John McMahon House
Encyclopedia
The John McMahon House is a Federal style mansion located in Courtland
, Alabama
. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
.
to manage the Courtland branch of the Huntsville
mercantile firm of Bierne and McMahon. In August 1835, McMahon married Harriet Shackelford, daughter of Dr. Jack Shackelford.
Federal raiding parties used the house on several occasions as temporary headquarters. Some of the troops fired into the ceiling one evening, leaving a hole in the ceiling that existed for some time.
The brass nameplate in the foyer is that of Dr. Jack McMahon. The home still has Civil War
era bullet holes, which someone had attempted to patch, visible around the front door.
The home is the first of a ground-breaking program created to assist in the private preservation of historical homes.
This home is featured in "Silent in the Land" published by Chip Cooper, Harry Knopke, Bob Gamble, which depicts this home, along with others in the state.
Courtland, Alabama
Courtland is a town in Lawrence County, Alabama, and is included in the Decatur Metropolitan Area, as well as the Huntsville-Decatur Combined Statistical Area. As of the 2000 census, the population of the town is 769.-Geography:...
, Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
.
History
The John McMahon House is so called for the first documented owner, John McMahon. McMahon moved to the area from VirginiaVirginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
to manage the Courtland branch of the Huntsville
Huntsville, Alabama
Huntsville is a city located primarily in Madison County in the central part of the far northern region of the U.S. state of Alabama. Huntsville is the county seat of Madison County. The city extends west into neighboring Limestone County. Huntsville's population was 180,105 as of the 2010 Census....
mercantile firm of Bierne and McMahon. In August 1835, McMahon married Harriet Shackelford, daughter of Dr. Jack Shackelford.
Federal raiding parties used the house on several occasions as temporary headquarters. Some of the troops fired into the ceiling one evening, leaving a hole in the ceiling that existed for some time.
The brass nameplate in the foyer is that of Dr. Jack McMahon. The home still has Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
era bullet holes, which someone had attempted to patch, visible around the front door.
The home is the first of a ground-breaking program created to assist in the private preservation of historical homes.
This home is featured in "Silent in the Land" published by Chip Cooper, Harry Knopke, Bob Gamble, which depicts this home, along with others in the state.