Preuit Oaks is a historic plantation house near Leighton in Colbert County, Alabama. The house was built in 1847 by Dr. John S. Napier, on land originally owned by his father-in-law. The house and land were sold in 1851 to W. Richard Preuit, who developed the property into a large cotton plantation using the forced labour of enslaved people. At its peak in 1860, the plantation covered 1,500 acres (600 ha); following the Civil War, its productivity declined, and Preuit's holdings had depleted to only 400 acres (160 ha) upon his death in 1882. The house has remained in the family since.
Preuit Oaks | |
 The house in April 2017 | |
   | |
| Location | Cotton Town Rd., Leighton, Alabama |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 34°40′26″N 87°30′35″W / 34.67389°N 87.50972°W |
| Area | 156.7 acres (63.4 ha) |
| Built | 1847 |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival, Federal |
| NRHP reference No. | 86000997[1] |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | May 8, 1986 |
| Designated ARLH | November 26, 1978[2] |
The house is a 1+1⁄2-story structure with a gable roof punctuated by two dormer windows on the front façade. A pedimented portico supported by square columns covers the double entry door, which is surrounded by sidelights and a transom. Twelve-over-twelve sash windows sit on either side of the portico. The house has a center-hall plan with two rooms on either side. A one-story, shed-roofed addition projects from the rear of the house. In addition to the house, the complex also contains 14 buildings and structures constructed between 1850 and 1890, including an office, kitchen, cook's house, corn cribs, barn, gin house, tenant house, smokehouse, blacksmith shop, and the family cemetery.[3]
The house was listed on the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage in 1978 and the National Register of Historic Places in 1986.[1][2]
References edit
- ^ a b "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010. Retrieved February 21, 2015.
- ^ a b "The Alabama Register of Landmarks & Heritage". preserveala.org. Alabama Historical Commission. June 13, 2014. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 17, 2014. Retrieved February 21, 2015.
- ^ Qualls, Shirley D. (October 4, 1985). "Preuit Oaks". National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination Form. National Park Service. Archived (PDF) from the original on February 21, 2015. Retrieved February 21, 2015. See also: "Accompanying photos". Archived (PDF) from the original on February 21, 2015. Retrieved February 21, 2015.
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