What was once the centerpiece of a large plantation in the mid-1840s today sits in ruins in rural Dallas County. The John Jay Crocheron house, or Elm Bluff, is an abandoned plantation house in Alabama said to be one of the state's finest examples of Greek Revival architecture. A New York native, Crocheron was originally a prosperous businessman and steamship owner. He was also on the Bank of Alabama's board of directors in the 1820s when it was in the state's first capital of Cahawba.
Crocheron transferred his businesses in Cahawba to his brother and moved to Elm Bluff. There, he established the plantation. It eventually grew to approximately 5,000 acres, by some accounts. He completed the home in 1845. True to its name, the structure sits on a bluff overlooking the Alabama River.
At its largest operations, Crocheron held as many as 200 slaves. While Crocheron never married, his home became a center of hospitality. Many guests used it as a stopover as they awaited the next legs of their journeys on steamboats.
Crocheron remained in Alabama throughout the Civil War and died in 1864. While the structure still stands, the home was abandoned long ago.
The interior is in a ruinous state. Plaster has fallen away from the brick walls and not much is left of the original grand staircase.
People removed, stole, or vandalized almost all of the home's beautiful woodwork over the years. You won't find baseboards, door facings, or banisters — only remnants of what was once there.
In the 1990s, the Alabama Historical Commission stabilized the home to temporarily preserve its structural integrity. They hoped funding would come through to restore it. So far, that hasn't happened.
Have you ever seen or read about this abandoned plantation house in Alabama? Let us know about your experience. If you happen to be in the area and love history, consider a stay at the historic The Bridge Tender's House in the Dallas County seat of Selma.
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