Davidson-Smitherman House

The Davidson-Smitherman House, also known as the Davidson Plantation, is a historic plantation house in Centreville, Bibb County, Alabama. It is a privately associated historic property rather than a conventional commercial brand, and its significance derives from its architecture, connection to the early development of Centreville, and association with prominent local families. The house was constructed in 1837 for Samuel Wilson Davidson, who had moved from North Carolina to the area in 1819. Davidson became one of the earliest purchasers of lots along the east bank of the Cahaba River in the settlement that developed into Centreville. Over time, he assembled a plantation of more than 2,000 acres. Historical records identify him as a major planter and, by 1860, the wealthiest citizen in the surrounding area. The property's history is inseparable from the institution of slavery: Davidson enslaved 98 people in 1850, and the plantation's agricultural wealth was produced within that system. A formerly enslaved member of the Davidson family, Henry Damon Davidson, was born on the property in 1869, adding another important dimension to the site's historical record. The property remained with the Davidson family until 1869, when it was acquired by Thomas and Betty Smitherman. Thomas Smitherman was a prominent local attorney, and descendants of the Smitherman family retained the house for many decades. In the twentieth century, ownership passed through William E. Henderson, Charles L. Hollinsworth, and Gladys Pittman Leggett. The property was sold to Henderson in 1963, transferred to Hollinsworth in 1965, and acquired by Leggett in 1972. The current owner and present operating arrangements are not identified in the supplied reference material. Architecturally, the Davidson-Smitherman House is a two-and-a-half-story Federal-style, wood-frame residence set over a full brick basement. It has three-bay front and rear elevations, twelve-over-twelve sash windows on the first floor, and twelve-over-eight windows on the upper floor. A full-width, two-level front porch with decorative brackets is complemented by a one-story rear porch. The interior follows a central-hall plan with a reverse-flight staircase and retains Federal-style mantels, wainscoting, and heart-pine flooring. The house is described as one of only two surviving antebellum houses of particular importance in Bibb County and as one of the two earliest and least altered houses built in Centreville by builders George Howard and Enoch Carson. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on January 6, 1988. Its heritage value therefore rests not on products or commercial activity, but on the preservation of an early Centreville residence, its architectural integrity, and the complex social and economic history of the Davidson and Smitherman families and the enslaved people connected with the property.

The Davidson-Smitherman House was built in 1837 for Samuel Wilson Davidson, a North Carolina native who had settled in the region in 1819. The area was then part of Cahaba County, the earlier name for Bibb County. Davidson was among the first purchasers of lots along the Cahaba River's east bank in the settlement that became Centreville, acquiring property there in 1823. His holdings later expanded into a plantation of more than 2,000 acres. Davidson's position reflected the region's antebellum agricultural economy and its dependence on enslaved labor. Records indicate that his real estate was valued at $12,000 in 1850 and that he enslaved 98 people that year. By 1860, he was regarded as the area's most substantial planter and wealthiest resident. He died in 1863. The property's history also includes the birth of Henry Damon Davidson in 1869; his family had previously been enslaved on the property. In 1869, the house left the Davidson family when Thomas and Betty Smitherman purchased it. Thomas Smitherman was a prominent local attorney, and the Smitherman family maintained a connection with the property through later generations. The house remained associated with Smitherman descendants until its twentieth-century transfers. William E. Henderson acquired it in 1963, sold it to Charles L. Hollinsworth in 1965, and Hollinsworth sold it to Gladys Pittman Leggett in 1972. The residence is architecturally important because it is a two-and-a-half-story Federal-style house that retains substantial historic character. The wood-frame building stands above a full brick basement and uses a center-hall interior plan. Its front and rear elevations each have three bays. The first-floor windows are twelve-over-twelve sash units, while the upper floor uses twelve-over-eight sash windows. The two-level front porch and the one-level rear porch feature decorative brackets. Interior features include Federal-style mantels, wainscoting, a reverse-flight staircase, and heart-pine floors. George Howard and Enoch Carson, identified as leading early builders in Centreville, are associated with the house's construction. The building is considered one of the county's two best surviving antebellum houses and one of the two earliest and least altered houses erected in Centreville. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on January 6, 1988. The available material does not establish its current owner, public accessibility, preservation organization, or present use.

• 1988

  Listed on the National Register of Historic Places

  [1]Davidson–Smitherman Houseen.wikipedia.org

  The Davidson-Smitherman House was added to the National Register of Historic Places on January 6, 1988.

• 1972

  Gladys Pittman Leggett acquires the house

  [1]Davidson–Smitherman Houseen.wikipedia.org

  Charles L. Hollinsworth sold the property to Gladys Pittman Leggett.

• 1965

  Property transferred to Charles L. Hollinsworth

  [1]Davidson–Smitherman Houseen.wikipedia.org

  William E. Henderson sold the historic house to Charles L. Hollinsworth.

• 1963

  William E. Henderson acquires the property

  [1]Davidson–Smitherman Houseen.wikipedia.org

  After remaining with Smitherman descendants for generations, the property was sold to William E. Henderson.

• 1869

  Property passes to the Smitherman family

  [1]Davidson–Smitherman Houseen.wikipedia.org

  Thomas and Betty Smitherman purchased the house from the Davidson family. Henry Damon Davidson was also born on the property that year; his family had been enslaved there.

• 1863

  Samuel Wilson Davidson dies

  [1]Davidson–Smitherman Houseen.wikipedia.org

  Davidson died after becoming the area's leading planter and wealthiest citizen.

• 1837

  House constructed

  [1]Davidson–Smitherman Houseen.wikipedia.org

  The Federal-style residence was built for Samuel Wilson Davidson, reportedly by Centreville builders George Howard and Enoch Carson.

• 1823

  Davidson acquires land near the future Centreville

  [1]Davidson–Smitherman Houseen.wikipedia.org

  Davidson became one of the first purchasers of lots along the east bank of the Cahaba River in the settlement that developed into Centreville.

• 1819

  Samuel Wilson Davidson settles in the area

  [1]Davidson–Smitherman Houseen.wikipedia.org

  Samuel Wilson Davidson, originally from North Carolina, settled in what was then Cahaba County, later Bibb County, Alabama.

A preserved historic residential landmark and architectural heritage property associated with antebellum Centreville, Alabama.

1. 1Davidson–Smitherman Houseen.wikipedia.org