The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-05-21

ton is plainly seen in the plans where
the wide hall extends down the center
of the house, high ceilings being used ex-
clusively and large windows and door
openings always made.
There is record of only one architect
having practiced In Tuscaloosa during the
POS and '30s, this one being Nichels, an
Englishman brought here by the state TO
erect it's capitol and the buildings OF the
university. AS to the other houses here,
all so we'll built and many so well de-
signed--it is quite certain that they are
the products of their owners or builders.
These wel-educated men can be justly
elassed with builders such as Thomas
Jefferson and many others in Virginia,
and in the north as architectural enthu-
siasts. Besides being well versed In the
classics, they were men of travel; they
had seen the buildings of the Greek Re
yival recently erected in Europe; and nat
urally they wished to build for themselves
homes in this dignified style. And why
not? They were men or means. free
from the cares of business; slave carpen-
tiers and masons could be bought ana e1-
flcient white foremen could be employed
As to the buildings built by the archi-
tect Nichols we cannot fail to be pleased
with them from architectural stand
point His conception of plan and the
excellent design of his motives are the
things which seem most worthy OF COM
mendation. Much of his ornament seems
late English Georgian, especially In the
exterior of the old capitol, while the great
majority of his motives are of real Greek
origin Again, In the presidents man
sion at the university he has used 1tal-
ian Renaissance details. the details OF the
order used In the large front portieo be-
ing modelled after parts OF Palladio's
Basilca at Vicenza. The general scheme
for the university buildings was the same
as jefferson used for the University Oh
Virginia, with the exception that Nichols
rotunda was modelled after the Temple of
Vesta at Rivoi instead of the Pantheon,
the model used by Jefferson; and the
buildings to either side Were not connect
ed by covered WAYS as the buildings at
Virginia We're. Unluckly almost all OF
the university buildings. including the ro-
tunda were destroyed by fire during the
latter part of the civil war at the hands
of the federal troops. The president S
mansion was built along with the other
university buildings about 1S26-2S, and has
since always been the residence of each
succeeding president of the institution
The house Is Of brick. thick-walled-as
were all important southern houses Of
that date-the front walls and colunfns
covered with stucco--a cool. gray tint
given to the wall surfaces and light
warm yellow to the columns while the
canitals bases and entablature were
nainted white. The most interesting fea-
tire TO the house Is the cool sequestered
loggia under the main portico-a delight
ful stone paved retreat, where one during
the fhent of the day could find comfort
and secIusion Some very admirably de-
signed wrought-iron work may be found
in the balustrade to the portico balcony;
and the ratings to the ramp'ng entrance
stems leading up to the main story on
either side of the axis of the houNe.
Resides the Greek Revival houses in
Tuscaloosa we find number of old
homes which are survivors OF the Geor-
g;an If the two porch treatment and are
almost all built of wood. We can also
and many Georgian motives in the houses
which can be cassed distinctly Of the
Greek Revival. such things as doorways
stairways The Foster house Is perhaps
the hest OF the wooden-hlilt houses OF the
late Georgian in Tuscaloosa. although
the date of its erection. 1S29-3l. is rather
late for a house of this class. 1T has a
| dotbIe-st DRIED front portico which sug-
! costs SHIRLEY on the James river IN
| Virginia Tie pilasters at the corners
| Of the house and the entrance door are
| also distinctly Georgian motives This
| house was built by a DIR. Joshua Foster
| a veIl-educated man Of that time, who
MOS for a long time a professor In Ala
hama university In the drawing room
| ~ the Foster house are some very well
done frescoes, a form of decoration very
seldom seen in ante-bellum houses While
| fine front of this house Is Georgian, the
| rear betrays truly southern nature. for
the wide double-storied portico with large
Doric columns stretches the entire width
| of the house
The stllman house, only few blocks