Have you ever driven past a house and it beckoned you to come closer and take a peek inside the windows? There’s a house on the way to my friend, Debbie’s house near Wilsonville and it always draws my eye when we are driving by. It’s old. I mean, mid-1800’s old, so you know it has some stories. I’d love to know what they are. One sunny afternoon, I decided to take a closer peek at this aging beauty.
The Klein’s are evidently the beginning family in this home. I’d love to know the history on all of that.
She’s a very stately and large home and must have been quite the showplace in the mid-1800’s.
With the wide and welcoming front porch, you can imagine the company that this house saw.
Looks like those are the original doors. It’s in such a state of disrepair now and I wonder if anyone will ever restore her. I sure do hope so. She has been sitting like this as long as we have lived in Birmingham, over 4 years. I heard that once the home was an antique store and at one time a tea room. That was before my time.
The chimney is still intact, but crumbling. It would take some major vision to restore her to her former glory.
The front porch is a beauty. There are many cotton fields on this stretch of Hwy. 25 going into Wilsonville, so I imagine that this home farmed and probably owned some of that land back in the 1800’s.
The stairs look to be marble, stained and tarnished, but marble nonetheless.
One window that I could get a peek into, showed a fireplace.
I bet the boards on the outside are all original too. Don’t you love these shutters?
There are many of the shutters still intact. I can also dream that the aqua shutters that I picked up at an antique store probably came off of a home like this. Ahhh, the beauty of old and weathered.
I think the glass is also original, but many of the panes are broken. This large and stately chimney is on the left side of the house.
Who lived in this house and what did they do? What sort of lives did they lead? Were they wealthy land owners with a beautiful house and furnishings? Those are the questions that went through my mind, while walking around the weedy property which has seen much neglect.
The foundation is set on large stones of some sort. They sure don’t build them like this anymore. Weathered and green boards have seen better days. It’s been a long time since she has seen a bucket of paint.
The large back porch is plenty big too.
How many people have walked up and down these stairs?
It was sort of eerie walking around the place, but also made me think about just who lived there. She’s an aging beauty, but it would only take the right person to come along and give her new life.
I sure wish someone would. Not me, but someone. I have no idea who owns the house. If any of you here in the area know anything about this beautiful old home, I’d love to hear about it.
UPDATE: I did get some current information about the Klein house from an ancestor, Nell Gottlieb, so check out her page for an update on how the house is being used now in 2020.
Tracy Bentley says
I found that the property is own by a Mr. Wallace and he live local. Please contact me and I will foward you his address if you would like to know more about the home.
Kim Johnston says
I would like to know more for my book about Shelby Co History. Can you email me at kimby.johnston at gmail.com?
Lisa says
How incredible she is!!! But how sad she’s been so neglected. Your pictures were fabulous in showing all her beauty from all angles. What a gorgeous house this must have been. With the stone foundation and likely rotted boards, she’s likely sadly beyond repair.
But definitely still beautiful in her own right.
GRITS says
I did a little research because I, too, am fascinated by old homes. This looks to be the Klein-Wallace Home. There is a little story about it being haunted in this article http://www.fightingjoewheeler.org/minutes_and_news/April_2008.pdf
It makes me sad to see beautiful historic homes like this go to ruins. I wish all of them could be saved.
Robyn says
I, too, think this is a home for Layla and Kevin…can you imagine what it would look like when they got finished with it…I wonder what Layla and Kevin think about folks they don’t even know suggesting they buy a home? How funny!!!
Jo Anne says
Oh, to be rich and live in Alabama! That house talks to me…calls to me. I’m sure I should own it. There’s just that money thing and the distance thing and the money…
Laurel Pate says
I live in this area and the house has been empty for as long as I remember…I still love driving by it…I love to imagine what the inside looks like and what it would like if restored.
The mayor of Harpersville would be able to help and give you info on this home. His name is “Theo Perkins”.
Love your blog!
Laurel
Kathy :) says
Wish those walls could talk !!! I hope you were not alone while peeking….one never knows !!!
Kathy 🙂
Punctuation Mark says
great place… i would love to be involved in a team doing the renovation… exciting!
Lindsay says
“There was a land of Cavaliers and Cotton Fields called the Old South. Here in this pretty world, Gallantry took its last bow. Here was the last ever to be seen of Knights and their Ladies Fair, of Master and of Slave. Look for it only in books, for it is no more than a dream remembered, a Civilization gone with the wind.”
I can’t help but think of the above when I see this house. It would be super fun to go to the local library and look up some history on the property. It would take some time but could easily be done!
Thanks for sharing!
Lindsay
Richella at Imparting Grace says
Oh, my. . . what a glorious old place! Isn’t it amazing to think that she made it through the War of Northern Aggression (sorry; I couldn’t resist), Reconstruction, the Great Depression, and two World Wars, only to be abandoned now? What a shame.
Wouldn’t it be fun to restore a beauty like this to some of its former glory? Actually, it might be even more fun to keep the structure intact but to design the interiors around a little more simple theme than we usually associate with the antebellum South. I reckon that the Kleins were prosperous planters, but perhaps not folks of the kind of grand lifestyle that we might imagine. Sure makes you wonder, doesn’t it?
Rhoda says
Hey, I’m so glad ya’ll enjoyed seeing this Southern beauty. She is quite remarkable & it is amazing that the house is still standing & looks as good as it does. Thanks for those of you who looked up more info, that article that Grits found was really interesting. I am going to take Tracy up on the owner’s address and see what else I can find out about the house, so if I uncover anything else, I’ll be sure and report it!
I also saw in that article that there is another Greek Revival house in the area that was a 2000 acre plantation, so I’m going to have to look that one up too.
Kristin says
This house is about 5 miles from where I live and I swoon every time my husband and I drive by it. I always kid him about buying it and fixing it up! It has been empty for as long as I can remember, but I hope that one day somebody will resurrect it. Thanks for sharing the pictures… I have always been tempted to stop and take a look and you took care of it for me.
Rhonda says
Rhoda~
My husband is a native Alabama boy and I’m a west coast chick. We’re trying to get back to Alabama and buy a place to fix up. I scour the real estate websites looking for older fix-ups. I’d LOVE it if you’d post pictures of older Alabama homes on your site. Then I can dream of the day that we are living in the South again:-) ~ Rhonda
Katie says
I want the brand new version of this! I love old houes, but so much work. I bet this was beautiful at one time. I love how movies take you back to how it used to look and then now. So sad how bad it looks.
Darla says
WOW what a gorgeous house in its time. Sad that it’s fallen so far. Hopefully someone will buy it. Great job on bringing this to light!!
Sue says
Wow. What a house! Like everyone else, what a little time and money could accomplish!
I loved reading the bit of history of this home. I sure hope it can be saved.
Kathysue says
Rhoda, I love old houses and I make up stories in my head about who lived there and what they did for a living. How it must have looked in its hayday. I am always saddened when I see a house in dis-repair. Oh what a little love would do to this lovely old home. I posted my porch today, it is finished except for the chair cushions, they are on their way!! If you can stand a little dose of black and white stripes pop on over, xo Kathysue
Susan (Between Naps on the Porch) says
Rhoda…I hope someone comes along and saves her…you can tell she was quite the beauty in her day. She needs someone to restore her and soon! Love seeing the pics.
Lisa B says
I love old homes, and their history! Keep us updated if you find any info. about this former beauty!! LOVED the tour and pictures, thank you!!
DrayaAnn says
I LOVE every single thing about that house! Even the mossy stairs and cracks. I wish I could live back in the south and restore old houses.