Directions
To get to the Weeden House from First Presbyterian Church:
Continue down Gates Avenue.
Stop across the street from the Weeden House at 300 Gates Avenue.
An Historical Marker on the corner marks the location of the house.
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Site Description
Howard Weeden House Museum, ca. 1819
The Weeden House is a wonderful example of Federal Style, austere looking as it seems to us today. Isn't that fan light over the door beautiful?
It also started simply, now, the house, with two rooms downstairs, two rooms added later over those and connected with stairs. Then, when the owners acquired more money, the center hallway was kept as the central doorway and two more bays were added to balance the appearance.
You will notice the line in the front, here, the Federal Style house, where the additions were made.
We will never know what the builder Henry Bradford in 1819 intended next. During the great depression of 1820, he forged the signature of six businessmen in town and was found out. He fled to Tennessee, caught, brought back and put in jail until his brothers paid his bill. Mr. Bradford quietly decided to settle elsewhere, in Arkansas.
The next owner was John McKinley, who later became an Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court.
From 1845 until 1956, the Weeden family owned the home, and its most notable resident was Maria Howard Weeden.
Maria Howard Weeden was a noted artist and poet. After the Civil War she sold her work as a way to support the family and she gained national recognition for her portrayal of freed slaves.
Howard was near-sighted and used a paint brush with only three bristles. For this reason her paintings had amazing detail and clarity.
One of her paintings was of former slave Bartley Harris, who was the minister of a congregation of slaves that met in a building near the old Georgia Graveyard off of present-day Governors Drive. Reverend Harris was an honorable man and after the Civil War, President Ulysses S Grant appropriated money to rebuild the church that had been burned down by Union soldiers who occupied Huntsville during the Civil War. The congregation named the Church in honor of their minister and St. Bartley Primitive Baptist Church is today a large and growing church.
Miss Weeden wrote beautifully about her friends and her community. One of her short pieces is particularly timely today. You may not see her sensitive eyes behind her spectacles, but you may still hear her voice as you pass.
Hard Worked
Old man with a sweet black, patient face, pray tell me about your life. It has had its many griefs, I'm sure, and its noble work and strife.
Yes sir. That's right. In slavery times my business used to be to hunt ol' master's specs and that did surely pester me.
Since freedoms come, I've had a load of politics to tote, for if you does it right, it takes all your strength to vote.
The Weeden House is open to the public for tours. Please request days and times for the tours at the Huntsville-Madison County Visitor's Center, or call the Weeden House at area code 256 536-7718.
More Information
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Historic
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Maria
Howard
Weeden -
Howard
Weeden
Painting -
Howard
Weeden
Painting -
HJAC
Exterior
1951
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HJAC
Exterior
1972 -
HJAC
Exterior
1997 -
HABS
Exterior
1934
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HABS
Interior
1934 -
HABS
Interior
1934 -
HABS
Interior
1934 -
HABS
Interior
1934 -
HABS
Interior
1934 -
HABS
Interior
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HABS
Interior
1934 -
HABS
Drawing
1934 -
HABS
Drawing
1934 -
HABS
Drawing
1934 -
HABS
Drawing
1934 -
Historic
Marker -
St. Bartley Church 
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St. Bartley Church
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)
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Web App & Images © 2014
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