Vintage Neighborhoods

by Dianne Bush
appeared in the Premier Issue of FUTURE Montgomery, Mar/Apr 2007

Abraham Lincoln once said, “The strength of a nation lies in the homes of its people.” Montgomery’s historic neighborhoods open the door to some of the City’s most significant architectural treasures.

These neighborhoods tell the story of a growing Southern city on the banks of the Alabama River, and give a glimpse of the dwelling places, culture and lifestyles of our ancestors. They reflect a bygone era when the pace of life was less hectic, and community spirit and togetherness were important. The homes within these neighborhoods are diverse in style and rich in architectural detail and artistry.

Cottage Hill

Montgomery’s oldest historic district, Cottage Hill, overlooks the Alabama River and the downtown business district. The proximity of this neighborhood to the Riverwalk and downtown makes it an ideal residential and business location. Designated a National Historic District in 1976, it is Montgomery’s oldest residential neighborhood and was built for prosperous middle class merchants. The homes are known for high ceilings, spacious rooms, wonderful porches, and intricate Victorian gingerbread detail. Today, you are invited to walk the tree-lined streets, enjoy the restored Victorian cottages and antebellum mansions, and get to know some of the friendly residents and business owners. You will be able to share the exuberance of those associated with the resurgence of our historic riverfront city and get a taste of why Cottage Hill is fast becoming Montgomery’s premier neighborhood.

Centennial Hill

The Centennial Hill community was the first predominently African-American neighborhood to develop in Montgomery after the Civil War. Through community awareness and involvement, this prestigious neighborhood is presently undergoing a revival. The neighborhood boasts some of Montgomery’s architectural gems, with Victorian homes and cottages, later shotgun houses, and early churches. The parsonage of the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church, where Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. lived, draws many international visitors each year. You can view the E.P Wallace, Tulane-Simmons and Adair houses on Union Street. The Jackson Community House, now the Montgomery City Federation of Women’s Clubs, is an important landmark in this neighborhood. To experience firsthand the efforts of residents to preserve their rich historical and cultural heritage, visit their outstanding community garden and the herb garden on Watts Street.

Capitol Heights

In the 1830s, the Capitol Heights neighborhood was part of the 200-acre Vickers Plantation. In 1903, part of the area east of the City of Montgomery was sold to Henry Davis, who dedicated a 100-foot wide strip through the land for the express purpose of building an electric railroad. This land gift to Montgomery County is now Madison Avenue, and the stipulation was that it would always be used for public transit. In 1904, James Pinkard and partners formed the Capitol Heights Development Company and broke the land into blocks and lots, calling the area Capitol Heights. Today, the neighborhood maintains much of its original character as a working class neighborhood. Many of the original families, including a number of Greek immigrants still live and worship in the neighborhood. The Capitol Heights Lions remain a symbol of this area as they guard the neighborhood along Madison Avenue. Louis Armstrong Park is a focal point for families to play and picnic. Many first time homeowners are drawn to this neighborhood and are restoring the Bungalow and Craftsman cottages to their original character.

Highland Park

In 1887, the Highland Park Improvement Company was formed, land was plotted and the City of Montgomery agreed to run the electric trolley down Highland Avenue. This was the first electric trolley in the Western Hemisphere. The Lightning Route was directly responsible for the first subdivision in Montgomery, then known as “Bungalow City”, where the houses were small, stained green, red, and brown and advertised as “Modern, and easy to heat and maintain.” Today the neighborhood features smaller Queen Anne, Craftsman, and Bungalow cottages. Focal points in the community include the elementary school and the community center. There are thriving local business, an art gallery and restaurants along the tree-lined Highland Avenue. Many of the homes have been in families for two and three generations. Preservation of the area as well as the awareness of its unique history and its future are the goals of the neighborhood association.

Cloverdale-Idlewild

The Cloverdale Idlewild neighborhood was platted in 1922 and purchased by John Haardt. Restrictions on the land included the stipulation that the land that was to be developed would be for residential use only. No buildings could be constructed within forty feet of the still existing Mastin Homeplace. None of the cedar, mock orange, sugarberry or other trees could be cut without prior approval. All structures had to face the street, with garages and servant’s buildings built behind the main house. This community seems to have been ahead of its time, enforcing many of the present day existing City codes. The neighborhood developed as a middle class area, featuring Bungalow and Cottage style homes as well as Tudor Revival style houses with high pitched roofs.

Today, the Cloverdale Idlewild neighborhood thrives with community spirit and revitalization. The annual 4th of July parade and Christmas caroling are highlights of the calendar year. The newly erected gazebo, surrounded by landscape plantings at the Cloverdale Bottom Park provides a perfect place for family and neighborhood gatherings.

Old Cloverdale

Old Cloverdale was part of a tract of land purchased in 1817 from the United States Government by William Graham. It was covered in virgin pine and was called “Graham’s Woods” or “The Pines.” In 1892, plans for the area were drawn and the name “Cloverdale” was chosen, as many of the open spaces were covered in clover. It is believed that Joseph Forsyth-Johnson, an English landscape architect, designed the area. In 1908 there were 10 houses, and by 1916 there were 125. Many of the homes were designed by leading Montgomery architects. Few neighborhoods can rival the scenic beauty that this neighborhood offers. The brick-paved streets around Cloverdale Park, with its majestic trees and sense of peace, hearken to an earlier age. The First Methodist Church offers the community a gathering place as well as a place of worship. The church has a wonderful new children’s playground that complements the architecture of the neighborhood. Visit the Fitzgerald Home and Museum. Enjoy the shops, art galleries, the Capri Theatre, bars and restaurants along Fairview Avenue and Cloverdale Road. Old Cloverdale has continued to thrive and retain its sense of neighborhood throughout the years. A strong neighborhood association has worked diligently to protect this impressive historic neighborhood.

Garden District

Montgomery’s Garden District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1984. Today it is an eclectic mix of styles and sizes of homes popular from the 1870’s to modern times. Frank Lockwood and B.B. Smith designed some of the homes in this area. The uniqueness of this neighborhood lies in the mixture of its architectural styles, which include Greek Revival, Queen Anne, Colonial Revival, Neoclassical, Eclectic, Craftsman, Prairie, and Bungalow. There are Arts and Crafts, Tudor, and Italianate influences. Homes range from modest to some of Montgomery’s grandest residences. The Governor’s Mansion is located within this district at 1142 South Perry Street. Stately churches are interspersed throughout the neighborhood. Ancient trees line the streets. An active neighborhood association invites you to tour the neighborhood and experience the diverse collection of fine nineteenth and twentieth century residences.

Thank you to the women and men who live in and who preserve the remarkable houses and neighborhoods which tell the story of historic Montgomery, Alabama. Thank you also to City officials and leaders for enacting a preservation ordinance and guidelines for protection of these locally designated historic neighborhoods.

Information for this article came from neighborhood websites, brochures and interviews.

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