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< Back Five historic homes to visit in Tuscaloosa area https://www.tuscaloosanews.com/story/news/local/2016/12/27/five-historic-homes-to-visit-in-tuscaloosa-area/22982154007/ Previous Next

< Back William Hawkins Executive Director will@historictuscaloosa.org 205-523-2166

Historical Information About The Battle-Friedman House & Gardens. Battle-Friedman House 1010 Greensboro Avenue Tuscaloosa, AL 35401 Brief History In 1835, Alfred Battle, a wealthy plantation owner and railroad financier, constructed this weekend townhouse in, what was then Alabama's state capitol, Tuscaloosa. Battle felt having a nearby home to the capital would give him an opportunity to entertain and influence legislatures. The capitol shortly moved to Montgomery in 1846, but Battle remained within the political scene. Architectural historians believe that many of Battle's slaves. who were skilled craftsmen, erected this two stoned brick dwelling which boasts Federal and Greek Revival detailing Originally, the house consisted of two front rooms. an entrance hall, and two upstairs bedrooms. The rear dining room, an additional upstairs bedroom, and the front portico, with its six massive, paneled columns and its "faux marble· fa de, were added in the 1844 The six columns were a distinctive style in Tuscaloosa during the nineteenth century. Alfred Battle's wife, Millicent, focused her attention on the grounds. In 1844, she employed an English landscape architect, Peter McArthur, to design the garden. When completed, the beautiful gardens were a popular attraction to Tuscaloosa residents and travelers. The Battles enjoyed their elegant townhouse for almost 40 years. Following the South's defeat in the Civil War, the Battles' Confederate investments ruined them. In 1875, Alfred Battle sold his home to Bernard Friedman, a wealthy Hungarian immigrant. Fleeing the Hungarian Revolution of 1848-1849, Friedman arrived in the United States in the 1850s a poor man. Friedman rose from the ranks of a simple peddler to owning numerous good stores across the Southeast. For almost a century, members of the Friedman family occupied the home, embellishing the interiors, and maintaining the beautiful grounds. Upon his death in 1965, Hugo Friedman, son of Bernard and a noted Tuscaloosa businessman and philanthropist, deeded the house to the City of Tuscaloosa for use as a cultural and social center. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1972. Today, the Tuscaloosa County Preservation Society maintains the house and gardens. In 1997, through a generous gift of Mrs. Anne Boyd Russell, the gardens were restored to their original design. The house's grounds include the only remaining documented antebellum greenhouse in the state of Alabama. The Battle Family The Battle-Friedman House was built in 1835 by Alfred Battle and his wife Millicent Beale. Alfred was from North Carolina and Millicent was from Maryland, but they met in Georgia. Soon afterward, their family decided to move to the territory of Alabama. Alfred, rising in status, due to his agricultural and later business interests, wanted to be closer to the city life so they built this townhouse in 1835. The Battle family owned the house until 1875 when they lost it due to foreclosure in the last dark days of the Reconstruction period. The Friedman Family The house was bought by the Friedman family. The head of the family, Bernard Friedman, was a Hungarian Jew who had come to Tuscaloosa as a peddler, opened a store, and became a respected member of the Tuscaloosa business community. Bernard and his wife, Linka, raised their three children in the home throughout the early 1900s. The Friedman family owned the house until 1965 when it was willed by Bernard’s youngest son, Hugo Friedman to the City of Tuscaloosa. The Gardens The front portico is similar to ones which grace many large antebellum houses in Tuscaloosa and it is thought that one unknown builder was probably responsible for designing and constructing all of them. Please note the typically Tuscaloosa style paneled columns which encase whole tree trunks. The house is brick with plaster over the front facade only. The finish on the plaster is called faux marbre, or false marble. Faux finishes were quite popular in Tuscaloosa in the nineteenth century. The Jemison-Van de Graaff Mansion is another example of a house with a faux finish. On this house the finish is meant to represent rose marble. In 1844, Mrs. Battle had the garden laid out by an English gardener who was traveling through the south. He designed the intricate pattern of interlocking diamond shaped beds. It was probably at the same time that the Battles constructed the greenhouse or fern house which you see on the south side of the garden. This is one of the oldest greenhouses in existence in the state of Alabama. Over the years the Friedman’s embellished the gardens by adding a gazebo and the fish pond. In 1996, the Preservation Society undertook the restoration of Mrs. Battle’s garden. This was made possible by a generous donation from Mrs. Anne Boyd Russell. Mrs. Russell donated over $75,000.00 to the project because she remembered, as a child, hearing her mother sing “It’s not raining rain you know, it’s raining daffodils.” A further generous bequest by Tennie Davidson allowed the Society to finish the project and also undertake other projects which would not have been possible without her legacy. The restored gardens reflect the evolution of gardens from 1844 through the early twentieth century and contain a wealth of mid-nineteenth to early twentieth century plant material including camellias, azaleas, boxwood, hydrangeas, roses, spirea, flowering quince, crape myrtle and dogwoods. The gardens are now known as the Anne Boyd Russell Gardens. What They’re Saying About Us AMY E. We visited this location as a wedding venue, and I found it very interesting from a historic and an architectural point of view. The interior friezes are pretty amazing, and the fact that period furniture is on display is a plus. CHRISTOPHER J. We had a great tour of the home. The tour guide knew the ins and outs of the home and the history of the families who owned the home. Keep up the great work and your passion of telling their stories. LINDSEY B. Absolutely beautiful historic home. We took a tour of the home and grounds, and it was just breath taking. The sweet lady who gave us our tour shared so much history with us. It was great. We’ve been to a wedding here as well. So pretty. Want to add a review from your trip to see the Battle-Friedman House & Gardens? Leave your review for us on our Trip Advisor page. Review Us Visit the Home The house is available for historic tours Tuesday-Friday at 2:30 pm. Group and school tours are also available by calling Historic Tuscaloosa at 205-758-2238 or emailing us at info@historictuscaloosa.org Tour in Person Tour Virtually

August 28, 2025 Topic: The History of the Walker Cemetery – An early 19th century cemetery of Tuscaloosa speaker: Dr. Cameron Lacquement 2025 Lecture Series — 3 of 4 Topic: The History of the Walker Cemetery – An early 19th-century cemetery of Tuscaloosa Speaker: Dr. Cameron Lacquement Recorded: August 28, 2025 The History of the Walker Cemetery – An early 19th century cemetery of Tuscaloosa The History of the Walker Cemetery – An early 19th century cemetery of Tuscaloosa Play Video Share Whole Channel This Video Facebook Twitter Pinterest Tumblr Copy Link Link Copied Search videos Search video... Now Playing Video 7 Last 08:06 Play Video Now Playing Video 6 1 hour 19 seconds 15:07 Play Video Now Playing Video 5 45.13 Minutes 20:14 Play Video

Take a look at our virtual tour video to learn about 3 of the properties we maintain, the Old Tavern, the Battle-Friedman House, and the Jemison-Van de Graaff Mansion. 200 years of TUSCALOOSA HISTORY Right here, on your device. Scroll Down Virtual Tours of Our Buildings Virtual tours of our Old Tavern building, the Battle-Friedman House, and the Jemison-Van de Graaff Mansion are accessible right here on our website for those who cannot visit with us in person. These virtual tours feature the highlights of each building and an optional comprehension quiz for educational users. VIRTUAL TOURS Tour Now Battle-Friedman House Built in 1835, this Tuscaloosa landmark has been home to two amazing families with fascinating personal stories and powerful influence over the shaping of Tuscaloosa history. Tour Now Jemison-Van de Graaff Manison Built in 1862, this mansion was originally a vacation home. Now, it boasts a rich history of famous icons such as the first Alabama All-American and the Father of Modern Physics. Tour Now The Old Tavern Built in 1827 during the time when Tuscaloosa was the Capitol of Alabama, this tavern has served as an inn, a home, and a gathering place to the city of Tuscaloosa for almost 200 years.

00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000001 In the News... We work hard to get our efforts noticed by the media and are so proud when this goal comes to fruition. Take a look at some of our latest coverage and help spread the word about all the amazing developments at Historic Tuscaloosa!!

This past Friday, August 26, we were thrilled to host our New Member Reception at the beautiful Old Tavern — a perfect setting to welcome new faces and celebrate the incredible community that makes up Historic Tuscaloosa. New Member Reception August 26, 2025 This past Friday, August 26, we were thrilled to host our New Member Reception at the beautiful Old Tavern — a perfect setting to welcome new faces and celebrate the incredible community that makes up Historic Tuscaloosa. 1/1

The Battle-Friedman House & Gardens event/wedding photography collection: Portraits Portraits Load More

Historic Tuscaloosa’s 2024 Century Club Party was on April 25, 2024 at 1 North Pinehurst Drive. Century Club Party 2024 Thanks to our wonderful and hospitable hosts, Paul and Angie Moreton, we had a lovely evening at our annual Century Club Party on Thursday, April 25, 2024. 🙏 We would also like to thank our very own Cal Wilson for again providing beautiful floral arrangements for this event. 😍💐 Our Century Club party was held at 1 Pinehurst Drive. Paul and Angie Moreton, the owners of this magnificent home, were awarded a Brick-and-Mortar Award in 2022 for their time, effort, and dedication to its restoration. 👏 We were thrilled to have the opportunity to see the inside of this Prairie-style home! 🤩🙌 1 Pinehurst Drive (Fitts House) was the former home of lumberman and banker William F. Fitts. Constructed in 1915, it is an example of Prairie-style Architecture. The initials W.F.F., a remnant of the original owner, are still very visible on the terrazzo flooring on the front porch. 🔎 We learned that the Prairie style celebrates the long, low landscape of the Midwest. Its most defining characteristic is its emphasis on the horizontal rather than the vertical. Prairie homes spread out over their lots, featuring flat or shallow hipped roof lines, rows of windows, overhanging eaves, and bands of stone, wood, or brick across the surface. Thin Roman bricks sometimes enhance the effect, and cantilevers often extend the horizontal line without vertical support. Even the unwelcome verticals of downspouts are either eliminated or carefully placed.

Historic Tuscaloosa's annual Holiday Open House featured five Historic Tuscaloosa properties. Guests took a stroll through history, celebrating the traditions of the season and enjoyed the ambiance in these beautiful historic structures 🎀🎄 Holiday Open House 2022 Historic Tuscaloosa's annual Holiday Open House featured five Historic Tuscaloosa properties, Sunday, December 4. Guests took a stroll through history, celebrating the traditions of the season and enjoyed the ambiance in these beautiful historic structures 🎀🎄