Brierfield in Bibb County, Alabama — The American South (East South Central)
Sunshine & Dorothy Morton House
Brierfield Iron Works Historical State Park
Built as a country home for L. P. Siegel, circa 1931, the dwelling was purchased by Boyette Edgar Morton and wife Dorothy in 1942. Here they reared five children, Steve, Barry, Katha Lee, Lynn and Todd, constructing an addition in 1947-1949 that was not moved here.
Boyette Edgar Morton was born in East Lake on September 6, 1911. Throughout his life, he was called Sunshine, a nickname given him by his maternal grandmother, Katie Sanders, about 1915. Dorothy Allen Pritchett Morton was born near Mobile, Alabama on October 12, 1912. Sunshine married Dorothy on November 11, 1934. The couple lived in Tarrant City, Huffman, and Shocco Springs before purchasing this log house.
Sunshine was a successful concrete contractor finishing his career with Robins Engineering. His son Barry, eventually became chief executive officer and majority owner of the company, renamed Robins & Morton in 1990. Sunshine passed away in 1963. Dorothy continued to live in the house until June 1997. She passed away in June 2004.
The structure is an excellent example of rustic-style architecture characterized by the use of log, stone, and other materials finished to blend harmoniously with a natural setting. The popularity of this early 20th century style can be seen today in the Old Faithful Inn at Yellowstone National Park and many buildings constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps in federal and state parks in the 1930s and 1940s.
This home was given, restored, and furnished by the Morton Family in 2007. That same year the structure was officially listed on the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage.
Erected by Alabama Historic Ironworks Commission.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Industry & Commerce • Parks & Recreational Areas • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical month for this entry is March 2005.
Location. 33° 2.237′ N, 86° 56.833′ W. Marker is in Brierfield, Alabama, in Bibb County. Marker is on State Park Road south of Furnace Road (County Road 62), on the left when traveling south. Marker is within the Brierfield Ironworks Historical State Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 240 Furnace Parkway, Brierfield AL 35035, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 6 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Hayes-Morton House (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Bibb Furnace (about 800 feet away); Bibb Naval Furnaces Brierfield Furnaces (approx. 0.6 miles away); Absalom Pratt House (approx. 0.6 miles away); Six Mile Male & Female Academy Site (approx. 4 miles away); Site of Six Mile Male And Female Academy (approx. 4 miles away); Town of Wilton (approx. 4.7 miles away); Alabama Coal Mining (approx. 5.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Brierfield.
Credits. This page was last revised on December 21, 2019. It was originally submitted on October 23, 2010, by Timothy Carr of Birmingham, Alabama. This page has been viewed 1,571 times since then and 38 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on October 23, 2010, by Timothy Carr of Birmingham, Alabama. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.