Greenville in Butler County, Alabama — The American South (East South Central)
Coleman-Crenshaw House
Photographed by Jimmy Emerson, 2020
1. Coleman - Crenshaw House Marker
Erected 2010 by Alabama Historical Commission.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: African Americans. In addition, it is included in the Alabama Historical Commission series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 2010.
Location. 31° 53.697′ N, 86° 44.996′ W. Marker is in Greenville, Alabama, in Butler County. It is on Crenshaw Road when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1109 Crenshaw Rd, Greenville AL 36037, 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, 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 9 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: A different marker also named Coleman-Crenshaw House (approx. 0.7 miles away); Ogly-Stroud Massacre / Gary's Stockade (approx. 2.7 miles away); Bartram's Trail (approx. 4 miles away); Sherling Lake (approx. 4.6 miles away); The Federal Road and The Palings / Fort Dale 1818 (approx. 5.6 miles away); First Missionary Baptist Church of Greenville (approx. 8.1 miles away); West Commerce Street Historic District / Historic Greenville Depot
this page online
Also see . . . Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage Nomination Form.
This form was prepared by Edna M. Crenshaw-Rubin, Gardner & Ruby Crenshaw Homestead Trust, on November 28, 2004. The statement of significance is on pages 11-12:
The John Coleman-Gardner & Ruby Crenshaw Plantation House is one of the finest ante-bellum antiques houses in Alabama and perhaps the nation. The house incorporates a variety of traditional, and classical features such as; the simple side gable roof form, Federal staircase, white wash interior, and "prophet room." Also, notably are the pine block columns that create a simple, yet sophisticated and regional interpretation of pioneer architecture from the earliest nineteenth century.(Submitted on May 17, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.)
As the family seat for the prominent John Coleman family, and later the Gardner & Ruby Crenshaw family, whose origins, settlement, and economic pursuit documented by the house origin, provides solid evidence that the house was typical of the affluent Butler county migrate family whose patriarch was named John Coleman. It later lends testimony for the success of one of Sarah Crenshaw's (a Civil War freed Negro slave woman, who lived in Butler County on the Thomas Chile CrenshawPlantation) sons. The John Coleman-Gardner & Ruby Crenshaw house represent the heights of ante-bellum cotton, pine, and farm culture in the county. It denotes the struggle and victory of two families, one white, one black, who proved that "races like individuals must stand or fall by their own merit; that to successfully succeed they must practice the virtues of self-respect, self-reliance, industry perseverance, and economy (Paul Robeston)."Photographed by Jimmy Emerson, 20202. Coleman - Crenshaw House MarkerThe marker is on the wall on the porch.
Credits. This page was last revised on May 17, 2026. It was originally submitted on November 9, 2025, by Jimmy Emerson of Dalton, Georgia. This page has been viewed 196 times since then and 161 times this year. Last updated on May 16, 2026, by Jimmy Emerson of Dalton, Georgia. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on November 9, 2025, by Jimmy Emerson of Dalton, Georgia. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
