
![]() Oak Place is a Greek Revival house that was designed by George Steele in 1840 and later recorded by the Historic American Building Survey in 1934. In 1977 the East Huntsville Baptist Church wanted to tear it down to build a new worship center. Thanks to skillful encouragement by the Historic Huntsville Foundation, the congregation renovated it and performed the necessary steps to list it on the National Register of Historic Places. The church has been a good steward, using it as an educational and administrative building and for meetings, weddings, and receptions. Unfortunately, they now need to sell the portion of their property that contains Oak Place. Located in an area of modest homes and apartments, this large and imposing house may be difficult to market for residential uses. The current zoning prohibits commercial uses, but the congregation may consider selling the house with protective covenants. That would be a big help for Huntsville’s preservation community, ensuring an encore preservation success.
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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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