Selma in Dallas County, Alabama — The American South (East South Central)

Lee - Bender - Butler House

Photographed by Tim & Renda Carr, November 6, 2010

1. Lee - Bender - Butler House Marker

Inscription. This Greek Revival house was built circa 1850 by Thomas Helm Lee, master builder and owner of early Selma lumber yard. Born in Kentucky, he was the son of Miller Lee of Buckingham County, Virginia and married Mary Jane Blanks of Cahaba in 1839. He died in 1857 and is buried in Live Oak Cemetery. Other buildings credited to him are Sturdivant Hall, circa 1855, and the 1857 Church Street Methodist Church which no longer stands.
The Lee - Bender - Butler house was acquired by the Bender family in 1866 and later bequeathed by a Bender descendant to members of the Butler family in 1947. It was restored in 1982 by Roger and Dolly Butler.

Erected 1995 by Cahaba Trace Commission / Selma Historic Development Commission.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Notable Buildings. A significant historical year for this entry is 1850.

Location. 32° 24.624′ N, 87° 1.446′ W. Marker is in Selma, Alabama, in Dallas County. It is at the intersection of Church Street and Parkman Avenue, on the right when traveling south on Church Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 401 Church Street, Selma AL 36701, 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 walking distance of this marker: Ware - Baker - Jones House (about 800 feet away, measured in a direct line); Temple Mishkan Israel

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(approx. 0.2 miles away); St. Paul’s Episcopal Church Est. 1838 (approx. 0.2 miles away); Highlights of Selma History / William Rufus DeVane King 1786-1853 (approx. 0.2 miles away); Votes for Women (approx. 0.2 miles away); VII In. Brooke Rifle (approx. 0.2 miles away); Mabry - Jones Home (approx. ¼ mile away); Burning of Downtown (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Selma.

Also see . . . Lee Bender Butler destroyed by fire. (Submitted on January 1, 2026, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida.)

Additional commentary.
1. Fire destroys house
Sadly this nice house was destroyed by fire in 2017. Marker still stands.

— Submitted January 1, 2026, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida.

Photographed by Tim & Renda Carr, November 6, 2010

2. Lee - Bender - Butler House Marker

Lee - Bender - Butler House image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Tim & Renda Carr, November 6, 2010

3. Lee - Bender - Butler House

Lee - Bender - Butler House Marker after fire. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Tim Fillmon, December 29, 2025

4. Lee - Bender - Butler House Marker after fire.

Credits. This page was last revised on January 1, 2026. It was originally submitted on November 7, 2010, by Timothy Carr of Birmingham, Alabama. This page has been viewed 1,520 times since then and 33 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on November 7, 2010, by Timothy Carr of Birmingham, Alabama. 2, 3. submitted on November 8, 2010, by Timothy Carr of Birmingham, Alabama. 4. submitted on January 1, 2026, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.