A TOUR OF THE RESTORED DRISH HOUSE

A few months ago I came across the Drish house on Facebook. I immediately recognized the decaying, pink house. I've passed by it many times in Tuscaloosa, but I knew absolutely nothing about the stately, aging beauty. I was thrilled to discover that it was being restored. I began following the progress of the restoration, and my mom and I attended the open house and ribbon cutting ceremony in June.

I thought I would give you a tour and tell you a little about the house that is now a strikingly beautiful event venue.


Before...

Image: Advance Alabama

The house was built in 1837 by Dr. John R. Drish.

Dr. Drish died from a fall, and after his wife Sarah also died, tales of ghostly sightings and fires burning in the tower that mysteriously disappeared when fire fighters arrived were reported. These unusual events landed the house on the list of Alabama's most haunted places.

The home has been many things since the passing of the Drish family: a school, a car parts warehouse, and a church--to name a few.

Let's go inside...

Front entrance

The front doors open into the great room.

The double staircase leading to the second floor is my favorite construction detail in the house. The bench resting in between is stunning as well.

The view on the way up...

The view on the way down...

At the top of the stairs and turning right, there is a dressing area perfect for a bride and her attendants.

Sitting area on bride's side

Here are the rooms on the other side of the second floor for a groom and his groomsmen.

Sitting area on groom's side

These next few shots are from the second floor, front middle room.

And finally, the restored Drish house... (and how about that flawless Alabama sky?)

So there you have it--a beautifully restored piece of history. To see detailed pictures and to appreciate how far the house has come, look at the before pictures here. Nika McCool with Past Horizons is doing an amazing job.

If you are interested in helping restore a bit of history yourself, join the "Friends of the Drish House." This a nonprofit that will be responsible for tours, field trips, and educational events. It will also raise money for the landscaping and help restore architectural features. To join...

Mail a check with your email address to:

Friends of the Drish

P O Box 1041

Tuscaloosa, Alabama 35403

Individual Membership: $25.00
Couple's Membership: $40.00

If you are interested in event rates and reservations, contact Vikki Grodner at 205-422-9713.

I hope you enjoyed this glimpse into the past and house tour as much as I've enjoyed putting it together. I'm not really sure why I was drawn to the project, but I'm now a fan.  :-)

Happy Friday!

Kathryn