Downtown Ashville: More than a fare share of stately historic places
Plan to enjoy several amazing 19th-century structures in Ashville, all within a short walk of its striking white-washed courthouse.
As is the case in many of the downtowns I have visited since launching this site, I was pleasantly surprised by the scope of what I observed in a short amount of time. It was certainly more than I expected in a town as small as Ashville. With 20 photos, this page features some visual highlights that I captured during my sidewalk tour of the courthouse square and the surrounding blocks.
The county seat of St. Clair County, Ashville has seven old houses that are individually listed with the National Register of Historic Places. I found two of them very near to the courthouse square, and I believe one of them has been demolished. The remainder of them didn't fit into my plan to enjoy it all on foot. In addition, the multi-property Ashville Historic District was listed nationally in 2005. It consists of the courthouse, the commercial buildings that surround the courthouse, three churches, a library, a large number of houses including a couple of epic c. 1890 Queen Anne style beauties, a cemetery, a rock, and a few other structures.
Originally built in 1844, I believe the handsome white courthouse was St. Clair County’s first permanent courthouse. A log building was built in Ashville to temporarily house the court in 1822. Apparently, the 1844 building gained an addition in 1936 and another in 1950.
C. 1844 Courthouse
Most of the buildings that you’ll see on the square today were built in the 1920s. One exception, the c. 1825 Alemeth-Byers House — originally a hotel — is found on Court Street Square West.
Courthouse square gallery
Pictured, from top left: St. Clair County Courthouse, Court Street East, c. 1920s bank building on Court Street East, looking at Court Street East from 5th Avenue, c. 1930 First Baptist Church on 5th Avenue, c. 1825 Alemeth-Byers House, and c. 1902 bank building (right).
Facing the front of the courthouse, shady 5th Street South is home to some grand old houses including two that were built between 168 and 185 years ago.
The first one you come to is the c. 1852 Inzer House. It was listed with the National Register of Historic Places in 1973. Its six chimneys and large front portico are hard to miss. They seem unconventional for a one-story historic house, although it is an unusually tall one-story, and it has a basement. Some of the original outside buildings, including the detached kitchen, are still found in the back yard.
The next property to the south on the opposite side of the street you’ll find the c. 1835 Dr. James J. Bothwell House which was listed with the National Register in 1982. Additions to the house were built in 1852, 1882 and 1917, and it was restored in the 1980s.
Just south of the Bothwell House sits the c. 1890 Judge Elisha Robinson House. Listed with the National Register in 1991, the Queen Anne-style house stands out due to its wraparound front porch and fancy balcony and gable trim work.
C. 1890 Judge Elisha Robinson House
Another c. 1890 Queen Anne style with fancy balcony and gable trimwork, the Leroy Box House — along with the c. 1837 Byers-Prickett House — are found west of the courthouse. Some of the best streetscapes in downtown Ashville are possible at those two houses.
Shown, from top left: The c. 1837 Byers-Prickett House, followed by three snapshots of the c, 1890 Leroy Box House.
I visited one additional historic structure while I was in downtown Ashville. The c. 1858 Masonic Lodge was moved to 7th Avenue (the street sign at the corner of 5th Street South says “Museum Avenue”) in the park-like setting to the rear of the Inzer House.
C. 1858 Masonic Lodge
Two U.S. highways converge at the courthouse square, and I-59 is inside the city limits to the west, so traveling to downtown Ashville is simple from any city in the region.
See where Ashville ranks on the article, The top 25 downtowns in North Alabama.