====== The Dr. John R. Drish House: A Historical Overview and Folklore ======

The Dr. John R. Drish House, commonly known as the Drish House, is a historic plantation house located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Recognized for its unique blend of Greek Revival and Italianate architectural styles, the house is a significant example of 19th-century Southern architecture.

==== Construction ====

Built in 1837, the Drish House was erected at the heart of a 450-acre plantation for Dr. John R. Drish. Drish, originally from Virginia, was one of Tuscaloosa's early settlers, arriving in 1822. By the time of his marriage to wealthy widow Sarah Owen McKinney in 1835, Drish had established a successful medical practice and worked as a building contractor. Many skilled slave artisans, employed by Drish, contributed to the early plasterwork seen throughout Tuscaloosa.

The house, constructed by these artisans, was initially influenced by state architect William Nichols. The original design featured monumental Doric porticoes on the front and rear of the house, with two-story pilasters dividing each bay on all four sides.

Before the American Civil War, the Drish House was extensively remodeled in the Italianate style. Modifications included the addition of a three-story brick tower, the replacement of Doric columns with Ionic ones, the installation of brackets on eaves and overhangs, and the addition of two-story cast iron side porches.

Dr. John R. Drish died in 1867, reportedly due to a fall down a stairway, and his wife Sarah passed away in 1884.

==== Subsequent History ====

After Sarah Drish's death, the mansion changed hands multiple times. The surrounding property was sold and subdivided, contributing to Tuscaloosa's first major expansion. In 1906, the house was acquired by the Tuscaloosa Board of Education and repurposed as the Jemison School. It remained a school until 1925, after which it was used as a parts warehouse for Charles Turner's Tuscaloosa Wrecking Company. During this period, Walker Evans took a famous photograph of the house, which was later displayed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

In 1940, the Southside Baptist Church purchased the property. They added a sanctuary and a detached Sunday school building. The church retained the house until 1995. Faced with potential demolition in 1994, the house was leased to the Heritage Commission of Tuscaloosa County by former church members. By 2006, it was listed on the "Places in Peril" by the Alabama Historical Commission and Alabama Trust for Historic Preservation. In July 2007, it was deeded to the Tuscaloosa County Preservation Society, which undertook efforts to stabilize the structure. The church additions were demolished in 2009. The house was purchased by Nika McCool of Past Horizons LLC in 2012, and after renovations, it reopened as an event venue in May 2016.

==== Folklore ====

Since the early 20th century, the Drish House has been associated with various ghost stories. The house was featured in Kathryn Tucker Windham and Margaret Gillis Figh's book *13 Alabama Ghosts and Jeffrey*, specifically in the story "Death Lights in the Tower." Alleged supernatural occurrences include sightings of the third-story tower appearing to be on fire without actual flames and ghostly lights emerging from the house.

==== References ====

  * "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. April 15, 2008.
  * "The Alabama Register of Landmarks & Heritage" (PDF). preserveala.org. Alabama Historical Commission. May 31, 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 6, 2011. Retrieved June 6, 2011.
  * "In Play: John Drish House". Alabama's Preservation Scorecard. Alabama Historical Commission, Alabama Preservation Alliance, University of West Alabama. Archived from the original on October 3, 2011. Retrieved July 27, 2011.
  * "Dr. John H. Drish House, 2300 Seventeenth Street, Tuscaloosa, Tuscaloosa, AL". Historic American Buildings Survey. Library of Congress. Retrieved July 27, 2011.
  * Tommy Stevenson (July 18, 2007). "'Place in Peril' gets help: Preservation society plans to restore Drish House". Tuscaloosa News. Retrieved June 27, 2011.
  * Ashraf, Syjil (2018-09-12). "The Best Haunted Houses to Visit in Every State Gallery". The Daily Meal. Retrieved 2024-06-13.
  * Clifton, Sarah. "'The history leaves an imprint on the land': The ghosts of Tuscaloosa past". The Crimson White. Retrieved 2024-06-13.
  * Gamble, Robert (1987). *The Alabama Catalog: A Guide to the Early Architecture of the State*. University, AL: University of Alabama Press. pp. 78, 79, 353. ISBN 0-8173-0148-8.
  * "Photograph of the Drish House by Walker Evans". Converted antebellum residence into Tuscaloosa Wrecking Company and Auto Parts. Alabama. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, DC. Retrieved September 29, 2016.
  * "Drish House". Tuscaloosa County Preservation Society. Archived from the original on October 5, 2011. Retrieved July 27, 2011.
  * "Converted Italianate Revival House Behind Fence, Wrecking Company Near Tuscaloosa, Alabama". Metropolitan Museum of Art. Retrieved July 27, 2011.
  * Windham, Kathryn Tucker; Figh, Margaret Gillis (1969). *13 Alabama Ghosts and Jeffrey*. Strode Publishers. pp. 23–32. ISBN 0-8173-0376-6.
  * Tommy Stevenson (October 13, 2008). "Drish House finally gets a chance to yield its secrets". Tuscaloosa News. Retrieved June 27, 2011.

==== External Links ====

  * [Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS) No. AL-201, "Dr. John H. Drish House, 2300 Seventeenth Street, Tuscaloosa, Tuscaloosa County, AL"](https://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/al0133/)