Old Rock House, Coosa Valley Travel Guide

Nestled in a wooded, rural setting near Harpersville, Alabama, the Old Rock House is a testament to early 19th-century craftsmanship and architectural ingenuity. Constructed circa 1835, this two-story masonry dwelling is a rare and intact example of an early stone house in a region where such structures are uncommon. The house is located one mile southeast of Harpersville, accessed via a winding farm lane from U.S. Route 280.The Old Rock House is built from locally quarried grey granite and limestone, showcasing a unique blend of Late Georgian and Early Republic architectural elements. Its thick stone walls and chimneys are laid in regular courses, supporting a side-gable roof. The south side of the house features two centrally positioned doors that provide access to the first-floor rooms.Inside, the house originally comprised four rooms: two on the ground floor and two above, connected by a box stair. The interior retains hints of its original simple refinement, including a surviving Federal-style mantelpiece. The origin of the Rock House remains shrouded in some mystery. Although the exact landowner for whom the house was built is unknown, records suggest William Condon, a prosperous farmer who owned the property in the early 1840s, may have been responsible for its construction.The Old Rock House was added to the National Register of Historic Places on March 29, 2006, and to the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage on December 4, 1992. Today, it stands as a tangible link to Alabama's past, representing a distinctive piece of the state's architectural heritage.