James Greer Bankhead House
Encyclopedia
The James Greer Bankhead House, also known simply as the Greer Bankhead House and Forest Home, is a historic house in Sulligent
, Alabama
. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places
on February 13, 1975. It is the only site listed on the National Register in Lamar County
.
The Greer Bankhead House was built circa 1850 by James Greer Bankhead. It is an I-house
, a house-type also known in the South
as Plantation Plain. James Greer Bankhead's son, John H. Bankhead
, was born at the Bankhead plantation on September 13, 1842, prior to the construction of this house. He would eventually serve as a United States Congressman
for 33 years. His sons, William B. Bankhead
and John H. Bankhead II
, were born in the house and both served as U.S. Congressmen as well. John H. Bankhead's granddaughter, the daughter of William B. Bankhead, was the award-winning American actress, Tallulah Bankhead
.
The Greer Bankhead House was added to Alabama’s Places in Peril
, a list of the most endangered historic sites within the state, in 2010. It was noted to be in danger due to deferred maintenance and vandalism at that time. Since being listed, the Greer Bankhead Preservation and Restoration Project has spearheaded an effort to protect the house from vandalism and is raising funds to stabilize and restore the historic structure.
Sulligent, Alabama
Sulligent is a city in Lamar County, Alabama, United States. As of the 2000 census, the population of the city is 2,151. The name is derived from railroad personae.- History :...
, Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
on February 13, 1975. It is the only site listed on the National Register in Lamar County
Lamar County, Alabama
Lamar County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama. Its name is in honor of Lucius Quintus Cincinnatus Lamar, member of the United States Senate from Mississippi. As of 2010 the population was 14,564...
.
The Greer Bankhead House was built circa 1850 by James Greer Bankhead. It is an I-house
I-house
The I-house is a vernacular house type, popular in the United States from the colonial period onward. The I-house was so named in the 1930s by Fred Kniffen, a specialist in folk architecture who identified and analyzed the type in his 1936 study of Louisiana house types...
, a house-type also known in the South
Southern United States
The Southern United States—commonly referred to as the American South, Dixie, or simply the South—constitutes a large distinctive area in the southeastern and south-central United States...
as Plantation Plain. James Greer Bankhead's son, John H. Bankhead
John H. Bankhead
John Hollis Bankhead was a U.S. senator from the state of Alabama.-Biography:He was born on September 13, 1842. He was appointed, then elected, to serve out the remainder of the term left by the death of John Tyler Morgan, and was later re-elected twice. He served in the Senate from June 18, 1907...
, was born at the Bankhead plantation on September 13, 1842, prior to the construction of this house. He would eventually serve as a United States Congressman
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
for 33 years. His sons, William B. Bankhead
William B. Bankhead
William Brockman Bankhead was an American politician from Alabama who served as U.S. Representative and Speaker of the House. He was a Democrat. Bankhead was a prominent supporter of President Franklin Roosevelt's New Deal of pro-labor union legislation, thus clashing with most other southern...
and John H. Bankhead II
John H. Bankhead II
John Hollis Bankhead II was a U.S. senator from the state of Alabama. Like his father, John H. Bankhead, he was elected three times to the Senate, and like his father, he died in office....
, were born in the house and both served as U.S. Congressmen as well. John H. Bankhead's granddaughter, the daughter of William B. Bankhead, was the award-winning American actress, Tallulah Bankhead
Tallulah Bankhead
Tallulah Brockman Bankhead was an award-winning American actress of the stage and screen, talk-show host, and bonne vivante...
.
The Greer Bankhead House was added to Alabama’s Places in Peril
Alabama Historical Commission
The Alabama Historical Commission is the historic preservation agency for the U. S. state of Alabama. The agency was created by an act of the state legislature in 1966 with a mission of safeguarding Alabama’s historic buildings and sites. It consists of twenty members appointed by the state...
, a list of the most endangered historic sites within the state, in 2010. It was noted to be in danger due to deferred maintenance and vandalism at that time. Since being listed, the Greer Bankhead Preservation and Restoration Project has spearheaded an effort to protect the house from vandalism and is raising funds to stabilize and restore the historic structure.