Forks of Cypress, the main house in 1935.
James Jackson
Forks of Cypress was a plantation and Greek Revival plantation house near Florence in Lauderdale County, Alabama. It was designed by architect William Nichols for James Jackson and his wife, Sally Moore Jackson. Construction was completed in 1830. It was the only Greek Revival house in Alabama to feature a two-story colonnade around the entire house, composed of twenty-four Ionic columns. The name was derived from the fact that Big Cypress Creek and Little Cypress Creek border the plantation and converge near the site of the main house. Although the main house was destroyed by fire in 1966, the site was placed on the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage on April 14, 1992 and the National Register of Historic Places on October 10, 1997.
History:
James Jackson was born October 25, 1782 in Ballybay, County Monaghan, Ireland. Jackson moved to Alabama from Nashville, Tennessee in 1818. From 1822 onward he was active in state politics and served in both houses of the Alabama Legislature. In 1830, Jackson was named president of the Alabama Senate.Interior View Of House
Mantle In First Floor Parlor
In the 1820's and 30's, James Jackson, an avid horseman, imported a dozen or more English thoroughbreds for breeding his own horses and in an effort to improve the overall bloodstock of the American thoroughbred. He was eminently successful in the effort particularly with three of his imports, Leviathan in 1830, and Gallapade in 1835 and Glencoe in 1836. American turf historian John Hervey rates James Jackson as "the most successful importer in the history of the American thoroughbred". James Jackson died on August 17, 1840 and was buried in the family cemetery, near the plantation house. His widow was the executor of his will and, on October 9, 1840, made bond in the amount of $400,000. The will of James Jackson, recorded September 15, 1840 at the Lauderdale County Court House, directed his nephew Thomas Kirkman to manage a trust which would control and gradually sell off the racehorses, a duty Kirkman completed in 1848, with the sale of Glencoe.
The Jackson Home Erected In 1820
Land Plat of Jackson Home
South Elevation
Blueprint Elevations
Foundation And Basement Views
First Floor Plan
Attic And Roof Plan
Longitudinal Section And Cross Section
Molding And Woodwork Plans
Profile Thru Entablature
Detail And Main Stairs
Front South Elevation A. And B.
Mantels Of Home
Smoke House Plans
Cabin And Outhouse Plans
Cemetery And Sorghum Trough
Second Floor Plan
Front Elevation
Rear Elevation
Left Side Elevation West
During the American Civil War invading Union forces used the lands of the Forks as a base camp. At this time the farm was owned by James' widow, Sarah Jackson. Additionally, some of writer Alex Haley's ancestors were slaves on this plantation, which provides a setting for much of his book, Queen: The Story of an American Family. Hugh Scott owned the Forks of Cypress in 1935 and by the 1940's sold the plantation to Rufus B. Dowdy (1897-1980) who restored the house and grounds. On June 6, 1966, the plantation house was struck by lightning and burned to the ground.
Old Slave House on Property
It was never rebuilt but the Dowdy family carefully preserved the brick pillars, still standing in picturesque ruin, as well as the original log house, several outbuildings and the Jackson family cemetery.
A near replica of the main house was built in 1983 in downtown Florence, Alabama at 321 N. Seminary Street and is 5 miles (8.0 km) away from the original site. The replica serves as a Regions Bank branch.
In addition to the Regions Bank replica, another replica of the Forks of Cypress was built in 2005. It is located near the Historic Natchez Trace Parkway in western Lauderdale County, Alabama approximately 16 miles west of Florence. This building is a private residence and it is not open to the public.
Smokehouse
VINTAGE VIEW OF FORKS OF CYPRESS PLANTATION: Early 20th century postcard view depicting the James Jackson Plantation near Florence, Alabama.
External Links:
Forks Of Cypress Plantation Site
History Of The Shoals
The Antebellum Period
The Civil War
Florence, AL History
Forks Of Cypress Plantation Tour in Florence Alabama
Facebook Page / Forks of Cypress
Tales Of The OSPC
Forks Of Cypress Flicker Photos
Roadside America Article on Forks Of Cypress
Alex Haley's Paternal grandmother born at Forks of Cypress
Photo's Of Forks Of Cypress Plantation by Library of Congress
Photo's on Pinterest.com
One State Two Boys BloggerWisconson History.org
Ghosts Of Grandeur
TimesDaily.com
people.tribe.net
YarbroughandAssociates
Cardcow.com
genealogytrails.com
Cypress Alley private home built to look like Forks of Cypress
Alabama Historical Slavery Plantations
Irregular Ramblings of a Regular Guy Blog
Historical Marker Database HMdb.org
Source: Internet