Directions
PUT TEXT DIRECTIONS HERETo get to the LeRoy Pope Mansion from the back of the Walker House:
Continue through the lane and turn left at the end of the lane which is Echols Street.
Go down the hill to pause at the historical marker for the LeRoy Pope Mansion.
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Site Description
Pope House, ca. 1814
This display marks the LeRoy Pope House, 403 Echols, built in 1814. Can you see the stately columns through the trees? This is the oldest documented mansion in Huntsville and was built by the man considered to be the father of town.
LeRoy Pope and his friends were actively involved in the early political, economic and cultural development of town. Pope was so sure of his position, he renamed the town Twickenham after the name of the English country estate of Alexander Pope, the poet. This did not set well with the other settlers, who quickly had the name returned to Huntsville after their friend and comrade, John Hunt.
Pope choose this site on the highest hill, overlooking the growing community and he named the house Poplar Grove. The materials for its construction were brought down the Tennessee River from Chattanooga on flatboats to Ditto's Landing, Whitesburg, as we know it today, and then the material was transported the twelve miles to this location by wagons.
Here in May, 1814, Pope hosted a public dinner on the lawn for General Andrew Jackson and the soldiers returning from their triumph against the Creek Indians at the Battle of Horseshow Bend. The men were eager to return to their homes, but they lingered here one afternoon.
Can't you just see the tired soldiers, dust under foot, children running and cheering, a dog or two barking alongside.
A grateful village welcomed the victors who had saved them from the death at the hands of the dreaded Creek Indians. Now you might understand that old saying, "God willing and the Creeks don't rise," has nothing to do with water or rainfall.
Ah, that evening, speeches were made on the Square and the enlisted men were fed and toasted at the Bell Tavern. Jackson and his officers joined LeRoy Pope and a few of his friends, well, so many that they couldn't fit into the house, and festivities spilled onto the yard. Nineteen toasts were made in the twilight as a select crowd raised their glasses.
That evening, most likely on these grounds, were five men who would become Governor of the State, six men for whom counties were named and one man who would become President of the United States.
More Information
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Historic
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LeRoy
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Audio
History
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HJAC
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the History and Architecture of Huntsville,
visit
The Huntsville History Collection
or The Heritage Room at the
Huntsville-Madison County Public Library.
About
Huntsville History Tour
Thanks to:John Malone, Narrator,
Lite 96.9 WRSA
Jacque Reeves, Narrator
Nancy Rohr, Narrator
Nate "Adams" Cholevik, Producer,
Lite 96.9 WRSA
Deane Dayton, App Developer,
Huntsville History Collection
Narration & Tour Design © 2014
Huntsville Madison County
Convention & Visitors Bureau
500 Church Street NW, Suite One
Huntsville, AL 35801
800-Space-4-U (256-772-2348)
Huntsville.org
Web App & Images © 2014
Huntsville History Collection
HuntsvilleHistoryCollection.org
webmaster@huntsvillehistorycollection.org
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