Florence in Lauderdale County, Alabama — The American South (East South Central)

Seminary - O'Neal Historic District

Photographed by Sandra Hughes, July 27, 2009

1. Seminary ~O'Neal Historic District Marker

Inscription.
Named for the O’Neal family which produced two Alabama governors and for seminary, the street on which the Synodical Female College was located, the Seminary-O’Neal Historic District was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1995. Built between 1908 and 1943, the houses in the district reflect the variety of architectural styles of those years. Two Sears-Roebuck houses called “American Four-Square”, add interest and distinction. The district opens onto the impressive campus of the University of North Alabama.

Erected by Florence Historical Board Florence, Alabama.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Notable Buildings. A significant historical year for this entry is 1995.

Location. 34° 48.304′ N, 87° 40.643′ W. Marker is in Florence, Alabama, in Lauderdale County. It is on N Seminary St. Located on North Seminary Street behind Pope's Tavern. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Florence AL 35630, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in North Alabama

and in the Shoals.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Deep South,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Southern Appalachia. 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 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: Pope's Tavern (within shouting distance of this marker); Pope's Tavern Museum (within shouting distance of this marker); Sannoner Historic District (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Edward A. O'Neal Home

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(about 500 feet away); Simpson House~Irvine Place~Coby Hall (about 500 feet away); Courtview, Rogers Hall (about 600 feet away); Colonel Pickett Place (about 600 feet away); First United Methodist Church (about 600 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Florence.

Regarding Seminary - O'Neal Historic District. Roughly, Seminary St. between Hermitage Dr. and Irvine Ave. and Irvine between Seminary and Wood Ave.

Also see . . .
1. Sears Modern Homes. Wikipedia entry:
The process of designing your Sears house began as soon as the Modern Homes catalog arrived at your doorstep. Over time, Modern Homes catalogs came to advertise three lines of homes, aimed for customers’ differing financial means: Honor Bilt, Standard Built, and Simplex Sectional. Honor Bilt homes were the most expensive and finest quality sold by Sears. Joists, studs, and rafters were to be spaced 14 3/8 inches apart. Attractive cypress siding and cedar shingles adorned most Honor Bilt exteriors. And, depending on the room, interiors featured clear-grade (i.e., knot-free) flooring and inside trim made from yellow pine, oak, or maple wood. Sears’s catalogs also reported that Standard Built homes

Seminary ~O'Neal Historic District~Sears~Roebuck Home image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sandra Hughes, June 13, 2009

2. Seminary ~O'Neal Historic District~Sears~Roebuck Home

were best for warmer climates, meaning they did not retain heat very well. The Simplex Sectional line, as the name implies, contained simple designs. Simplex houses were frequently only a couple of rooms and were ideal for summer cottages. (Submitted on September 2, 2010, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA.)

2. Edward A. O'Neal (1882-86). Encyclopedia of Alabama website entry (Submitted on August 13, 2022, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)

3. Emmet O'Neal (1911-15). Encyclopedia of Albama website entry (Submitted on August 13, 2022, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)

Florence U.S. Post Office ~ image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sandra Hughes, June 25, 2009

3. Florence U.S. Post Office ~

Site where Synodical Female College was located.

Edward Asbury O'Neal (Governor, 1882-1884; 1884-1886) image. Click for full size.

via Alabama Department of Archives and History, unknown

4. Edward Asbury O'Neal (Governor, 1882-1884; 1884-1886)

via Encyclopedia of Alabama, Unknown

5. Seminary - O'Neal Historic District Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on August 13, 2022. It was originally submitted on September 2, 2010, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA. This page has been viewed 2,210 times since then and 81 times this year. Last updated on June 3, 2015, by J. Makali Bruton of Washington, District of Columbia. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on September 2, 2010, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA. 4. submitted on January 5, 2021, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. 5. submitted on August 13, 2022, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.