These two grand historic houses pictured here met the fate of "progress" and were razed some time around 1950. This was my home from 1918 to 1941.

This home was constructed by Isaac Murray and completed in 1780. The brick walls were about 18 inches thick. The date of construction was carved on bricks placed high in the east wall. John Milton Phillips purchased the houses and farm in 1910.  I (Alison Phillips) came to live with him and his wife, Bertha, in 1918 after the death of my birth mother, Dora Pratt. Bertha Richards, was my birth mother's sister. This was my beloved home from 1918 till 1941. The pictures you see here must have taken some time around 1943. Thank you Mom and Dad for all you did for me.

This is the servant's (slave)quarters and kitchen built about the same time as the main residence. It was separated from the masters home by just 25 feet. It depresses me to see the sad state of deterioration. It was not so when I spent my childhood and youth here. I enjoyed many hours in this home watching Aunt Mary, our servant and my Nanny, make biscuits and brewing tea on top of a wood stove. The house had a full basement with two entrances. The covered entrance you see here, on the west side, led to our pantry and ice box. We kept canned goods and milk in this side of the basement. The basement entrance on the river side led to a storage area where we kept our incubator and hatched baby chicks.

Our smokehouse is shown with an open door. It was built by me and my brother, Elbert Pratt. My Daddy taught me how to smoke and cure pork and hams in this smokehouse. This is not its original location. It was blown where shown by a tornado, the most frightening experience of my life. The tornado wrenched our kitchen and dining room from the house, but the thick brick walls of the main house stood firm.