Greensboro in Hale County, Alabama — The American South (East South Central)
“Glencairn”
Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, August 6, 2022
1. “Glencairn” Marker
Placed on the National Register of Historic Places on January 18, 1978.
Commemorated on the occasion of the 150th anniversary, December 27, 1987.
Erected 1987.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Architecture. A significant historical year for this entry is 1837.
Location. 32° 42.094′ N, 87° 35.746′ W. Marker is in Greensboro, Alabama, in Hale County. It is at the intersection of Erwin Street and Tuscaloosa Street, on the left when traveling west on Erwin Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1405 Erwin St, Greensboro AL 36744, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the American South, specifically in the Deep South, and in the Black Belt. Globally, it is in North America, a Gulf of Mexico state, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically,
this page online
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 9 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: St. Paul’s Episcopal Church (about 600 feet away, measured in a direct line); Greensboro Presbyterian Church (approx. ¼ mile away); Gayle - Tunstall House (approx. ¼ mile away); Jones-Burks-Whittington (approx. 0.4 miles away); Southern University (approx. 0.7 miles away); Magnolia Grove (approx. 0.7 miles away); The Alabama Baptist State Convention (approx. one mile away); Newbern Baptist Church (approx. 8.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Greensboro.
Regarding “Glencairn”. Excerpt from the National Register nomination for the house:
A native of Virginia, John Erwin came to Alabama around 1820 and opened a law office in Greensboro, at that time located in Greene County. He was a successful lawyer and acquired extensive property in land and slaves, becoming one of the wealthiest men in the town. In 1831 he was elected to represent GreeneCounty in the state Senate and the following years was chosen president of the body. From 1837 through 1842, he was a member of the state House of Representatives and during the latter part of this tenure was elected Speaker of the House. Twice he ran for Congress (1845 and 1851) and twice was defeated. Although he retired from his law practice in the early 1850's, he maintained his interest in politics and was a noted presence at the Democratic Conventions toward the end of that decade. He was a strong advocate of secession and served as a delegate to the Charleston Convention where he represented Alabama on the platform committee. His last public appearance was at the Baltimore Convention. At his death on December 10, 1860, the house passed to his wife and is still owned by members of the family.Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, August 6, 20222. “Glencairn” Marker
Also see . . .
1. John Erwin House (PDF). National Register nomination for the house, which was listed in 1978. (National Archives) (Submitted on August 12, 2022, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)
2. Glencairn (Greensboro, Alabama). Wikipedia entry on the Greek Revival house, which was continuously
Carol M. Highsmith via Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division (public domain), 2010
3. Glencairn, the John Erwin House
From History of Greensboro, Alabama From Its Earliest Settlement by William E.W. Yerby (Public Domain), 1908
4. John Erwin (1799-1860)
Credits. This page was last revised on August 12, 2022. It was originally submitted on August 12, 2022, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 738 times since then and 48 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on August 12, 2022, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
