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.
Seeing these pictures brought images of what happened to the slaves on the plantation. I would love to know more about the history of the place and the people who lived there. The house is on my places to see list.
Some of the slaves are behind the family cemetery just north of the home site. From what I was told, the family continues to allow descendants of the slaves to be buried there as well.
Saramae, do you know the address? Feel free to email me [email protected]. Thanks, would love to see this place
Hey! I drove past this house today and my mother, and grandmother and I saw this! So of course they asked me to look it up when I got home. Do you know who owns it? Or is it just abandoned? Please get back to me! I love this house and it would be a sham if it rots from the inside out.
– Thanks
Paige
HI, Paige, I don’t know anything about the house. There are several comments about the history of the house, so see if there is anything in the comments that can help you find it. I’m sure you could find out something from the local tax office in that county. I just admired the house and wrote about it.
Paige, Do you know the address to this place? Feel free to email me: [email protected]
Do anyone know anything about the Wallace cemetaries? Are they locked 24-7?
Saramae,
the gates were locked the last time I pulled up to them. A short walk will get you to the cemetery from the gate. If you go, please becareful near the cemetrey itself. Honeybees had made a hive in one of the big cedar trees just as you get to the burial area. They were swarming pretty bad! The slave cemetery is on around past the family site and over the hill.
thank you so much for that information! I plan on going there soon. I remember going to a burial there when I was a child.
I was told that it is own by a Dr.
I know the gentleman that owns this house. I spoke to him last week and he informed me that they have done some foundation work recently in order to prevent structural damage. His immediate goal is to preserve the home and not, “restore” it as it would be a great undertaking. He is a descendent of the Wallace’s, whom built the home in 1841. Just north of the home site and across the road is the family cemetery. A tour of the home is planned in the next week or so. It might be where I can add some pictures of the interior afterwards. The owner said that he hasn’t done much except removed multiple layers of wall paper to expose the original walls. He also mentioned that the plantation once had over 5K ac, which is small compared to some “blackbelt” plantation.
Jeff,
Do you know if there’s a list of who is buried in the slave cemetary?
Jeff, Is there any way you could get in touch with me? Please feel free to mail me
dbowlesmac @ me.com
I’ve passed this house many times over the years. The cemetary has Matching stone gates. I remember on side had
the inscription “To Those We Loved” It appears the gates are
now covered up with weeds. When my husband and I stopped
in 1974 for the first time their was a letter posted on the front door. The letter was very poignant, addressed to the person
who had vandalized the house and fruit trees. I remember it
went “We wouldn’t have minded you taking fruit for a pie”
At that time there were no locked gates to either the house
or cemetary.
Not far from my house was the Thomas-Mill house built in
1851. The house was maintaned by the family and the site of
an annual family reunion. It had many beautiful features including a mahogany staircase. I talked to a neighbor who
told me one of the decendants was Joel Thomas president of
the University of Alabama. In the past the house had be robbed and even the well pump was stolen. Not long after my
talk with him, the house was burned to the ground. All that remains now is the big magnolia trees and the church that is
still open.
Susan, where is this house located? Can you give me the address? If u need to get in contact with me email: [email protected]. I would love some info on this place. I have no idea where this is located or the address. Would love to come check it out. Thanks
I can only imagine the pain and suffering of humans living out their days being owned by other humans building a nation on the backs. Taking no thought of the consequences those actions would eventually bring. May God give all the Souls rest and repair the breach made through the…. The Evil That Men Do……
Beautiful photos. So sad. Is it still standing?
Yes it’s still standing. I was there this past September (2017) doing a photoshoot on the grounds. We admired the home and all of the beautiful details.
To the author. This is my family home. Contact me if you’d like a tour!
Claire
Hi, Claire, that’s so exciting that this is your family home. I was living in B’ham at the time I wrote this post. Would you be interested in doing an update and send me new pics of the inside and out and I would share this on my blog? I’m back in ATL living now so won’t be able to get over there for a personal tour. Thanks for writing!