Gorgas Well The well was dug in June 1880 in order to service the Hospital, before that, water for the Gorgas House came from Marr’s Spring. The original kitchen, a brick building, was located behind the house where Morgan Hall stands today; food was brought over to the dining hall and kept here in the pantry before being served. The kitchen was located away from the home because of the threat of fire and as a way to remove additional […]
Hardaway Beedroom – gorgashousebms
Hardaway Bedroom Hardaway Bedroom · This room is referred to as the Hardaway bedroom because most of the furniture was loaned and later given to the home by Ben Hardaway, son of Colonel Robert Hardaway, a friend of the Gorgas family. Colonel Hardaway redesigned the front porch of the home, from one to three arches, as the University’s Acting Architect. It is unknown who used this room as a bedroom during the time that the Gorgas family lived […]
Gorgas Bedroom – gorgashousebms
Gorgas Bedroom Gorgas Bedroom · “A gentleman told me he thought I received the Carnegie pension because I was your Mother, which doubles its value to me. The pensions This room is one of the two rooms originally designated to be part of the Hospital to the University, and it served as the hospital from 1879 until 1907. · The walnut dresser, washstand, and bed were used by Josiah and Amelia in their early married life. · The Victorian […]
Post Office Room – gorgashousebms
Post Office Room Post Office Room · This room was originally a storage room during the period when the building functioned as a dining hall, and later was used as the University Post Office. As an early method of pest control, there was two feet of sand under the floor to keep mice from burrowing under the ground and getting into the room. · Mrs. Gorgas was the university post mistress from 1886 until 1908, and often her daughters […]
Tap to learn more about the Parlor
Parlor Parlor · This room was originally designated part of the two rooms used by the University as the Hospital and it was reportedly Amelia’s favorite room. A portrait of Amelia, completed by Louise Lewis, hangs above the fireplace mantle. · Amelia Gorgas was the first female librarian on the University campus, and the Amelia Gayle Gorgas Library was the first academic building at the University named for a woman. During her time as librarian, Amelia grew the […]
Master Bedroom – gorgashousebms
Master Bedroom Master Bedroom · The bedroom furniture originally belonged to Amelia’s sister, Sarah, and her husband Dr. William Crawford. · The cradle dates from 1854, and rocked all six of the Gorgas children. It was sold by the Gorgas family, but later rediscovered and purchased for the museum in 1967. · At the foot of the bed is Amelia’s “prie-dieu” (a French term meaning “pray to God”) or prayer bench. Amelia was a devout Episcopalian and would kneel […]
Museum Room – gorgashousebms
Museum Room Museum Room ·This room was part of the original dining hall. In 1896, Amelia agreed to permit the newly admitted female students of The University of Alabama to use a front room on the first floor as a study hall. It is believed to have been in this room. ·Note the portrait over the fireplace of Josiah and Amelia Gorgas’ eldest child, William Crawford Gorgas. He was well-known for his work to eradicate yellow fever […]
Dining Room – gorgashousebms
Dining Room The dining table in the center once belonged to Colonel Robert Hardaway, Professor of Civil Engineering at the University of Alabama. Colonel Hardaway was also acting-Architect for the University in the 1890s and under the direction of the Trustees of the University of Alabama he expanded the porch of the Hospital (now Gorgas House) in 1896. How his furniture came to be in the house is unknown, but a catalog record indicates that he lent his furniture to […]
Main Hallway – gorgashousebms
Main & Back Hallway · The narrow staircase in the back hall is original to the home and was constructed to connect the dining hall to the steward’s quarters. The front hall stairs were added during the 1840s’ renovations. · Opposite the stairs, there is an interesting piece of furniture once used for food storage, called a pie safe. The simple, ceramic dishes visible beneath the safe are called ant cups. They would have been filled with water and placed […]
gorgashousebms
The Gorgas House</span > The Gorgas House The Gorgas House was completed in 1829. It was constructed before the University opened in 1831 for use as a hotel, steward’s hall (guest house for universitysuperintendents), and dininghall for students. Thehouse was designed by WilliamNichols, Alabama State Architectfrom 1827-1833. Aboutfifteen years after theuniversity opened, PresidentManly closed the mess hall dueto student unruliness and foodfights. The interior wasthen renovated to the presentconfiguration – with smallerdining room, front parlor, andstair well to the […]