Wesley Plattenburg House
Encyclopedia
The 'Wesley Plattenburg House is a historic house in Selma
, Alabama
. Featuring a unique combination of the Greek Revival
and Italianate
styles, it was completed in 1842 for Wesley Plattenburg. Plattenburg was born on April 13, 1903 in Anne Arundel County, Maryland
. He had relocated to Selma and had assumed the occupation of tailor
by 1829. He became a successful merchant and served on the city council of Selma for many years.
The house was once at the center of a 2200 acres (890.3 ha) plantation
that Plattenburg inherited from a close friend, Mr. Wood, upon his death. Plattenburg took up the vocation of planter after receiving the property. The house is one the few structures remaining in the city that is identifiable on a map of the Battle of Selma
. The city eventually grew to completely encompass the site. The house was added to the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage
on March 22, 1991 and to the National Register of Historic Places
on February 3, 1993.. It was listed on Alabama's Places in Peril
in 2005.
Selma, Alabama
Selma is a city in and the county seat of Dallas County, Alabama, United States, located on the banks of the Alabama River. The population was 20,512 at the 2000 census....
, 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...
. Featuring a unique combination of the Greek Revival
Greek Revival architecture
The Greek Revival was an architectural movement of the late 18th and early 19th centuries, predominantly in Northern Europe and the United States. A product of Hellenism, it may be looked upon as the last phase in the development of Neoclassical architecture...
and Italianate
Italianate architecture
The Italianate style of architecture was a distinct 19th-century phase in the history of Classical architecture. In the Italianate style, the models and architectural vocabulary of 16th-century Italian Renaissance architecture, which had served as inspiration for both Palladianism and...
styles, it was completed in 1842 for Wesley Plattenburg. Plattenburg was born on April 13, 1903 in Anne Arundel County, Maryland
Anne Arundel County, Maryland
Anne Arundel County is a county located in the U.S. state of Maryland. It is named for Anne Arundell , a member of the ancient family of Arundells in Cornwall, England and the wife of Cæcilius Calvert, 2nd Baron Baltimore. Its county seat is Annapolis, which is also the capital of the state...
. He had relocated to Selma and had assumed the occupation of tailor
Tailor
A tailor is a person who makes, repairs, or alters clothing professionally, especially suits and men's clothing.Although the term dates to the thirteenth century, tailor took on its modern sense in the late eighteenth century, and now refers to makers of men's and women's suits, coats, trousers,...
by 1829. He became a successful merchant and served on the city council of Selma for many years.
The house was once at the center of a 2200 acres (890.3 ha) plantation
Plantation complexes in the Southeastern United States
Plantation complexes in the Southeastern United States refers to the built environment that was common on agricultural plantations in the American South from the 17th into the 20th century. The complex included everything from the main residence down to the pens for livestock...
that Plattenburg inherited from a close friend, Mr. Wood, upon his death. Plattenburg took up the vocation of planter after receiving the property. The house is one the few structures remaining in the city that is identifiable on a map of the Battle of Selma
Battle of Selma
The Battle of Selma was a military engagement near the end of the American Civil War. It was fought in Selma, Alabama, on April 2, 1865. Union Army forces under Major General James H...
. The city eventually grew to completely encompass the site. The house was added to the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage
Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage
The Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage, commonly referred to as the Alabama Register, is an official listing of buildings, sites, structures, objects, and districts deemed worthy of preservation in the U.S. state of Alabama. These properties, which may be of national, state, and local...
on March 22, 1991 and 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 3, 1993.. It was listed on 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...
in 2005.