You are on page 1of 35

Architectural Historical Survey of Building 7134the Goddard

Houseon Redstone Arsenal, Madison County, Alabama


CCI Contract Number: W9124P-08-D00008, Purchase Order 5314-041-013
Alabama Historical Commission Permit Number 75-0643

Prepared by:
Carter J. Castor, MSHP

Alexander Archaeological Consultants, Inc.


PO Box 62
Wildwood, Georgia 30757
706-820-4434; Fax 706-820-4076

Prepared for:
CCI Group
PO Box 9014
Huntsville, Alabama 35812
256.882.7585
&
Department of the Army
GarrisonRedstone Arsenal
Environmental Management Division
(IMSE-RED-PWE)
4488 Martin Road, Room A-332-West
Redstone Arsenal, Alabama 35898-5000
256.876.0211; Fax 256.313-2201

September 2015

Architectural Survey of Building 7134

Foreword and Acknowledgements


This report is the result of an architectural and historical investigations of the Goddard House (Building
Number 7134) on Redstone Arsenal (RSA) in Madison County, Alabama. Alexander Archaeological
Consultants, Inc. (AAC) conducted the survey at the request of the Environmental Management Division,
RSA. Building 7134 (Goddard House) has been listed by the Redstone Arsenal for demolition or to be
moved off post as preparation of the location for additional construction. An architectural historical study
is required to document salient features of the building prior to further impact. This report is the result of
the 2015 architectural documentation of the Goddard House. The structure was originally located at the
Oakendale Plantation, specifically Archaeological Site 1MA639, on Redstone Arsenal. The house was
moved from Site 1MA639 and repurposed by the Army in 1955.
Successful completion of the project is the result of the combined effort of many people working toward
the goal of investigating the cultural resources of the Goddard House. Lawrence Alexander served as
Principal Investigator for the project and Orion Kroulek served as Project Manager. The report was written
by Carter J. Castor and Orion Kroulek. Nathanael Fosaaen assisted in field documentation. The historic
research on the Oakendale Plantation was done by Gretchen Eggiman. Graphics development was done by
Carter Castor, Max Schneider, and Orion Kroulek. The report was edited by Allie Stafford.
Invaluable support that contributed to the success of this project was provided by Redstone Arsenal staff
Benjamin J. Hoksbergen, Cultural Resource Manager, Archaeologist, and Katherine L. Stamps,
Architectural Historian.

Carter Castor, MSHP

Architectural Survey of Building 7134

Table of Contents
Foreword and Acknowledgements................................................................................................................. i
Table of Contents ......................................................................................................................................... iii
List of Figures ............................................................................................................................................... v
List of Tables ................................................................................................................................................ v
Introduction ................................................................................................................................................... 1
Background and Literature Search................................................................................................................ 2
Historic Summary of the Goddard House ..................................................................................................... 3
Manning Family: 18181845 ................................................................................................................ 3
Matthews Family: 18451892 .............................................................................................................. 5
Davis Family: 18921924 ................................................................................................................... 10
Chaney Family: 19241942 ................................................................................................................ 14
U.S. Army Ownership............................................................................................................................. 15
Current Condition ....................................................................................................................................... 19
National Register of Historic Places Eligibility .......................................................................................... 24
References ................................................................................................................................................... 25
Appendix A: Architectural Drawings ......................................................................................................... 27

iii

Architectural Survey of Building 7134

List of Figures
Figure 1. Present location of Building 7134 on Redstone Arsenal ............................................................... 1
Figure 2. Portrait of Luke Matthews (1796-1875) (Stubno, Jr. 2005). ......................................................... 5
Figure 3. Portrait of Lucy Ann Spottswood Matthews (18161874) (Stubno, Jr. 2005). ............................. 6
Figure 4. Historic archaeological sites in the vicinity of Oakendale Plantation symbolized by temporal
affiliation. .................................................................................................................................................... 12
Figure 5. The Goddard House 1955 at original site, primary faade. ......................................................... 15
Figure 6. Goddard House 1955 at original site, rear face. .......................................................................... 16
Figure 7. Goddard House 1955 crossing Huntsville Spring Branch during move, rear face. ..................... 17
Figure 8. Goddard House 1956 with a rocket. ............................................................................................ 17
Figure 9. Goddard House 1998. .................................................................................................................. 18
Figure 10. Goddard House, rear elevation, 2015. ....................................................................................... 18
Figure 11. View from the SW room on the second floor indicating visible structure. ............................... 19
Figure 12. Original location of fireplace in first floor SE room. ................................................................ 20
Figure 13. Original location of rear door on E wall of 2nd floor NE room. ............................................... 20
Figure 14. View of the NE showing historic and modern studs. ................................................................ 21
Figure 15. Lathe marks at right angles on these ceiling joists. ................................................................... 21
Figure 16. Ridge beam of house with steel cable........................................................................................ 22
Figure 17. Original stairway. ...................................................................................................................... 22
Figure 18. Primary entrance with non-original sidelights. .......................................................................... 23

List of Tables
Table 1. 1850 U.S. Census of Slave Inhabitants for Luke Matthews. .......................................................... 7
Table 2. 1860 U.S. Census of Slave Inhabitants for Luke Matthews. .......................................................... 9
Table 3. Historic archaeological sites in the vicinity of Oakendale Plantation........................................... 11

Introduction
Building 7134 on Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, known as the Goddard House, was a two-story plantation
house built c. 1835 by James Manning. It was originally part of the Oakendale Plantation, which was a very
large plantation for the area. It was continuously occupied until the land was purchased by the Army in
1942 for Redstone Arsenal. In 1955, the Army relocated the house to its present location to serve as guest
quarters for VIP visitors to the Arsenal.
After the relocation, only one of the four original chimneys was rebuilt. The original weatherboard was also
covered in stucco and later in yellow brick. The original one story porch was replaced with a two-story
Neoclassical porch, and the fenestration was altered. Later, the large rooms of the house were partitioned
to create rooms for bachelor housing. The house is currently unoccupied, and the interior has been stripped
down to the framing. The Goddard House Alabama State Historic Preservation Office number is 08900151. The survey was conducted under Alabama Historical Commission permit number 15-0643.
As part of a survey of the house, Alexander Archaeological Consultants (AAC) conducted a background
and literature survey of the previous determinations of eligibility to the National Register of Historic Places
(NRHP), provided a historical summary of the house, conducted a current conditions assessment, and
provided floorplans and elevations to provide a basis for future planning for the house.

Figure 1. Present location of Building 7134 on Redstone Arsenal

Alexander Archaeological Consultants

Background and Literature Search


The Goddard House has been evaluated several times for its historic value and potential inclusion to the
National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). The Goddard House was first evaluated by Building
Technology, Inc. (Buchannan and Johnson 1984) as part of Historic American Buildings Survey/Historic
American Engineering Record (HABS/HAER) documentation of Redstone Arsenal, and it was not listed
as a historic property. It is likely that the Goddard House was one of the 40 structures for which a Level IV
HABS/HAER inventory card was completed; however, the inventory cards have not been digitized by the
Library of Congress and were not available for this report (Library of Congress n.d.).
The house was evaluated again by TRC Mariah, Inc. (Nichols 1997). Their conclusion is unclear; however,
the Alabama State Historic Preservation Office ALSHPO never concurred with the report (Hoksbergen
2012: 4-8). Historic Resource Assessments (Wright 2000) was hired to reassess their report and determined
that the structure was ineligible for the NRHP, a conclusion with which the Alabama Historical Commission
(AHC) concurred (Langdale et al. 2003: C-3). However, Wright (2000) incorrectly listed the construction
date of the Goddard House as 1942 (Langdale et al. 2003: C-15).
The building was also evaluated by Panamerican, Inc. (Nolte 1998) and again was determined to be
ineligible for the NRHP; however, the Directorate of Environment and Public Works (DEPW) did not
concur, and the ALSHPO did not provide comment (Langdale, 2000: 67). In 1999, the ALSHPO issued a
letter of concurrence declaring the house ineligible for the NRHP (Langdale, 2000: 69). A 2012 cultural
resource management plan for Redstone Arsenal reiterated the previous determinations of ineligibility
(Hoksbergen: 4546) and provided a list of previous architectural surveys (Hoksbergen: 4-8).
New South Associates (Langdale 2000:69) included the Goddard House in a survey of World War II
resources. The report recommended that the house be reevaluated based on its affiliation with the Cold War
and its role as housing for prominent military officers. Alexander Archaeological Consultants also
evaluated the Goddard House in 2004 and concluded Despite its unusual history, it is recommended that
this resource is not eligible to the NRHP under the Cold War context. It has been moved and radically
altered and retains little of its historic fabric. It also served a non-essential use during the Cold War that
does not represent the mission of the post (Langdale et al 2004:90).
AAC concurs with New South Associates and recommends that the NRHP of the building be reevaluated.
Buildings that have been relocated are generally considered ineligible for the NRHP (National Park Service,
revised 2002). Although the structure has now been at its present location for over sixty years, this report
will seek to determine whether it has retained enough historic significance to be considered eligible for the
NRHP.
In 2006 AAC conducted a Phase II archaeological testing of Site 1MA639, the archaeological site
associated with the original Goddard House location (Trudeau 2006). Site 1MA639, the Oakendale
Plantation included a 37 acre historic plantation dating from the early nineteenth though the mid twentieth
century. The Oakendale Plantation was determined to be eligible for the NRHP under Criterion D.

Architectural Survey of Building 7134

Historic Summary of the Goddard House


In order to research the chronological ownership of the Goddard House and the land parcel it is associated
with, much of the useful information was obtained from the Madison County, Alabama census and land
deed records. Census information pertaining to Madison County began with an 1809 count, when the area
was in the Mississippi Territory. From there, censuses were recorded in 1816 and 1818 and are provided
only as abstracts with information per county. The decennial count began in 1820. However, 1820
information for Madison County is unavailable due to previous mismanagement of records, along with
census information for other Alabama counties. An 1890 enumeration of Madison County is also
unavailable for unexplained reasons and only available for certain Alabama Counties.
The Goddard House, located on the Oakendale Plantation, was originally located on a parcel of land within
the Elko and Union Hill Community areas. The Elko community was home to one of the larger and more
interesting houses and pieces of land that is now part of the arsenal. This area is discussed in more detail in
the Ethnoarchaeological Investigations of Historic Sites in the Elko and Union Hill Communities on
Redstone Arsenal (Coco et al. 2005).
The Oakendale Plantation was located on Sections 7, 18, and 19, Township 4 South, Range 1 West and
Sections 11, 12, 13, and 24, Township 4 South, Range 2 West. The Goddard House was originally located
in Section 7, Township 4 South, Range 1 West.
The Oakendale Plantation existed between 1845 and 1873 when the then owners of the property, Luke and
Lucy Matthews named the large property they had acquired. Before 1845 and after 1873 the Oakendale
Plantation existed as separate parcels owned by various individuals. This historical narrative will focus on
the land on which the Goddard House was built and surrounding areas, which were the main occupation
area of the plantation, both residentially and agriculturally.
Manning Family: 18181845
In the early nineteenth-century several men began buying land in the area that is now Madison County,
Alabama. There was one landowner, however, who, beginning in 1818 began to purchase more than the
others. James Manning's name first appeared in the area with the purchase of land lying west of the Indian
Boundary in Section 12, R2W (MCC 1818:CP 855). The land where the Goddard House was originally
located first entered into public record in 1809 with the purchase of the land from the United States by
William Thompson (Madison County Courthouse, Huntsville, Alabama [MCC] Certificate of Purchase
[CP] 809 & 810). This property was then sold to James Manning in 1820 at a time when he was acquiring
other large parcels of land (MCC 1820: DB F:402). James Manning continued acquiring land throughout
the 1820s until, by the mid-1830s, he held the deeds to: the W 1/2 of Section 7, R1W (MCC 1820:DB
F:402); the SW of Section 13, R2W (MCC 1828:CP 239); and most of Section 12, R2W. It was within
the 1830s time frame that the Goddard House, originally known as the Chaney House, was built. The house
was mostly likely built c. 1835, based on existing evidence, including examination of the architecture
(Rogers 1989). It is unknown whether or not James Manning resided in this house; however he was the
owner of the property at the time of construction (Coco et al. 2005). Full census information provided for
Madison County begins in 1830. James Manning, Sr. was listed as having property in the 1st and 2nd
Ranges and as head of a household that contained: 1 white male and 1 white female under the age of 5; 2
white females between the ages of 15 and 20; and 4 white males between the ages of 20 and 30 (United
States Census Bureau 1830). The household also included: 1 female slave under the age of 10; 3 female
slaves and 8 male slaves between the ages of 10 and 24; 1 female slave between the ages of 24 and 36; and
1 female slave and 4 male slaves between the ages of 36 and 55, for a total of 26 people within the Manning
household (United States Census Bureau 1830). According to local Huntsville historian Tom Kenny,
Manning had at least 120 slaves accounted for in 1837 (Kenny n.d).

Alexander Archaeological Consultants


In 1837, near the end of his life, James Manning deeded all of his land in the area to his sons George F. and
Peyton T. Manning for the price of $1.00 and love and affection (MCC 1837:DB Q:361). Over the next
few years George and Peyton continued to add to the land they had received from their father. In 1838, they
acquired the remaining portion of Section 12, T4S, R2W from Richard Holding (MCC 1838:DB R:12).
While James Manning died in 1840, he was alive at the time of the 1840 enumeration of Madison County.
James Manning is listed in the 1840 census as having owned property in the southern half; however further
detail as to which section this referred to, was not given. The household contained: 1 white male between
the age of 70 and 80 (presumably James Manning as he died at the age of 71); 1 white female between the
age of 50 and 60 (presumable his wife Sophia Manning); 2 female slaves under the age of 10; 1 female
slave and 1 male slave between the ages of 10 and 24; and 3 female slaves and 2 male slaves between the
ages of 36 and 55, for a total of 11 people within the James Manning household (United States Census
Bureau 1840). It seems that all the Manning children and grandchildren were no longer living with James
and Sophia Manning in 1840. It is unclear where the couple was living at the time of the census, but it
remains likely that they still resided somewhere on the property that was deeded to George and Peyton
Manning. The obituary of Dr. James Manning stated that he passed away at the age of 70 at his estate in
Marengo County, Alabama and that he was a citizen of Madison County for over 30 years (Jones and
Gandrud 1980).
Peyton T. Manning was listed in the 1840 census as having owned property in the southern half; however
further detail as to which section this referred to, was not given. There was no listing for George F.
Manning. Peytons household contained: 1 white female and one white male under the age of 5; and 1 white
female and 1 white male between the ages of 20 and 30. This presumably represents both Peyton Manning
and his wife Sarah Manning and their two young children. The household also included: 9 female slaves
and 15 male slaves under the age of 10; 9 female slaves and 25 male slaves between the ages of 10 and 25;
11 female slaves and 8 male slaves between the ages 24 and 36; 5 female slaves and 3 male slaves between
the ages of 36 and 55; and 3 female slaves and 5 male slaves 55 years old or older, for a total of 97 people
within the Peyton Manning household. At least 60 people among this household were noted as involved
with agricultural occupations (United States Census Bureau 1840).
While Peyton Manning had a very large household and was presumably in charge of a prosperous
plantation, by the early 1840s financial issues emerged, and by 1845 he had sold or lost the entire holding.
The first hint of the problem appeared in 1842 when George and Peyton Manning executed a Deed of Trust,
a method of pledging real estate as collateral for a loan similar to a mortgage, with Samuel Peet and Elisha
Rice, on a portion of their land (MCC 1842:DB T:100). The following year the brothers entered into another
Deed of Trust with Benjamin Moore for Richard Holding (MCC 1843:DB T:531). Whether due to money
issues or mismanagement, the two men had to rid themselves of their land burden. They sold more of their
land to Bartley M. Lowe in 1844 (MCC 1844: DB U: 320), as well as to Sophia Manning, the boys mother
(MCC 1844: DB U: 380), while the Huntsville sheriff, a man by the name of P.D. Kavanaugh, forcibly
took the remainder of the land to pay the Mannings debts (MCC 1846: DB W: 161). For the next five years
the land remained unsettled because the Bank of the State of Alabama held onto the deed (Coco et al. 2005).
The areas of land sold to Bartley M. Lowe included the west half of Section 7 and portions of Section 18.
Bartley M. Lowe was married to Sarah Sophia Manning, sister to Peyton and George Manning, thus
keeping the property within the family. However, one year later, in 1845, Bartley Lowe sold the property
to Thomas W. White and his wife, Susan W. White (MCC 1845: DB V: 245). The land remained in family
hands, although very distantly, as Susan White was the grand-niece of Sophia Manning, mother of Peyton
and George Manning. However, Thomas White and his wife Susan quickly turned around and sold the land
to Luke and Lucy A. Matthews (MCC 1845: DB V: 255). This 1845 land purchase became the foundation
for one of the largest plantations in the Madison County area, Oakendale Plantation.

Architectural Survey of Building 7134


Matthews Family: 18451892
By the 1850's, Luke Matthews (Figure 2)
was the owner of Section 12 as well, which
he acquired through the Bank of the State
of Alabama (MCC 1851: DB Y: 197). In
1851, Luke Mathews purchased the rest of
the land the Manning brothers had lost to
the bank just five years before (MCC
1851:DB Y:197), and by the 1850s, the
Mathews owned 3,000 acres of land
located in: Sections 7, 18, and 19 of R1W
and Sections 11, 12, 13, and 24, of R2W. It
was then that Luke Matthews titled his
lands the Oakendale Plantation (Figure 5).
In researching the census information, it
was noticed that the Matthews surname
was sometimes spelled Matheus. It is
written here as it is found in the census
transcripts.
Luke Matthews was born in Campbell
County, Virginia in September 1796, to
Luke Matthews Sr. and Judith. Siblings
consisted of his twin brother John, and
Samuel, Edward, Washington, Nathaniel,
Nancy, and Susan. Having emigrated to the
south in the early 19th century, it is
unknown if all of the Matthews relocated,
but according to the 1850 Limestone
County Slave Census, Judith Matthews,
two Luke Matthews, Samuel Matthews,
and Washington Matthews were listed as
having slaves. It is unclear whether the
Judith listed was his mother or the woman
he married in 1826, Judith Peete.
Additionally, there was nothing defining
Figure 2. Portrait of Luke Matthews (1796-1875) (Stubno, Jr.
any difference between Luke Sr. and Luke
2005).
Jr. Either way, Judith was listed as having
21 slaves, Luke Matthews, Sr. had 12,
while the second Luke Matthews, Jr. had 45 slaves, Samuel had 67, and Washington had 30 slaves.
Prior to ownership of Oakendale, Luke Matthews owned another plantation by the name of Cotton Hill,
located in Limestone County. The transfer of Cotton Hill ownership passed through at least three men
before it came to Luke Matthews. Robert Taylor had originally owned the land on which Cotton Hill stood,
paying one-fourth of the value in Mississippi Stock on February 9, 1818. When Taylor could not make
the remaining payments of $17.56 per acre, made in three annual installments, he was forced to turn the
Certificate of Purchase over to John M. Taylor who gained the power of attorney and the right to sell, or
assign the land thus relieving Robert Taylor of any payment obligations. Theopolius Thomas was the
next owner listed shortly after the 1818 transaction. When Thomas could no longer make payments either,
he forfeited the land in July 1829. Luke Matthews then obtained a preemption stating, ...the right of a

Alexander Archaeological Consultants


settler on public land to purchase it at a
fixed price to the exclusion of any other
applicant. By August 1831, Matthews had
paid $3.50 per acre for the 1,092.40 acre
Cotton Hill plantation.
Luke married Judith Peete, daughter of
Benjamin Peete and Ann Blunt, in March
1826. They had a total of eight children,
but only four survived. Judith passed away
in January 1842, and it is thought that she
was interred at the Cotton Hill plantation,
however no tombstone has ever been
located. A year later Luke Matthews wed
Lucy Ann Spotswood, daughter of Elliot
Spotswood and Sarah Dandridge (Figure
3). Originally from Huntsville, Lucy Ann
resided with Luke at Cotton Hill until
1846, when they moved to the Oakendale
Plantation in Madison County. Lucy gave
birth to eight children before her death in
1874.
The 1850 Madison County census
accounts for Luke Matthews, age 50, his
wife Lucy Anne, age 37,both hailing from
Virginia, along with their children: Samuel
(son from first marriage), age 14; John N.,
age 7; Elliot, age 5; James P., age 3;
Lucien, age 2; and Sarah E., age 1. Luke
Matthews was listed as a farmer with a
personal worth of approximately $48, 000
(United States Census Bureau 1850).
Unlike the 1830 and 1840 census, the 1850
enumeration did not list any slaves as part
of the household. The slaves owned by
Luke Matthews were enumerated under the
U.S. Census of Slave Inhabitants (Table 1). Figure 3. Portrait of Lucy Ann Spottswood Matthews (1816
In 1850, Luke Matthews is listed as owning 1874) (Stubno, Jr. 2005).
63 black and mulatto slaves in Madison
County, ranging in age from 1 year to 45 years old. Luke Matthews is also listed as owning 57 black slaves
in Limestone County, ranging in age from 1 year to 65 years old. Presumably the slaves owned in Madison
County worked on the Oakendale Plantation, while the slaves owned in Limestone County were working
at the Cotton Hill Plantation.

Architectural Survey of Building 7134


Table 1. 1850 U.S. Census of Slave Inhabitants for Luke Matthews.
1850 Madison Co. Slave Census for the Luke Matthews
(Matheus)
Age
Male
Female
Color
1
3
Black
2

1850 Limestone Co. Slave Census for the Luke


Matthews (Matheus)
Age
Male
Female
Color
1
3
Black

Black

Black

Mulatto

Black

Black

Black

Black

Mulatto

10

Black

Black

11

Black

Black

12

Black
Black

Black
3

Black

Black

Black

13

10

Black

14

Mulatto

15

Black

16

Black

Mulatto

17

Black

11

Black

Black

12

12

13

Black

18

14

Black

20

15

Black

23

Black

Black

25

Black

Black

27

Black

Black

28

Black

Black

30

Black

17
18

20

21
22

Black
Black

Black

35

Black

23

Black

38

Black

24

Black

40

Black

Black

45

Black

25

27

Black

48

Black

28

Black

65

Black

29

Black

Black

40

Black

45

Black

30

Total:

37

26

Total:

32

25

Alexander Archaeological Consultants


Luke and Lucy Matthews were prominent planters in the Huntsville area. Luke Mathews was listed as head
of the household in the 1860 census. Matthews earned $50,000 in 1859 and had a net worth of $150,000.
The Matthews family also included: Lucy Ann, age 40; Samuel, age 22; John, age 15; Elliotte, age 14;
James, age 13; Lucian, age 11; Bettie, age 9; Lucy Malone, age 8; William, age 8; Lucy, age 5; and Susan,
age 2 (United States Census Bureau 1860). The Matthewss youngest child listed in the 1850 census, Sarah
E. Matthews age 1 year old, is not listed in the 1860 census, indicating the child died fairly young. Also, in
the 1860 census the Matthews have two children Lucy Malone and William who are of the same age; this
would indicate that they were fraternal twins. The 1860 U.S. Census of Slave Inhabitants shows Luke
Matthews as owning 127 black and mulatto slaves in Madison County, ranging in age from 1 year to 60
years old (Table 2). Additionally, Luke Matthews is listed as owning 30 black and mulatto slaves in
Limestone County. These numbers indicate that the Oakendale Plantation in Madison County was being
more intensively worked than the Cotton Hill Plantation in Limestone County.
The Matthews family resided at Oakendale until the Civil War, when, according to family lore, General
Ormsby Mitchell forced the family to flee, as he wanted the house and cotton for his troops (Allen 2005).
The family was removed to 538 Adams Street in Huntsville for the remainder of the War. Fortunately for
them, the house was previously owned by Lukes brother-in-law from his first marriage, thus he was able
to purchase the property in 1868. But that was not the last land purchase made by Luke Matthews. In 1868,
Luke purchased 4 acres and the house that stood at 416 McClung Avenue. In 1874, he transferred the title
of that plot to four of his children, James, Betty, Lucy, and Susie. Even though Luke continued to be the
owner of Oakendale, he resided at McClung Avenue until his death in 1875 (Allen 2005).
Shortly after the Civil War, not only did Luke Matthews purchase the above mentioned properties, he also
purchased numerous commercial and residential properties. The other properties owned by Luke Matthews
included: Number 2 Commercial Row (currently Harrison Brothers Hardware) purchased in 1868 for
$6,000; a vacant lot on Locust Street; a homestead known as the Sivly Place located approximately three
miles outside of Huntsville; as well as 1, 200 acres at the northeast corner of Pulaski Pike and Bob Wade
Lane which is currently a Toyota manufacturing plant; and 750 acres between South Memorial Parkway
and Huntsville Spring Branch purchased in 1871 and which is currently the John Hunt Park and Huntsville
Municipal Golf Course (Allen 2005). Also, Matthews had purchased, at auction, a third of the interest in a
building on East Side Square, which is now the Schiffman building. Eventually, between 1865 and 1875,
Luke Matthews had purchased nine more tracts of land for a total of $63,530 (Allen 2005).
By 1870, not only were Luke and Lucy Matthews prominent citizens of the Huntsville area, two of their
eldest sons, John N. Matthews and Elliott Matthews had also established themselves and their families as
prominent members of the community. John N. Matthews is listed in the 1870 census as a 25 year old
farmer with a yearly income of $5,000 and a total worth of $25,000. His household consisted of his wife
Henrietta Matthews, age 24, and their two daughters Clara, age 3 and Lucy, age 1. The household also
contained Agnes Cage, age 17, a back domestic born in Virginia. Elliott Matthews, age 24, is listed in the
1870 census as a grocer. His household consisted of his wife, Frances (Fannie) Matthews, age 21, and their
newborn daughter, Narcissa, aged 1 month, who was born in May 1870. The eldest son of Luke and Lucy
Matthews, Samuel Matthews, who was listed in the 1860 census as part of the Luke Matthews household
at the age of 22, is not listed in the 1870 census.

Architectural Survey of Building 7134


Table 2. 1860 U.S. Census of Slave Inhabitants for Luke Matthews.
Age
1

1860 Madison Co. Slave Census


for the Luke Matthews
Male
Female
6

11

Color
Black
Black

Mulatto

Mulatto

Black

Mulatto

10

Black

Black

12

Black

Black

12

Mulatto

13

Black

Black

14

Black

Mulatto

16

Black

18

Black

Mulatto

20

Black

28

Black

21

Mulatto

Mulatto

30

Black

Black

32

Mulatto

35

Black

40

10
12

14
18

14
15

1
3

19
20

1
2

25
30

15

30
40

40
45

1860 Limestone/ Madison Co. Slave Census for


the Luke Matthews
Age
Male
Female
Color
2
1
Black

1
7

60

Black

45

60

Mulatto

55

1
1

66

61

Mulatto
Black

Black

Black

Black

Mulatto

Black

Mulatto

Black

Black

Black

60

Total:

Black

75

Total:

19

Black
11

Luke Matthews, aged 73, had continued farming while his wife Lucy, aged 54, kept house. Their children
still living in their household were James age 22, Lucian age 21, Betty age 19, William age 18, Lucy age
15, and Susie age 12. Missing from this inventory of children is Lucy Malone who was 8 years old in 1860,
the likely fraternal twin of William. She either passed away or married and moved away in the time between
the two enumerations.
With Lukes total worth at $65,000 and his yearly income of $12,000, he was able to employ the assistance
of numerous people of color. Ada Jones age 23 was a household cook while she raised her four children on
the Oakendale Plantation. They included Maria age 7, Egbert age 4, Clarence age 2, and Simona age one
month. Also employed were Silva Catridge age 40, George Miller, a minister, age 45, with his wife Maria
age 48, also employed as a cook for the Matthews, with their children Matilda age 20 (a cook), George age
18 (a farm laborer), and Anna age 15. The last name on the Matthews household list of colored occupants
is James Mathews, a 40 year old farm laborer (United States Census Bureau 1870).

Alexander Archaeological Consultants


Lucy Ann Mathews died in 1874 and was followed by Luke Mathews in 1875. The couple is buried in
Maple Hill Cemetery, in Huntsville, surrounded by many of their descendants (Old Huntsville Magazine
n.d). In 1873, two years before he died, Luke Mathews deeded portions of Oakendale to his children, and
thus, three of his sons became the owners of land that would eventually become part of Redstone Arsenal.
James, Elliot, and John Mathews all received between 580 to 700 acres of what was once Oakendale
Plantation.
James P. Matthews and his wife, Lucy B. Matthews, received the portion of Oakendale Plantation upon
which the Manning House stood along with 700 acres of land (MCC 1873: DB VV: 504). It is in the 1875
Parcel Map that depicts the name J.P. Matthews in the SE 1/4 of Section 12 and in the SW 1/4 of Section
7 (Table 3 and Figure 4). Elliott R. Matthews maintained possession of 600 acres which he already was the
owner, John N. Matthews acquired 596 acres on the north side of the railroad where he was already living,
462 acres were deeded to the five children of John, and 833 acres was deeded to his fourth surviving son
by Lucy. By deduction, this fourth surviving son by Lucy was William E. Matthews, as his only other
son by Lucy. Lucian T. Matthews had already passed away in 1872. Although the 1875 map shows a L.T.
Matthews owning the property, the information at the time of publication was several years old.
Of the parcels of land that were deeded to James P. Matthews and his brother, Elliot R. Matthews, the
Goddard House lies within the parcel inherited by James P. Matthews. Mathews is the only family
associated with Site 1MA639 in the 1880 census, and consisting of farmer James P. Mathews age 33 and
his wife Lucy age 35, their daughter Eliza G. age 1, and James sister Susie age 22. Also included were a
servant, Patsy Ragland, age 70, and Semora Jones, age 9, a nurse. Both Ragland and Jones were colored
women. It is not known whether or not James and Lucy Mathews ever resided in the Goddard House.
Almost twenty years after he inherited the property, James P. Matthews sold his land to Elizabeth Davis in
1892 (MCC 1892: DB WWW: 212), who died in early 1896, but had willed her land to her son Loundes
Davis (MCC 1895: Will [W] 2: 437).
Davis Family: 18921924
James Matthews and his wife Lucy held onto the property that was deeded to them for almost twenty years.
In 1892, they sold all of the tract to Elizabeth (McGuire) Davis (MCC 1892:DB WWW:212). Elizabeth
Davis was born in Kentucky in 1803, she married Greer W. Davis, also born in Kentucky around 1799.
They lived in Byrd, Missouri by 1850 where Greer Davis is listed in the 1850 enumeration as a lawyer.
Greer W. Davis was nominated by President John Taylor, to the Register of the Land Office in Jackson,
Missouri (Library of Congress, n.d.). Greer W. Davis held this office from 1842 through 1854, a period of
twelve years in which the country saw four Presidents serving office, the fifth being Franklin Pierce who
removed Greer Davis from office. Greer W. Davis was a respected and prominent citizen in Cape
Girardeau, Missouri. Therefore it is not surprising that he owned household slaves. Greer W. Davis is listed
in both the 1850 and the 1860 slave schedules as a slave owner. The 1850 slave schedule lists his household
as containing three mulatto slaves, and the 1860 slave schedule lists two mulatto slaves and two black
slaves.
Greer and Elizabeth had one son, Lowndes, who was born in Missouri. They were still listed as residing in
Byrd, Missouri in 1860, although at this point the household included a Susan McGuire, aged 13 years,
born in Virginia, and Lowndes, aged 23 years, is listed as a student. Estimated monetary value of real estate
and personal estate is also listed. Greer W. Davis is listed as having $10,000 worth of real estate and $32,000
worth of personal estate. Lowndes Davis is listed as having $400 worth of real estate, while Susan McGuire
was listed as having $1,200 worth of personal estate, likely a dowry.

10

Architectural Survey of Building 7134


Table 3. Historic archaeological sites in the vicinity of Oakendale Plantation.
Site
Period
Description
Reference
1MA305
Early 19th to 20th Elko Switch, Black Shogren et al. (1989) Gage (1996)
century
Cemetery
1MA534
Late 19th century
Still, spring, & cave Meyer (1994) Alexander et al. (1998)
Coco et al. (2006)
1MA639
Early 19th to 20th Oakendale
Trudeau (2006) Coco et al (2006)
century
Plantation,
Jorgenson and Janowitz (2010)
1MA694
Late 19th to early Tenant farm house
Alexander et al. (1998) Trudeau (2006).
20th century
1MA697
Early to middle 19th Yeoman farm house Alexander et al. (1998)
century,
1MA747
Late 19th to early Tenant farm house
Alexander et al. (1998) Valk et al. (2011)
20th century
1MA748
Early 20th century
Tenant farm house
Alexander et al. (1998) Valk et al. (2011)
1MA776

Early 20th century

Tenant farm house

Alexander et al. (1998)

1MA779

Early 20th century

Tenant farm house

Alexander et al. (1998) Valk et al. (2011)

1MA780

Late 19th to early


20th century
Late 19th to early
20th century
Late 19th to early
20th century
Late 19th to early
20th century
Late 19th to early
20th century
Late 19th to early
20th century
Late 19th to early
20th century
Late 19th to early
20th century
Early 20th century
Early 20th century
Early 20th century

Tenant farm house

Alexander et al. (1999)

Tenant farm house

Alexander et al. (1998) Coco et al. (2006)

Tenant farm house

Alexander et al. (1998)

Tenant farm house

Alexander et al. (1998)

Tenant farm house

Alexander et al. (1998)

Tenant farm house

Alexander et al. (1998) Trudeau (2006)

Tenant farm house

Alexander et al. (1998) Coco et al. (2006)

Tenant farm house

Alexander et al. (1998)

Tenant farm house


Tenant farm house
Cotton gin (?)

Late 19th to
20th century
Late 19th to
20th century
Late 19th to
20th century
Late 19th to
20th century
Late 19th to
20th century
Late 19th to
20th century

early

Tenant farm house

Alexander and Redwine (2008a)


Alexander and Redwine (2008b)
Alexander and Redwine (2008b)
Alexander et al. (2009)
Alexander and Redwine (2008b)

early

Tenant farm house

Alexander and Redwine (2008b)

early

Tenant farm house

Alexander and Redwine (2008b)

early

Tenant farm house

Alexander and Redwine (2008b)

early

Tenant farm house

Alexander and Redwine (2008b)

early

Tenant farm house

Alexander and Redwine (2008b)

1MA785
1MA788
1MA789
1MA792
1MA793
1MA794
1MA809
1MA1526
1MA1528
1MA1560
1MA1563
1MA1564
1MA1565
1MA1566
1MA1567
1MA1568

11

Alexander Archaeological Consultants

Figure 4. Historic archaeological sites in the vicinity of Oakendale Plantation symbolized by temporal
affiliation.

12

Architectural Survey of Building 7134


While it is unclear what happened to the Davis family between 1860 and 1892, what is known is that Greer
W. Davis died in Missouri in 1878 after which, Elizabeth moved to Madison County, Alabama and bought
the Oakendale property in 1892. Three years later in early 1896, Elizabeth Davis died, and her son,
Lowndes (Loundes) Davis, inherited it (MCC 1895:Will [W] 2:437). At the time of his fathers death,
Lowndes Davis was at the height of his political career.
The 1870 enumeration lists Lowndes Henry Davis as living in Cape Girardeau County, Missouri as lawyer
and head of a household made up of his wife, Mary Bell, a daughter Ann, aged 7 years, a son Clarendon,
aged 2 years, and a son Lowndes (Jr), aged 9 months. Lowndes Davis, prior to becoming a plantation
owner, had a very prominent political career. While still a resident of Missouri, he was the states attorney
for the tenth judicial district of Missouri from 18681872, a member of the State House of Representatives
from 18761878, and elected as a Democrat to the Forty-sixth, Forty-seventh, and Forty-eighth U.S.
Congresses from March 4, 1879March 3, 1885 (United States Congress n.d). He was also chairman of the
Committee on Expenditures in the Department of the Treasury during the Forty-eighth U.S. Congress. His
official biography states he engaged in agricultural pursuits and in stock raising (United States Congress
n.d), therefore it is likely he pursued these interests at Oakendale Plantation after he retired from public
office.
After 1885 and his last term in Congress, Lowndes Davis is hard to track as the 1890 enumeration was
almost completely destroyed or badly damaged in a fire in Washington, DC, in 1921. The next available
census is the 1900 enumeration listing Lowndes H. Davis in Madison County, and is the only listed name
associated with the Oakendale Plantation. Head of the household at age 65, Lowndes was married to Mary
Bell, age 61, and had child Paul, age 29. Paul was married to Edna, age 28, and they had son Greer age 1.
According to the 1900 census, they were all residing under Lowndes household (Coco et al. 2005). The
1909 Map of Madison County lists Lowndes Davis as the property owner (Figure 4). Loundes Davis other
son, Clarendon Davis had established his own household by 1900. The 1910 census lists Clarendon Davis
as head of household which included his wife, Kate Davis ne Mastin, and their three daughters Fannie L.,
aged 10 years; Elisabeth Mc., aged 7 years; and Catherine, aged 2 months old.
Lowndes Davis died on the 4th of February 1920 in Cape Girardeau, Missouri and is interred in Maple Hill
Cemetery, Huntsville, Alabama. The land was inherited by Kate Davis, Lowndes daughter-in-law (MCC
1921:DB 125:431). The same day the inheritance was recorded, she transferred the land to her husband
Clarendon Davis, Lowndes son (MCC 1921:DB 125:431).
Lowndes grandson, Paul, also received land portions in the will (MCC 1920: Probate Record [PR] 6641:
235). It seems by the time Lowndes died, his second son, Paul Davis had passed away and likely Pauls
son Greer as well. Pauls second son, Paul Davis, Jr. seems to be the only surviving child of Paul Davis.
Therefore it was to Paul Davis Jr., that the land inheritance went. Paul, however, was considered a minor
at this time, so his legal guardian and mother, Edna R. Davis, proceeded with numerous legal actions against
Clarendon as to whom should be responsible for the land. They both wanted all of the willed land. By
December 1924, the courts had decided that Clarendon would be the legal holder of all land claims filed
(MCC 1924: PR 6641: 386). Shortly thereafter, the lands which encompass the sites 1MA639 and 1MA694,
were sold to its final owner before acquisition by the Federal government, M.G. Chaney in 1924 (MCC
1924: DB 131: 63).
It is uncertain which portion of lands Chaney sectioned off for unknown tenant farmers, but it is known
that cotton and corn were the primary crops. Also, there was a large portion of land, including parts of
Sections 7, 11, and 12, which remained under the Clarendon Davis name, as Davis was mortgaging lands
from Chaney (MCC 1924: DB 196: 657) with a loan that he took out from The Prudential Insurance
Company of America (MCC 1921: Mortgage Book [MB] 178: 63).

13

Alexander Archaeological Consultants


Chaney Family: 19241942
The Chaney name first appears in the 1910 Madison County census with Mayburn (Mabren) G., age 30, as
the head of the household. Manager of a dry goods store, M.G. Chaney was married to Bertie C., age 28,
and had children Cecil, age 8, Mattie B., age 6, and Mayburn, age 1. However, prior to 1910, Mayburn and
Bertie were living in Belle J. Chaneys household in Etowah County. The head of the household was Billie
(?) H. Chaney, aged 46 years, with nine children, and Bertie C. Chaney the daughter-in-law.
Found again in 1920, Mayburn (Mabren) G. Chaney, age 41, had continued to be the manager of the dry
goods store, and while wife Bertie C., age 38 raised Cecil P,. age 18, Glenn S., age 16, Mattie B., age 14,
and Mayburn Jr., age 10. Mayburn Sr.s mother Bell J,. age 64, was also a resident of the house, as was the
farm hand Warner Ryan, age 29 (Coco et al. 2005).
By the 1930 enumeration, Mayburn G. Chaney, 50 years old, is listed as head of household and continued
as the manager of the dry goods store and was worth $8,500. The household contained his wife, Bertie C.,
48 years old, son Glenn S., age 25, daughter Mattie B., age 23, son Mayburn S. (Jr.), age 21, Glenns wife
and daughter, Madge, age 20, and Edith G., age 1 years, and Mattie (?), Berties mother, age 68 years
old.
Mayburns son Cecil P. Chaney is listed separately as head of household, although they were living nearby.
Cecil was listed as a 28 year old general store clerk worth $2,500. His wife W. Elma Chaney was 26 years
old and had been married approximately 9 years at the time of the 1930 enumeration.
Chaney rented out land and farmed land himself for the next 20 years until the Army bought the land from
him in 1942 (MCC 1942:DB 159:297), and he is listed as a farmer in the 1940 U.S. Census living with his
wife and sister Beulah Smith, aged 50. The tenants grew cotton and corn for profit or a share in the crop
and then bought supplies from a commissary which was located in the old kitchen in the rear of the Chaney
house (Rogers 1989). It seems likely that M.G. Chaney either stocked the commissary at his house from
the dry goods general store he managed, or that the general store is the one mentioned as a commissary at
his house.
Four years after Chaney purchased his tract, he deeded approximately two acres in the NW of Section
18 to the State of Alabama on which to build a school. The school was known as the Chaney School and
appears on the 1936 Madison Quadrangle. The Army purchased this piece of land from the State of
Alabama (MCC 1942:DB 157:297), along with the rest of Chaneys tract, in 1942.

14

Architectural Survey of Building 7134

U.S. ARMY OWNERSHIP


After purchase of lands for Redstone Arsenal, the U.S. Army utilized the house, known variously as the
Manning House, the Matthews House, and the Chaney House, as storage for electrical supplies, but it was
later remodeled and used as quarters for military families until 1953 (Henry 2004). In 1953, the arsenal
closed the house due to the difficulty of supplying water to it and its remote location. Linda Bolino, daughter
of Captain Paul Linton, recalled in an interview her life as a young girl living in the Chaney House (Henry
2004). She recalled living on the top floor while another family lived downstairs, and that there was a
cottage near the back of the house and a graveyard where she and her brother would play (Henry 2004).
By the mid-1950s, Redstone Arsenal had become an area of national importance because of its guided
missile and rocket program. The Army decided it needed a suitable place to entertain and house important
guests to the arsenal. In December of 1955, the commanding general personally requested $18,000 to move
the house away from its remote location on the base, in preparation for the upcoming visit of Secretary of
Defense Charles Wilson. He received verbal authorization from the Office of the Chief of Ordnance to
proceed. The house was spared from demolition and quickly relocated approximately eleven miles closer
to the posts headquarters (Peters 1980).
Because of its relocation on a large trailer, the house was initially dubbed The Wheel House, but in May
of 1956, the name of the house was changed to the Goddard House in honor of Dr. Robert Goddard, the
Father of American Rocketry (Redstone Rocket 1971). It received $10,000 in repairs to the plumbing,
roofing, and stucco. Several significant features of the house were lost during the move. The structure
originally had four large brick chimneys (Figure 5). The house also had a back porch, one-story rear Laddition, and an exterior rear staircase leading to a rear second-story entrance that were demolished during
the relocation (Figure 6). The foundation and cellar of the rear L-addition are still standing at site 1Ma639
and was probably added by the Army between 1942 and 1953 along with the external staircase to provide
an external entrance to the occupants of the second floor quarters.

Figure 5. The Goddard House 1955 at original site, primary faade.

15

Alexander Archaeological Consultants


Only one chimney was rebuilt after the move (Figure 7 and Figure 8). One of the original mantles was left
in place on the first floor, while another was moved to a gas fireplace below in a newly-poured basement.
The original modest one-bay, one-story, screened-in porch with a half-hipped roof was replaced at the new
location with a more formal two-story Neoclassical porch featuring square columns and pilasters, a deck
roof with a balustrade, and large concrete steps. The house was also refurbished for its role as a guest house;
it was well appointed for the distinguished visitors it would receive with mahogany furniture, wool rugs,
and a fireplace faced in pink marble (Peters 1980). The Goddard House reopened in February 1956 and saw
many important guests, including Secretary of Defense Charles Wilson; Secretary of the Army Wilber
Brucker; and Secretary of the Navy Dan Thomas.
In 1966, the Goddard House transitioned from being a guest house for VIPs to a training facility for the
Army Munition Support Command. During this switch, the large rooms of the plantation house were
partitioned to create small apartments. The stucco house was also refaced with yellow brick sometime
between 1956 and 1967. In 1989, the building was used as administrative space for the Federal Bureau of
Investigations (FBI) until 2010 when it was transferred to the U.S. Army Aviation & Missile Command
Contracting Office. In 1992, the army developed a renovation plan that included adding a ramp to the front
porch to make the primary entrance wheelchair-accessible to copy with the Americans with Disabilities Act
of 1990 (Figure 9). Egress from the rear of the second story was also added (Figure 10). The scope of work
also called for minor renovations such as repainting and adding new carpet (Redstone Arsenal Support
Activity 1992). By the 1990's, the Goddard House was reclassified from housing to office and meeting
space. It was used as overflow meeting space by various organizations until 2013 when it was transferred
to the Garrison Redstone Arsenal Environmental Management Division Installation Restoration Branch
(IR) to be used as office space for contractors as part of the post-wide RCRA/CERCLA clean-up operation.
During this transition, while the building stood vacant during the early months of 2014, the water was not
turned off as it should have been, and a water pipe froze and burst and was not detected before water
destroyed most of the first-floor drywall, and all of the ceiling panels and furnishings in the basement. As
a result, IR abandoned plans to use the building, and it was decided to clean-up the damage. Due to the

Figure 6. Goddard House 1955 at original site, rear face.


16

Architectural Survey of Building 7134


presence of asbestos floor tiles, asbestos abatement became necessary first, and it was decided to go ahead
and remove all floor tiles, drywall, and drop ceiling panels in the entire house (Katherine Stamps, personal
communication 2015).

Figure 7. Goddard House 1955 crossing Huntsville Spring Branch during move, rear face.

Figure 8. Goddard House 1956 with a rocket.

17

Alexander Archaeological Consultants

Figure 9. Goddard House 1998.

Figure 10. Goddard House, rear elevation, 2015.

18

Architectural Survey of Building 7134

Current Condition
The house was stripped to the studs, plumbing fixtures, electrical work, and most other interior finishes,
leaving the interior structure visible (Figure 11). The original fireplace locations are readily apparent from
the contemporary 5 wide boards used to fill in the gaps in the original weatherboard left by the removal of
the historic chimneys (Figure 12). Original fireplace locations are depicted on the floorplans. The original
location of the rear second floor door shown in Figure 7 is likewise apparent from the presence of similar
boards (Figure 13).
Figure 14 illustrates two walls that contain both original and modern framing. Original framing lumber is
easily distinguished from modern lumber by its larger size and dark color with lighter colored strips running
horizontal across the beams. These stripes were caused by the wooden lathe that was originally attached to
the beams to support plaster walls but has since been removed. Mortise and tenon joints were used to join
the original framing. Mortises are still present that indicate beams which have since been removed. Lathe
marks also show the configuration of lathes for the former plaster walls and ceilings (Figure 15).
Lightning rods and a grounding cable were installed by the Army at some point (Figure 16).The original
staircase is present in the house (Figure 17). The original entrance has been widened, and a new entry way
with sidelights added (Figure 18).

Figure 11. View from the SW room on the second floor indicating visible structure.

19

Alexander Archaeological Consultants

Figure 12. Original location of fireplace in first floor SE room.

Figure 13. Original location of rear door on E wall of 2nd floor NE room.

20

Architectural Survey of Building 7134

Figure 14. View of the NE showing historic and modern studs.

Figure 15. Lathe marks at right angles on these ceiling joists.

21

Alexander Archaeological Consultants

Figure 16. Ridge beam of house with steel cable.

Figure 17. Original stairway.

22

Architectural Survey of Building 7134

Figure 18. Primary entrance with non-original sidelights.

23

Alexander Archaeological Consultants

National Register of Historic Places Eligibility


Building 7134 on Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, known as the Goddard House, was a two-story plantation
house built c. 1835 by James Manning. It was originally part of the Oakendale Plantation, which was a very
large plantation for the area. It was continuously occupied until the land was purchased by the Army in
1942 for Redstone Arsenal. In 1955, the Army relocated the house to its present location to serve as guest
quarters for VIP visitors to the Arsenal.
After the relocation, only one of the four original chimneys was rebuilt. The original weatherboard was also
covered in stucco and later in yellow brick. The original one story porch was also replaced with a two-story
Neoclassical porch, and the fenestration was altered. Later, the large rooms of the house were partitioned
to create rooms for bachelor housing. The house is currently unoccupied, and the interior has been stripped
down to the framing. The Goddard House Alabama State Historic Preservation Office number is 08900151. The survey was conducted under Alabama Historical Commission permit number 15-0643.
These are important points to consider when discussing the National Register of Historic Places eligibility
of the structure. The integrity of the structure as a historic resource has been heavily compromised by a
long series of events. The structure was moved from the Oakendale Plantation in 1955, which impacted the
integrity of location and setting. Although the structure has been in the same location since 1955, integrity
of setting has not been re-established because the building is not in its significant cultural and environmental
context. While the Army used the structure for purposes other than as a plantation farmhouse, none of these
purposes meet National Register eligibility criteria due to a lack of association with historically significant
people or events beyond simple guest lodging. Additionally, altered fenestration, faade, and interior design
have impacted the integrity of the resource in terms of workmanship, materials, and association of feeling.
With these points in mind, the integrity of the resources interior has been further compromised by the
inundation and subsequent removal of all interior surfaces.
That being said, the Goddard House has assumed a central place in the folk history of Redstone Arsenal. It
has repeatedly been the subject of human interest stories in the Redstone Arsenal newspaper, the Redstone
Rocket (e.g. Peters 1980, Rogers 1989, Henry 2004a), has a write up of its own on the website for the
official Redstone Arsenal history (Hughes 2015), and is the subject of many ghost stories (Rogers 1989,
McBride 2001, Henry 2004b).
The Goddard House, Building 7134, is recommended as not eligible for inclusion to the National Register
of Historic Places based on lack of association with individuals or events that have broadly affected local,
state, or national history. Additionally, the structure as it now stands lacks integrity of location, setting,
design, workmanship, and feeling. Therefore, NHPA Criteria A, B, and C do not apply to Building 7134.
No further investigation of Building 7134 is recommended at this time, although the original historical
hardware components (beams, stairway, mantels, etc.) have structural integrity and should not be destroyed.
If demolition of the Goddard House cannot be avoided, AAC recommends that all architectural features
and hardware original to the pre-arsenal structure be dismantled and removed intact to be donated to the
Historic Huntsville Foundation of a similar organization for use in local historic restoration projects..

24

Architectural Survey of Building 7134

References
Alexander, Lawrence S., H. Russell Campbell, Daniel J. Minnich, and James M. Moore
1998 Phase I Archaeological Survey of Ground Disturbance Areas 4, 5, and 7 on Redstone Arsenal,
Madison County, Alabama. Submitted to Directorate of Environmental Management and Planning,
Redstone Arsenal, by Alexander Archaeological Consultants, Wildwood, Georgia.
Alexander, Lawrence S., Daniel J. Minnich, H. Russell Campbell, and William D. Stevens
1999 Phase I Archaeological Survey of 1052 Hectares on Redstone Arsenal, Madison County, Alabama.
Submitted to Directorate of Environmental Management and Planning, Redstone Arsenal, by Alexander
Archaeological Consultants, Wildwood, Georgia.
Alexander, Lawrence S., and Charles P. Redwine
2008a The 2005-2007 Phase I Archaeological Survey on Redstone Arsenal, Madison County, Alabama.
Submitted to Environmental Management Division, Redstone Arsenal, by Alexander Archaeological
Consultants, Inc., Wildwood, Georgia.
2008b The 2007-2008 Phase I Archaeological Survey on Redstone Arsenal, Madison County, Alabama.
Submitted to Environmental Management Division, Redstone Arsenal, by Alexander Archaeological
Consultants, Inc., Wildwood, Georgia.
Alexander, Lawrence S., and Charles P. Redwine, and Jaime Trotter
2009 Phase II Archaeological Testing of Sites 1MA748 and 1MA1560 on Redstone Arsenal, Madison
County, Alabama, DRAFT. Submitted to Environmental Management Division, Redstone Arsenal by
Alexander Archaeological Consultants, Inc., Wildwood, Georgia.
Allen, L. B.
2005 Luke Matthews in Madison County. Historic Huntsville Quarterly of Local Architecture and
Preservation. 31(12).
Coco, J. J., L. S. Alexander, and R. T. Bauer
2005 Ethnoarchaeological Investigations of Historic Sites in the Elko and Union Hill Communities on
Redstone. Alexander Archaeological Consultants, Chattanooga, Tennessee. Prepared for U.S. Army
Aviation and Missile Command, Directorate of Environmental Management and Planning, Redstone
Arsenal, Alabama.
Henry, K.
2004 Goddard House has long colorful history. Redstone Rocket 20 October Huntsville, Alabama.
Hughes, K.
2015 The Goddard House. Electronic Document, http://history.redstone.army.mil/ihist-goddardhouse.html , accessed July 15, 2015.
Jones, Kathleen P., and Pauline J. Gandrud
1980 Alabama Records, Vol. 15. Southern Historical Press, Greenville, South Carolina.
Kenny, Thomas
n.d. A Genealogical Report Concerning Slaves, Former Slaves, Tenant Farmers and Sharecroppers of

25

Alexander Archaeological Consultants


the Holding, Manning, and Matthews Plantations in the Vicinity of Elko and Pond Beat. Compiled by
Thomas Kenny.
Old Huntsville Magazine
n.d. Maple Hill Cemetery. Electronic Document, http://www.oldhuntsville.com/p259.htm. Old
Huntsville Magazine.
Peters, Ed
1980 Old Goddard House impressed first visitor. Redstone Rocket 2 July:20. Huntsville, AL.
Redstone Arsenal Support Activity
1992 Building 7134 Goddard House Renovations, Redstone Arsenal. Scope of Work. Redstone Arsenal,
Hunstville, Alabama.
Redstone Rocket
1971 Goddard House. 17 February:13. Huntsville, Alabama.
Rogers, P.
1989 Goddard House Serves as Reminder of Pre-Army Days. The Redstone Rocket 25 October:1011.
Redstone Arsenal, Alabama.
Stubno, Jr., W. J.
2005 Luke Matthews of Cotton Hill. Historic Huntsville Quarterly of Local Architecture and
Preservation 31(12).
United States Census Bureau
1830 U.S. Census Madison County Alabama. Madison County Library, Huntsville, Alabama.
1840 U.S. Census Madison County Alabama. Madison County Library, Huntsville, Alabama.
1850 U.S. Census Madison County Alabama. Madison County Library, Huntsville, Alabama.
1860 U.S. Census Madison County ALabama. Madison County Library, Huntsville, Alabama.
1870 U.S. Census Madison County Alabama. Madison County Library, Huntsville, Alabama.
United States Congress
n.d. Biographical Directory of the American Congress, 17741949. Electronic Document, Biographical
Directory of the American Congress, 1774-1949., accessed July 2006.
Valk, Diana and Jeanine Windham, David Price, and Leslie E. Raymer
2011 Archaeological Phase II Testing of Historic Sites 1MA747, 1MA748, and 1MA779. New South
Associates, Technical Report 1968.
Wright, K.
2000 Rocket Science: A Historic Context and Assessment of U.S. Army Cold War Potentially Eligible
1946-1989 Redstone Arsenal, Alabama. Prepared for Redstone Arsenal Support Activity, Redstone
Arsenal, Alabama. Fort Worth, TX: Historic Resource Assessments.

26

Architectural Survey of Building 7134

Appendix A: Architectural Drawings

27

You might also like