Cedar Haven

Cedar Haven was a historic plantation house near Faunsdale, Alabama, rather than a commercial brand or operating company. The house was built in 1850 by Phillip J. Weaver, a prominent merchant and planter associated with Selma and the surrounding Alabama region. Its architecture followed the Greek Revival tradition and included a prominent two-story Doric tetrastyle portico, a feature that gave the residence much of its documented architectural significance. Weaver was born in Mifflintown, Pennsylvania, in 1797 and moved to Selma from Uniontown, Maryland, in 1818. He established a successful store in Selma and maintained a residence there while also developing his plantation interests. Weaver is also noted as the paternal grandfather of artist Clara Weaver Parrish. His broader local influence extended beyond the property: when residents of nearby Woodville sought a post office, the name Woodville was unavailable because it was already used by another Alabama community. Weaver proposed the name Uniontown, which became the enduring name of the town. Weaver was killed in Selma in 1865, reportedly by a Union soldier several months after Wilson's Raid on Selma. Ownership of Cedar Haven subsequently passed to John Davidson Alexander, who was born in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, in 1820 and died in 1901. After Alexander's death, the property was inherited by his son, Houston Alexander. The house was recognized as part of Alabama's historic architectural heritage when it was added to the National Register of Historic Places on July 13, 1993. Its listing formed part of the Plantation Houses of the Alabama Canebrake and Their Associated Outbuildings Multiple Property Submission. By 1995, however, the structure was already described as badly deteriorated. It was ultimately razed during the 2000s. Because Cedar Haven was a historic property and not a consumer-facing enterprise, there is no documented product portfolio, corporate ownership structure, brand strategy, executive team, or commercial market presence.

Cedar Haven was a Greek Revival plantation house located near Faunsdale in Alabama. It was constructed in 1850 for Phillip J. Weaver, a merchant and planter whose commercial and civic activities were centered largely in Selma. Weaver was born in Mifflintown, Pennsylvania, in 1797 and moved to Selma from Uniontown, Maryland, in 1818. He operated a successful store in Selma and maintained a home there while also holding plantation property. The residence was distinguished by a two-story Doric tetrastyle portico, reflecting the formal Greek Revival style used for many prominent antebellum homes in the American South. Weaver's local influence was also associated with the naming of Uniontown. When the nearby community of Woodville applied for a post office, residents found that the name was already assigned to another Alabama community. Weaver suggested Uniontown, the name that the town retained. Weaver was killed in Selma in 1865, reportedly by a Union soldier several months after Wilson's Raid on Selma. The property later came into the possession of John Davidson Alexander, who was born in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, in 1820 and died in 1901. Following Alexander's death, Cedar Haven passed by inheritance to his son, Houston Alexander. The house's architectural and historical importance was formally acknowledged on July 13, 1993, when Cedar Haven was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. The designation was made through the Plantation Houses of the Alabama Canebrake and Their Associated Outbuildings Multiple Property Submission, which grouped it with related historic plantation properties and outbuildings in the region. Recognition did not prevent the building's physical decline. By 1995, Cedar Haven was reported to be badly deteriorated. The house was demolished sometime in the 2000s. As a result, Cedar Haven survives primarily as a documented historic site and architectural subject rather than as an extant building, operating organization, or market-facing brand.

• 1995

  Severe deterioration documented

  [1]Cedar Havenen.wikipedia.org

  The house was described as already badly deteriorated.

• 1993

  National Register listing

  [1]Cedar Havenen.wikipedia.org

  Cedar Haven was listed on the National Register of Historic Places through a multiple-property submission covering plantation houses of the Alabama Canebrake.

• 1901

  Death of John Davidson Alexander

  [1]Cedar Havenen.wikipedia.org

  Following Alexander's death, ownership of Cedar Haven passed to his son, Houston Alexander.

• 1865

  Death of Phillip J. Weaver

  [1]Cedar Havenen.wikipedia.org

  Weaver was killed in Selma several months after Wilson's Raid on Selma, according to the historical account.

• 1850

  Cedar Haven constructed

  [1]Cedar Havenen.wikipedia.org

  Phillip J. Weaver built the Greek Revival plantation house near Faunsdale, Alabama.

• Demolition

  [1]Cedar Havenen.wikipedia.org

  Cedar Haven was razed during the 2000s.

Historic residential and plantation architecture; not a commercial brand.

1. 1Cedar Havenen.wikipedia.org