Click image to enlarge. The Malbis Plantation Historic District encompasses an expansive agricultural complex that is threatened by insensitive commercial development. The Historic District is located less than a half-mile south of I-10 on AL 181 at US 90. Malbis Plantation is on the Alabama and the National Register. The plantation encompasses one of the largest and best preserved collections of agricultural buildings in Baldwin County, and perhaps in the state. Twenty-six buildings remain from this commercial complex, with the architectural crown jewels being the Big House (1906), the Tampary-Simmons House (1928), the Greek Orthodox Malbis Memorial Church (1965), and the Malbis Cemetery located south of the church. Malbis Plantation is unique to Greek-Amercian history, serving as one few examples of Greeks choosing to establish themselves in an agrarian community in the south. Locally, Malbis Plantation is an example of a common settlement pattern among immigrants pursuing agriculture and livestock in central and south Baldwin County in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.
The majority of the National Register Historic District is in Baldwin County jurisdictional limits, with the Malbis Nursery being located in the City of Daphne. The City of Daphne is looking to grow to the east with comprehensive planning areas encompassing the majority of the Malbis Plantation Historic District. While the Baldwin County zoning ordinances respect historic preservation, the City of Daphne’s ordinances do not have a means for protecting historic properties from insensitive development.
Malbis Plantation Inc. is the corporation that owns a substantial portion of the historic Malbis Plantation. Recently the Malbis community challenged a national drug store chain. The drug store decided not to go forward with their store at this time. However, the development pressure continues with recent threatening annexation and rezoning requests for the encroachment of commercial development of the historic rural landscape. The Board of Directors is looking at possible development alternatives to preserve the historic frontage and
landscape along ALA 181.
Local preservationists have assembled the support of the Baldwin County Historical Society, Baldwin County Historical Development Commission, the Stockton Historical Association, the Historic Malbis Subdivision Property Owners Association, and Malbis Plantation Inc. With continued education of community leaders regarding the value of historic preservation and strategies for economic development that protect the character-defining features of historic places—like the agricultural buildings and historic landscapes of Malbis—the value of this imperiled place can be protected for future generations.
Malbis Plantation Inc. is the corporation that owns a substantial portion of the historic Malbis Plantation. Recently the Malbis community challenged a national drug store chain. The drug store decided not to go forward with their store at this time. However, the development pressure continues with recent threatening annexation and rezoning requests for the encroachment of commercial development of the historic rural landscape. The Board of Directors is looking at possible development alternatives to preserve the historic frontage and
landscape along ALA 181.
Local preservationists have assembled the support of the Baldwin County Historical Society, Baldwin County Historical Development Commission, the Stockton Historical Association, the Historic Malbis Subdivision Property Owners Association, and Malbis Plantation Inc. With continued education of community leaders regarding the value of historic preservation and strategies for economic development that protect the character-defining features of historic places—like the agricultural buildings and historic landscapes of Malbis—the value of this imperiled place can be protected for future generations.
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