Tag Archives: Eufaula

Miller-Anthorne-Williams House-Eufaula, Alabama

The Miller-Anthorne-Williams House is a one-story hipped roof house with Greek Revival details. Built in the years immediately after the Civil War, it is a contributing property to the Lore Historic District in Eufaula.

St. Matthew Lodge No.5-Eufaula, Alabama

The St. Matthew Lodge No. 5 in Eufaula, Alabama, was one of ten Colored Lodges already in existence in the state before the Prince Hall Lodges officially began in Alabama in 1870. This lodge worked under the National Compact Grand Lodge.

I realized as I was looking at the HABS photos of the Cowan-Ramser House that you can see the St. Matthew Lodge in the background. This means the building has been around since at least 1934.

Cowan-Ramser House-Eufaula, Alabama

This Greek Revival home was built in the 1840s for Dr. William Lockhart Cowan. William Cowan and his wife, Anna, had eight children. Five of them lived to adulthood. Their second eldest daughter, Laura, married a local doctor, Dr. Robert Fleming. Fleming moved into the Cowan home. Known as a sleepwalker, he awoke one night and fell off the balcony. Paralyzed by the fall, he and his wife moved to live with his relative to get care. Her mother and sister followed them.

The family sold the home to Jacob Ramser, a Swiss craftsman. Ramser was known for his carpentry skills. He built the first theater in town.

The Ramser family lived in the home until they sold it to the White family, who turned it into a funeral home. The Colonel White and Sons Funeral Home was in business until 2004. The building has been vacant since. It is listed as an Alabama Place of Peril. It’s sustained damage from storms, and the roof has been breached.

In the background, you can see the historic Black lodge, the St. Matthew Lodge.

It was documented in 1934 as part of the Historic American Building Survey. It is one of the last remaining Greek Revival homes in the area.

Jewish Section at Fairview Cemetery-Eufaula, Alabama

The Jewish population began to arrive in the mid-19th Century. Soon after, a cemetery was established that is now a part of Fairview Cemetery. Burials in the Jewish section occurred between 1845-1987.

The symbol of two hands connected at the thumb, but separated at the middle and ring fingers, represents the blessings of the Cohen within the Jewish faith. “Cohen” is the Hebrew term used for priest. The term has biblical roots, and stems from the descendants of Aaron, brother of Moses, who were called “cohen.” Two hands inscribed on a Jewish headstone is a representation of priesthood or a close relation to a Jewish priest. Information from Fox Memorials.