Bettie Hunter House, Renaissance Revival house in Mobile, Alabama
The Bettie Hunter House is a two-story residence in Renaissance Revival style located on St. Francis Street, featuring symmetrical window placement and carefully proportioned Italianate details throughout. The exterior displays the decorative cornices, arched elements, and ornamental brickwork characteristic of this architectural movement.
This residence was built in 1878 by a woman who had been formerly enslaved and went on to establish a successful carriage and transportation business. The flourishing port economy and trade activity in Mobile during this period created opportunities for entrepreneurship.
This residence reflects Black female entrepreneurship in the years following emancipation, built in a neighborhood that was predominantly white at the time. The architectural choices and location reveal much about economic achievement and social boundaries of that era.
The house remains privately owned but offers guided tours as part of the Dora Franklin Finley African-American Heritage Trail in Mobile. Visitors should check ahead for tour availability since access depends on family scheduling.
The owner of this residence passed away at only 27 years old, just one year after its completion. This brief life story has made the house a poignant reminder of her rapid rise from slavery to prosperity.
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