Dublin Core
Title
James Martin House (Martin-Bounds House)
Subject
National Register of Historic Places; Architecture; Florence, AL
Description
The James Martin House was listed on the National Register in 1981 for its significance in architecture and its association with James Martin, an early Florence industrialist. The story and a half frame cottage was a common form in its time period (constructed around 1843) but overtime the numbers have diminished and the surviving Martin house is a notable example of the style. Other local examples include the Wood House on Wood Avenue and the Edward A. O’Neil House and the Abraham Dean House both on North Court Street.
The simple cottage form originally consisted of two rooms separated by a central hall and bracketed by exterior end brick chimneys. The interior woodwork is largely intact and has Federal style detailing mixed with some Greek Revival aspects. The original hall doors are exceptional for their Carpenter and Company locks. At the time of the National Register nomination in 1980 the house had a three room rear addition (construction date not known) and a three room addition on the west elevation which included 20th century partitioning and a kitchen and bathroom. A photo made in 2015 shows the rear addition in place but the western addition removed. The front Doric porch columns on the single bay pedimented porch were also replaced during that time period and reflect the older engaged fluted columns that flank the double front doors. The roof was also replaced with modern asphalt architectural shingles.
The cottage is also significant for its association with James Martin a leading businessman who first worked in the building trade and then in 1839 as a textile mill owner. Martin, in partnership with Levi Cassity, established the Globe Cotton Mill employing 150 people by 1844. The mill was located on Cypress Creek close to the Martins house. The mill burned in 1844 but was rebuilt by Martin with a new partner Samuel D. Weakley. The mill prospered and the company also operated a grist mill and sawmill. The site also included a mill village with housing, a day school, and church for the workers. In 1863 the mill site, but not the house, was burned by Federal troops. After an attempt to rebuild and the death of James Martin the mill site was sold to the Cypress Mill Company.
Information for this Omeka entry was obtained from the 1981 nomination. Due to the obvious changes in the exterior of the house and the early date of the nomination, the National Register listing could benefit from an update.
The simple cottage form originally consisted of two rooms separated by a central hall and bracketed by exterior end brick chimneys. The interior woodwork is largely intact and has Federal style detailing mixed with some Greek Revival aspects. The original hall doors are exceptional for their Carpenter and Company locks. At the time of the National Register nomination in 1980 the house had a three room rear addition (construction date not known) and a three room addition on the west elevation which included 20th century partitioning and a kitchen and bathroom. A photo made in 2015 shows the rear addition in place but the western addition removed. The front Doric porch columns on the single bay pedimented porch were also replaced during that time period and reflect the older engaged fluted columns that flank the double front doors. The roof was also replaced with modern asphalt architectural shingles.
The cottage is also significant for its association with James Martin a leading businessman who first worked in the building trade and then in 1839 as a textile mill owner. Martin, in partnership with Levi Cassity, established the Globe Cotton Mill employing 150 people by 1844. The mill was located on Cypress Creek close to the Martins house. The mill burned in 1844 but was rebuilt by Martin with a new partner Samuel D. Weakley. The mill prospered and the company also operated a grist mill and sawmill. The site also included a mill village with housing, a day school, and church for the workers. In 1863 the mill site, but not the house, was burned by Federal troops. After an attempt to rebuild and the death of James Martin the mill site was sold to the Cypress Mill Company.
Information for this Omeka entry was obtained from the 1981 nomination. Due to the obvious changes in the exterior of the house and the early date of the nomination, the National Register listing could benefit from an update.
Creator
Missy Brown, University of North Alabama
Source
Gamble, Robert. “James Martin House National Register of Historic Places nomination.” Montgomery: Alabama Historical Commission, 1981.
Publisher
Alabama Cultural Resource Survey
Date
1843-1860
Format
image
Still Image Item Type Metadata
Original Format
Photo