Fendall Hall: A Glimpse into Alabama's Antebellum Past

Fendall Hall, also known as the Young–Dent Home, stands as one of Alabama's most outstanding examples of Italianate architecture [5, 7]. Completed in 1860, this two-story wood-frame house with a symmetrical villa-type floor plan and crowning cupola was built by Edward Brown Young, a New York native who became a successful merchant and entrepreneur in Eufaula [2, 7]. Young is also credited with sponsoring the change of the town name from Irwinton to its original Muscogee name, Eufaula [7]. The house remained in the Young family for five generations [3, 7]. In 1879, it passed to the builder's daughter, Anna Beall Young, and her husband, Stouten Hubert Dent [7]. Fendall Hall is also the home of Captain S. H. Dent. Captain Dent volunteered with the Eufaula Rifles and served as part of the honor guard for the inauguration of Jefferson Davis [4]. He was eventually put in charge of his own battery of cannon known as the Dent Battery [4]. This battery was attached to the Army of the Tennessee and saw action at Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge, and the Atlanta Campaign [4]. Today, visitors can explore the restored interior, reflecting the period from 1880 to 1916, and admire the elaborate wall and ceiling murals in the entrance hall, parlor, and dining room [5, 6, 11]. The house is furnished with period pieces, including some family items; the primary furnishing styles are Empire and Eastlake [11]. Fendall Hall is owned by the Alabama Historical Commission, and operated by the Friends of Fendall Hall [2, 5]. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1970 [7]. A visit to Fendall Hall provides a unique opportunity to step back in time and experience the elegance and charm of the Old South [5, 11].