Click image to enlarge. Cedar Haven, an imposing Greek Revival dwelling, was built by Philip Weaver, an early settler credited with introducing underground cisterns as a solution to the water-shortage problems that often arose in the long, dry Black Belt summers. Weaver lived in Selma most of the year, using Cedar Haven only during the hot, cotton-growing summer months. Built for the summer climate, Cedar Haven has multiple porches and doors (three to the front portico), allowing the air to flow freely through the house. The interior is plain to the point of austere. Perhaps the most captivating feature of Cedar Haven, however, is the panoramic view from the upstairs balcony of the gently rolling Black Belt countryside.
Considered a showplace as late as the 1970s, the estate is slowly slipping into ruin. The windows and doors were removed during the initial stages of an abortive restoration attempt, exposing the house to the elements and vandals. While the plantation office, itself a rare historic resource, has collapsed, the property still contains barns, tenant houses, a smokehouse, and other buildings, all of which could be restored.
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