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The oldest known house in Butler County will open its doors to the public on Saturday, June 28, as part of a historic tour that highlights not only unique architecture but a shared legacy of survival, family and heritage.

The Coleman-Crenshaw House, built circa 1817, is listed on the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage and recognized as one of the oldest two-story wooden frame residences in south Alabama. 

“I’ve always been fascinated by this house and I just didn’t want to see it disappear,” said Edna Crenshaw Rubin, a descendant of Gardner Crenshaw and one of the leading coordinators of the preservation effort.

The house will be open from noon to 5 p.m. on Saturday. Admission is $5 for adults and free for children. All proceeds from the event go toward the maintenance and preservation of the historic structure. The tour is located off Crenshaw Road, a dirt road accessible from Highway 54 near Mt. Olive Baptist Church. Visitors are encouraged to follow the Coleman-Crenshaw Historical House signs for directions.

Built by slaves of Dr. John Coleman, one of Butler County’s earliest pioneer settlers, the home has been continuously occupied for more than two centuries by only two families: the Colemans and the Crenshaws. In 1909, the home was purchased by Gardner Crenshaw, a former slave from the nearby Thomas Chiles Crenshaw plantation.

In 2011, a historic roadside marker was dedicated at the intersection of Ridge and Crenshaw Roads — the first in Butler County to honor both Black and white family histories. The ceremony was opened by Rev. Wilbert Jenkins and featured remarks from representatives of the Alabama Historical Commission, the Black Heritage Council and the Butler County Historical Society.

“This house contains the struggle and survival of two families,” Rubin said. “One man trying to move his whole life and family and integrate into a new community and a Black man coming out of slavery. Two very different struggles but both survived. The house is what’s left to speak of.”

According to the Butler County Historical and Genealogical Society (BCHGS) newsletter during the marker dedication, Frazine Taylor of the Black Heritage Council praised the Crenshaw family’s dedication to preserving Black heritage, while Dorothy Walker of the Alabama Historical Commission emphasized the importance of the place. 

“Family history is not just names and dates on cemetery markers. It’s things like this house… built by and lived in by your ancestors,” Walker said.”

Pamala Nolan, president of the Butler County Historical Society, commended the ongoing preservation efforts.

“We applaud Ms. Rubin and Ms. Bridges for setting up a trust to ensure the Coleman-Crenshaw House is preserved for the future,” Nolan said. “Its history is an important part of Butler County history, so we encourage everyone to support their efforts and go on the tour.”

To learn more or schedule a visit, contact Edna Rubin at 810-287-4421 or Florence Bridges at 404-295-3317.