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Other Names: Dearing-Bagby House/Governor’s Mansion 421 Queen City Avenue Tuscaloosa, AL ca. 1834

Many know that April 3, 1865, was the day that General John T. Croxton and Union troops arrived in Tuscaloosa to burn the University of Alabama campus. Their mission was to destroy Tuscaloosa’s factories and ironworks. They were also to burn the University of Alabama. It was a training center for Confederate cadets (young military students). However, many may not know that April 3, 1865, was also the day Miss Emily Leach married Captain James Slaughter Carpenter, C.S.A., in Tuscaloosa. The wedding date had been set for April 6, three days later, but he simply could not wait. Why is this interesting/important??? BECAUSE……. Croxton’s troops arrived at the bridge over the Black Warrior River at Northport on the evening of April 3. Croxton sent a small group of volunteers to reconnoiter, but they discovered Confederate forces already beginning to remove the span's flooring. They found 14 men taking up the bridge’s floor planks to prevent anyone from advancing into Tuscaloosa. Croxton ordered his men to capture the bridge, which they accomplished after a brief firefight with Confederate sentries. The Union force then moved into Tuscaloosa around 10-11 PM, entering a very dark town. The only lights and sounds came from the Jemison Mansion, where a wedding had just ended…….. 🗨️SIDE NOTE ABOUT THE JEMISON MANSION: While building the mansion, Senator Jemison called for a modern furnace to heat the entire house, but the war intervened before it could be installed. Jemison did succeed in lighting his own house with piped gas. Thus, it was brightly lit in an otherwise dark town, which attracted Croxton's raiders to the wedding party that fateful April 1865 night. When it was built (1859-1861), the house boasted some of the state's most luxurious features, like running water, flushable toilets, and even a copper bathtub. —————————— back to why this is interesting/important It was the brightly lit Jemison Mansion (Cherokee Place), in an otherwise dark town, that attracted Croxton’s raiders to the wedding party that fateful night. According to local folklore, Union soldiers burst in and went straight for the wedding cake before taking the groom, Capt. James Carpenter, prisoner, and sending him back to Gen. Croxton’s headquarters. Carpenter was granted leave to properly say goodbye to his new wife; some believe he helped raise the alarm on the UA campus while on this reprieve. This wedding went down in history, as it was a scene in the 1916 Pageant of Tuscaloosa—Centennial Celebration. Episode 6 reenacted Miss Emily Leach's wedding to Captain James Carpenter in 1865. Croxton's Raiders interrupted the wedding and festivities and took the groom. General Croxton allowed him to return to the bride once he recognized Carpenter as a former school friend since they were both from Lexington, Kentucky. The next day, on April 4, Croxton’s troops burned all but three university buildings. They were in Tuscaloosa for an odd 40 hours. After the war, the U.S. Congress gave the University of Alabama public lands to pay for the damages. If you visit the Jemison Mansion today, you can view a piece of their wedding China that Miss Emily Leach and Capt. Carpenter used that day. 📜 To see the details of the interrupted wedding, view the 1916 Pageant of Tuscaloosa Program on our website ⬇️ https://www.historictuscaloosa.org/post/the-pageant-of-tuscaloosa About the wedding — On April 3rd, 1865 On Greensboro Avenue, he encountered Miss Mary Matthews and her companion, both close friends of his intended bride. “I cannot stay,” Captain Carpenter explained, “but I am afraid that I cannot come back. Times are so precarious, so our marriage must take place right now.” And then he added, “By the way, where does Em live?” “Em” was Emily Leach, the daughter of Dr. Sewell J. Leach, a Tuscaloosa physician and businessman. She had met Carpenter while visiting Demopolis, and romance had blossomed. Now, her betrothed was at her doorstep, imploring her to marry him that very evening. She agreed. The Leach household turned topsy-turvy. Everything had to be ready immediately. Guests and relatives had to be notified, the house had to be decorated, and a wedding supper had to be prepared. Nevertheless, when the guests arrived that night at 8:30, all was ready. The ceremony was a handsome affair with Miss Matthews as one of the bridesmaids. Afterwards came the wedding supper, and when someone began playing the piano, the bride and groom led the others in a cotillion. The dancing ended when Mrs. Leach, mother of the bride, called out in a cheery voice, “Make way for the bride’s cake. Let us cut for the ring and see whose wedding we shall next attend.”     The following details of the event were extracted from a document compiled by Mathew W. Clinton, President of the Tuscaloosa, Alabama, Historical Society, dated April 1965, entitled “The Federal Invasion of Tuscaloosa, 1865.” “There was a romantic side to it all, for the romance did not die when war came to the land; in fact it flowered in full bloom all through the dark days. Tuscaloosa was in a romantic state of mind that day for the reason that there was to be a wedding that night in one of the best homes in town.  Miss Emily Leach, daughter of Dr. Sewell J. Leach, was to be married to Captain James S. Carpenter, a gallant young confederate soldier from Kentucky, then on duty at Demopolis.  Invitations had been issued and an elaborate “war time” supper was being prepared. All society was in a state of excitement and anticipation, and for the moment they forgot their many troubles, and there was no fear in the minds of the people, as they prepared their shabby finery for the night’s great event, which was to take place at 8 o’clock.   Dr. Leach’s home was on Fourth Street and only two blocks from the top of the river hill.  There were then several other fine homes in the neighborhood and these were naturally the first places to be visited by the hungry and loot-seeking raiders, who were even then silently drawing nearer and nearer.  Soon after dark, the entire street from one end to the other was filled with the carriages and buggies of the assembled guests.   The wedding ceremony was performed at 8 o’clock by Reverend Phillip Fitts, a relative of the bride.  Young Tom Leach, only a boy soldier, just home from the battle of Nashville, with two old felt hats tied around his partly-frozen feet, a brother of the bride, was present.  He had carried the colors, and having them shot from the staff, he hid the precious colors in his shirt and brought them home.  This Confederate battle flag became the central motif of the decorations, being draped from the central chandelier under which the bride and groom stood as they were being wed.   Captain Carpenter was dressed in his best Confederate uniform, and his attendants, all soldiers on leave or local duty, were uniformed.  The bridesmaids, all dressed in borrowed finery, were: Misses Mary and Laura Matthews, Belle Woodruff, a local beauty, Louella Cochrane, Alice Stafford, Lydia Peck and Mollie Fink of Selma, Alabama. Miss Mary Matthews, who later became Mrs. Force of Selma, and who served that city as postmistress for many years, wrote, in her later years, a most gripping and romantic story of the wedding and it was from this and local stories that the account of this social affair has been documented and can be considered authentic. Following the ceremony, an elegant dinner, considering the times, was served. The ladies were served first, and as was the custom, the men were left in the dining room for the drinks, such as they were.  The ladies repaired to the parlors where they engaged in singing wartime songs.  As the men drifted in, the couples paired off for dancing, and by nine o’clock happiness reigned supreme with never a thought of trouble.  Suddenly firing was heard in the distance, down towards the bridge, and instantly every face blanched with fear and dread; only too well they knew what it might mean. They knew right then that the war had at last come to Tuscaloosa.  Much excitement was apparent in the street outside, and as much inside.  Valuables were hastily removed and hidden, the men passing their watches to the ladies who placed them in their slippers and beneath their garters, while their capacious bustles were stuffed with other valuables.  A negro slave snatched the confederate flag from the chandelier and stuck it in the kitchen stove, a most thoughtful act. The street was in an uproar, and the firing was increasing and drawing nearer and soon bullets were heard striking the walls of the house.  The men might have escaped to the deep gulley in the rear, but they chose to remain with the ladies for whatever protection they might afford.  One of them, just out of prison, bemoaned the fact that he would have to return to its horrors.  One fellow hid under the back steps but a vicious dog ran him back indoors. Dr. and Mrs. Leach remained calm under it all, and comforted their guests as best they could.  The bride and her maids repaired to the upstairs, where they tried to comfort her in her distress.  The men decided to surrender as resistance would have been useless, and would have brought on more serious trouble.  One young lady attempted to leave by the front door and the first soldier to come on the porch fired at her, but Mrs. Leach, who had followed her out, managed to throw the gun up and no one was hurt.  The enemy swarmed in in a short while, first placing all the men under arrest except Dr. Leach, who was an old man and in a low state of health. Following this they demanded food. Mrs. Leach graciously served them what was left, much to the disgust of the negroes.  She apologized that she had no wine to serve them.  Then the looting began, which continued all through the night and they made a clean job of it.  Herding the men together, they prepared to take them across to the camp over the river. Captain Carpenter pleaded for the right to say farewell to his bride, and with a guard he was allowed to go upstairs, where he took a hasty, if tearful, farewell less than an hour after his marriage.  Leaving the room, blinded with tears, he stumbled and fell down the steps, to the amusement of his captors.  He was carried away and across to Newport.  It is said that after reaching camp, Captain Carpenter was recognized by an old school mate, and he persuaded General Croxton to allow him to return to his bride under promise that he would not attempt to escape.  He later returned to the camp and remained a prisoner for several days, being later paroled and allowed his freedom.”

Historic Tuscaloosa has been preserving and promoting Tuscaloosa County’s historic resources since 1966. A non-profit organization, the society's mission is to develop an awareness and appreciation of the historical and cultural heritage of our community Welcome to historic tuscaloosa Become a Sponsor We are seeking sponsors to help make this event successful and to meet our fundraising goals. This is also an excellent opportunity to share these beautiful structures with supporters of historical preservation in our county. We would be honored by your sponsorship of this unique event. The funds raised will benefit not only Tuscaloosa County residents but visitors to our city as well by helping to fund projects that are necessary for the preservation of the structures that Historic Tuscaloosa oversees which are the Battle-Friedman House and Gardens, the Jemison-Van de Graaff Mansion, the McGuire-Strickland Home, The Murphy-Collins Home (Murphy African American Museum) and the Old Tavern. To become a sponsor, call our office at 205-758-2238 or email info@historictuscaloosa.org More Information Welcome Historic Tuscaloosa hopes you will find this site both useful and entertaining. It is designed to serve as a guide for visitors to Tuscaloosa County, as an introduction to discovering the county's history, and as an educational tool and resource center. We invite you to learn more about our colorful past and discover what makes Tuscaloosa County a special place. Read More Who We Are Who we are Historic Tuscaloosa is a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving the Tuscaloosa area's heritage. Founded in 1966, the Society's mission is to develop an awareness and appreciation of the historical and cultural heritage of our community. We operate and maintain five historical landmarks: The Old Tavern Battle-Friedman House Jemison- Van de Graaff Mansion McGuire-Strickland House Murphy African-American Museum Learn More What we do Preserve Tuscaloosa Saving Tuscaloosa's history for future generations one building at a time. Protecting, preserving, and reviving our city's historic sites is one of our main missions. Read More Educate Citizens From school tours to local lecture series, we're focused on bringing the past back-to-life in fun and interesting ways for both today's and tomorrow's leaders. Read More Keep History Alive Record-keepers, archivists, and history nerds. We preserve more than just buildings. Visit our archive library in person or through our collaborative virtual site. Read More Local Involvement With everything from annual open houses, to graveyard tours, to regional sightseeing trips, we stay involved with our members and the local community. Read More Private Events Our historical buildings are a great location for your next event! Support our mission and help keep our buildings alive by booking a party at one of our venues. Three of our renowned homes are available for rent: The Old Tavern is a quaint venue, perfect for small groups or intimate gatherings. Our Battle-Friedman House and Gardens are splendid both inside and out for weddings, parties, ladies' lunches, meetings, and networking events. The Jemison- Van de Graaff Mansion is our largest and most versatile location, ideal for every type of event. We'd love to be a part of your gathering! Historic Tuscaloosa operates as a non-profit organization. The funds acquired from event rentals goes right back into maintaining & preserving these historical landmarks. We thank you and others for choosing to support not just your vision, but also ours. Learn More

Learn more about Historic Tuscaloosa's property, the Jemison-Van de Graaff Mansion. The Jemison-Van de Graaff Mansion has been listed in the National Register as a historic site. Historic Site: Jemison-Van de Graaff Mansion 1305 Greensboro Avenue Tuscaloosa, AL 35403 Brief History The Jemison-Van de Graaff Mansion was constructed by state senator Robert Jemison, Jr. between 1859-1862. Being a prominent politician and businessman, Jemison wanted a home closer to Tuscaloosa, which had served as the state capital from 1826 to 1846. Jemison originally built this mansion for entertaining and housing visiting colleagues. The Jemison’s spared no expense creating this state-of-the-art city home. 14 different types of wood were used in the construction of the house. All but two came through Jemison Land Holdings. He wanted to showcase not only his personal wealth but also the wealth of the region. This house, Jemison’s weekend house, cost him $89,000 to build. The state of Alabama spent $50,000 building the state capital building, and that was for the land, materials, labor, and so forth. Jemison did not pay for the labor. He did not buy the materials. He obtained them from his own mill and land companies. Jemison spent almost twice the amount it took for the state capitol building just in the frills. The Italianate-style house was designed by Philadelphia architect John Stewart who was in Tuscaloosa supervising the construction of Bryce Hospital. The Jemison home incorporated the latest innovations in design and technology including an elaborate plumbing system that included running water, flush toilets, and a copper bathtub; a large conservatory to be warmed by a central heating plant (which was never installed due to the Yankee blockade) and indoor lighting fueled by coal gas manufactured in a machine located in the basement. Other modern features incorporated in the design were a boiler for producing hot water, a gas stove, an early form of “refrigerator” and a dumb waiter from the basement kitchen to the pantry located above. The Jemison Mansion had the first built-in bathtub in the state. It was also the first house built with an indoor toilet as well. The home remained in the family well into this century. Four generations of Jemison’s and Van de Graff's have lived in the home carrying on the tradition of service to the community and the University. Among them are Colonel Andrew Coleman Hargrove, the Confederate Army Office and one-time dean of the University Law School who married Jemison's daughter Cherokee Mims Jemison. Their daughter, Minnie Cherokee Hargrove married A.S. Van de Graff, a circuit court judge. After the Van de Graaff’s sold the house in 1936, the mansion was used as an apartment complex for numerous years. The mansion saw its second set of owners in 1945 when the home was purchased by J.P. & Nell Burchfield. They returned it to a single-family residence and made some major renovations. Mrs. Burchfield painted everything white and green and added a few modern touches, as well. The structure was in danger of being demolished in 1955, at which time, Hugo Friedman (Battle-Friedman Home) bought the mansion and presented it to the Tuscaloosa County Commission to be used as a public library. Between 1955-1957, the structure was renovated to meet the needs of a public library. The house served a generation of Tuscaloosans as the Friedman Public Library before it once again returned to private hands. In 1979, Gray Boone purchased the property to serve as offices for Antique Monthly, with expectations that the house be restored, preserved, and maintained. The house was jointly purchased August 8, 1991, by Historic Tuscaloosa (TCPS) and the Heritage Commission of Tuscaloosa County with block grant funds made available by the City of Tuscaloosa. Significant People of the Mansion Senator Jemison was not the only important historical figure in this family. Colonel Andrew Hargrove , the senator's son-in-law, was originally a colonel in the Civil War, but went on to be Speaker of the Alabama House and dean of the UA Law School. Hargrove's grandsons also went on to make names for themselves. Jemison served in the Alabama state legislature, initially in the Senate and then in the House, from 1840-1851. He returned to the Senate from 1851-1863. In 1861, he was a Delegate to the Convention and voted against the Ordinance of Secession. He was elected unanimously to be President of the Alabama Senate in 1863; soon after, he was elected to the Confederate States Senate, replacing William Lowndes Yancey, who had died of a kidney ailment. Jemison owned multiple businesses. A primary source of capital was his plantations. His papers show that he owned 120 slaves in 1851, including 44 children under the age of 10. He owned six plantations in western Alabama, totaling 10,000 acres. In 1858, he attempted to sell the plantations, 70 slaves and other land in Tuscaloosa, including another residence, a livery stable and the Indian Queen Hotel. Jemison's other ventures included a stagecoach line, toll roads, toll bridges, grist mills, sawmills, turnpikes, stables, a hotel, and plank roads. His largest enterprise was a 4,000-acre Cherokee Place plantation in what is now Northport where he lived before building the Jemison-Van de Graaff Mansion in Tuscaloosa. Jemison advocated for the creation of a state-owned mental hospital which eventually became Bryce Hospital, and hired the same Philadelphia architectural firm to design both his private Tuscaloosa mansion and the hospital. After the Civil War, Jemison's wealth was significantly diminished, and eventually he lost his family mansion due to debt. One of his businesses was the Tuscaloosa Bridge Company. It built two of the first covered bridges across the Black Warrior River. Jemison hired Horace King, a skilled multiracial enslaved person from Russell County to build bridges in eastern Mississippi. King became one of the most respected bridge designers and builders in the Deep South. In 1846, Jemison, along with King's owner, John Godwin, obtained his freedom through an act of the Alabama Legislature, which exempted King from the manumission laws. King built the last covered bridge at Tuscaloosa and Northport over the Black Warrior in 1872 just a few months after Jemison's death on October 16, 1871. Jemison made an arrangement with Tuscaloosa County for King to build the bridge and this bridge was the first of many that the county would build. William Van de Graaff was Alabama's first All-American football player and his brother, Robert Van de Graaff was a brilliant physicist most well-known for his invention of the Van de Graaff Generator. Robert Van de Graaff's accomplishments led to his legacy in the science community as the Father of Modern Physics. Learn more about the amazing people who called this mansion home on one of our free-to-the-public tours! Visit the Mansion The Mansion is available for historic tours Tuesday-Saturday at 3:30pm. Group and school tours are also available by calling or emailing Historic Tuscaloosa 205-758-2238 info@historictuscaloosa.org Tour Virtually Tour in Person What They’re Saying About Us Want to add a review from your trip to see the Jemison-Van de Graaff Mansion? Leave your review for us on our Trip Advisor page. Review Us STACY S. A History Buff's Dream. Grounds and house are beautifully done and well worth the visit. The historical background is excellent. DEBBIE K. Welcomed at the door as if we were family. The docent explained all the rooms and was very amenable to questions. Take the time to look at everything. The second floor has the first copper tub in the state. I can't imagine polishing it! The whole place is wonderful and I can picture a houseful of children and teenagers inhabiting it with their parents. A MUST when you are in Tuscaloosa! J. RUNDLES Step back in Time: Beautifully maintained, historically accurate, wonderfully friendly staff. A Tuscaloosa must-see treasure. Peek Inside Want to see more of the Mansion before you visit? Check out the video below for some beautiful footage and fun facts about the Jemison-Van de Graaff Mansion. Jemison-Van de Graaff Mansion Play Video Facebook Twitter Pinterest Tumblr Copy Link Link Copied

Ramble Columbus, MS 2022 Saturday August 13, Historic Tuscaloosa rambled on over to Columbus, MS, to view a marvelous lineup of historic homes. Properties included Temple Heights (1837), Riverview Mansion (1847), Whitehall Mansion (1843), and Historic Rosedale (1855).