Gypsy Heart
Gold Member
Historic Decatur landmark to be sold
Folklore says gold hidden on estate set for auction
Wednesday, October 13, 2004
By CHRISTOPHER BELL
Times Staff Writer [email protected]
DECATUR - A landmark along U.S. 31 just north of Decatur, a Greek-revival-style house on land that was once part of a plantation, will be sold at auction this weekend.
Forklore has it that gold taken from the State Bank in Decatur was buried on the 30-acre site to keep it out of the hands of Union soldiers during the Civil War. The legend says the gold was never found.
During the 33 years Frank and Sara Hudson have owned the estate, they found no gold, although Frank Hudson said Tuesday afternoon he never made a big effort to find it.
During the past year the Hudsons have offered to sell the property for $1.3 million but had no buyers. Hudson, 72, said he and his wife are selling the house so they can move to Birmingham to be near their daughter.
So at noon Saturday the home and land will be sold to the highest bidder, "regardless of the bid," Hudson said.
The "absolute auction" is being handled by Fowler Auction & Real Estate of Toney. The property is divided into four tracts for the sale. For more than three decades the Hudsons operated an antique business and held auctions in two buildings south of the house. Those buildings are on two of the four tracts.
The two-story house is on a 14-acre tract and includes five bedrooms, 31/2 baths, hardwood floors, a large back yard with a swimming pool, azalea gardens and an oak tree estimated to be 150 years old.
Hudson said large cotton fields adjoin the property, and the Swan Creek Wildlife Management Area is nearby.
Hudson said the property is rich in history.
In 1828, President John Quincy Adams deeded the land to John H. Harris, who in turn left part of the tract to the Pryor family. They sold a portion to the late Ewell Gregg, who built the house in 1947.
Hudson said a historical marker near the property notes that Confederate Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest led raids on Union supply lines in the area during the Civil War.
Folklore says gold hidden on estate set for auction
Wednesday, October 13, 2004
By CHRISTOPHER BELL
Times Staff Writer [email protected]
DECATUR - A landmark along U.S. 31 just north of Decatur, a Greek-revival-style house on land that was once part of a plantation, will be sold at auction this weekend.
Forklore has it that gold taken from the State Bank in Decatur was buried on the 30-acre site to keep it out of the hands of Union soldiers during the Civil War. The legend says the gold was never found.
During the 33 years Frank and Sara Hudson have owned the estate, they found no gold, although Frank Hudson said Tuesday afternoon he never made a big effort to find it.
During the past year the Hudsons have offered to sell the property for $1.3 million but had no buyers. Hudson, 72, said he and his wife are selling the house so they can move to Birmingham to be near their daughter.
So at noon Saturday the home and land will be sold to the highest bidder, "regardless of the bid," Hudson said.
The "absolute auction" is being handled by Fowler Auction & Real Estate of Toney. The property is divided into four tracts for the sale. For more than three decades the Hudsons operated an antique business and held auctions in two buildings south of the house. Those buildings are on two of the four tracts.
The two-story house is on a 14-acre tract and includes five bedrooms, 31/2 baths, hardwood floors, a large back yard with a swimming pool, azalea gardens and an oak tree estimated to be 150 years old.
Hudson said large cotton fields adjoin the property, and the Swan Creek Wildlife Management Area is nearby.
Hudson said the property is rich in history.
In 1828, President John Quincy Adams deeded the land to John H. Harris, who in turn left part of the tract to the Pryor family. They sold a portion to the late Ewell Gregg, who built the house in 1947.
Hudson said a historical marker near the property notes that Confederate Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest led raids on Union supply lines in the area during the Civil War.
