggest a mood: one of civilized, quasi-agrarian domesticity. Chantilly in Greensboro, remodeled to its present appearance in the 1850s, is an excellent example of cottage orne. Although its gallery sports machine-sawn "oriental" arches, the dwelling follows no particular style. Few such residence remain in Alabama, but from the 1850s through the 1870s dwellings such as these could be found in and about Eufaula, Marion, Greensboro, Tuscaloosa, and the suburbs of Mobile. Indeed, the style became the norm for many small houses, especially during the 1880s and 1890s.
Although Chantilly is in sound structural condition, its future is uncertain because the current owner wishes to use the property for other purposes and would like the house moved. The Commission has located a prospective mover-restorer, but prohibitive estimates for moving the structure have brought the project to a halt.
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Alabama's Endangered Historic LandmarksEach year since 1994, Alabama Heritage has highlighted threatened historic sites throughout Alabama. The “Places in Peril” list has identified more than 215 imperiled historic resources throughout the state, and is compiled by the Alabama Historical Commission and the Alabama Trust for Historic Preservation. The locations highlight the results of deferred maintenance, perceived obsolescence, development pressures, and lack of funding—forces that now more than ever threaten our cultural legacy. But awareness is a powerful force, too, and can cultivate a renewed determination to be responsible stewards of our heritage. For more information, visit the AHC or the ATHP websites. Alabama Heritage is proud to bring to you a selection of the places designated as perilous. Please keep your comments to information relevant to the featured place in peril. Alabama Heritage reserves the right to delete any comment that we deem inappropriate. Archives
May 2023
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