Chelsea in Shelby County, Alabama — The American South (East South Central)
The Crane Home
Photographed by Jimmy Emerson, March 11, 2026
1. The Crane Home Marker
c.1897 has been placed on the Alabama Register of Landmarks Heritage by the Alabama Historical Commission February 21, 2019
Erected by Alabama Historical Commission , Tony Nivens, Chelsea Historical Society and Chelsea Middle School.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Notable Buildings. A significant historical year for this entry is 1897.
Location. 33° 20.404′ N, 86° 37.949′ W. Marker is in Chelsea, Alabama, in Shelby County. It is on Weldon Drive west of Twin Oaks Way, on the left when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 41 Weldon Dr, Chelsea AL 35043, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the Birmingham Metropolitan Area. It is also in the American South and specifically in the Deep South. Globally, it is in North America, a Gulf of Mexico state, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain, the territory of the Mississippian Culture, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 10 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: City Of Chelsea (within shouting distance of this marker); Old Quinn Burying Ground (approx. one mile away); Lesters Chapel United Methodist Church (approx. 3.2 miles away); Mount Tabor United Methodist Church Cemetery (approx. 5.6 miles away); Town of Westover (approx. 6.7 miles away); Pelham, Alabama / Ballantrae Golf Course (approx. 9 miles away); Rocky Ridge Elementary School (approx. 9.1 miles away); Briarwood Presbyterian Church PCA (approx. 9.1 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Chelsea.
Also see . . .
this page online
The property for the Crane Home was purchased on June 22, 1897 by John W. Crane and originally included approximately 35 acres of land. The Crane Home was built circa 1897 for John Weldon Crane (1868-1939) and his spouse, Olivia Jane Nivens Crane (1871-1969), and their twelve children: Elma, Dorothy, Ora, Ada, Ida, Und, Irving, Rochelle, Roy, Jesse, Dovie, and Lewis. The Crane family were farmers and raised their family in the home. The Crane Home is considered to be the oldest house still standing in Chelsea.(Submitted on March 15, 2026, by Jimmy Emerson of Dalton, Georgia.)
Photographed by Jimmy Emerson, March 11, 2026
2. The Crane Home & Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on March 16, 2026. It was originally submitted on March 15, 2026, by Jimmy Emerson of Dalton, Georgia. This page has been viewed 19 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on March 15, 2026, by Jimmy Emerson of Dalton, Georgia. • James Hulse was the editor who published this page.
