Old Espy House

Henry County Siftings

By

T. Larry Smith

Vol. 13, No 34

The J. J. Espy Home is a Headland Landmark

John Jolly Espy (1878-1934) was one of the most prominent businessmen to ever live in Headland, Alabama and in Henry County. His interesting life was chronicled in this column 11 years ago.  J. J. Espy became a successful attorney, merchant, banker, state senator and legislator and a democratic politico, a large plantation owner, a Baptist, a Headland Mayor and Councilman, a civic leader and promoter of Headland and of Henry County, an educational, social, and religious supporter, and was one of the county’s most prolific entrepreneurs ever in creating new businesses, having been involved in the incorporation of over forty companies including four banks: the first bank in Headland called The Bank of Headland, which was a private bank; The First National Bank of Headland; the Farmers and Merchant Bank of Newville; and lastly the Headland National Bank that is still in business after 77 years, and is the present largest bank in Henry County and still remains an Espy family owned bank.  On January 28, 1904, J.J. Espy purchased a four acre lot on Church Street in Headland on which to soon construct his new home.  He purchased the lot from B.H. King and wife, Birdie King, and G. D. King.  The north boundary fronted Church Street, across from the present First Baptist Church of Headland; the lot was bounded on the east by a lot of J.W. Youngblood; on the south by the Mitchell property; and on the west by a lot of Dr. W.S. Oates.  J. J. Espy soon began work on his large new residence.  The home was a two story, with high ceilings, large rooms, huge stairs, with large wrap around double front porches. The grounds included a large barn, stables, various gardens and a carriage house.   The attached image depicts the J.J. Espy home circa 1912.  Those in the picture starting from the right are: a young Major Espy, his father Senator J.J. Espy standing by the car, J.J.’s wife, Emma seated in the vehicle, two unknown colored employees in front, and J.J. Espy, Jr., (Bud John) on the far left seated on the pony.  J.J. and Emma were parents of four children: Sarah Frances (1902-1976), J.J. Espy, Jr. (1904-1977), Major W. Espy, Sr. (1907-1980), and Josephine (1910-1911), all are buried in the Headland Baptist Cemetery. The Espy home has been altered over time to accommodate life’s changing needs. The double front porches were later eliminated for street improvements.  The home was sold several years ago by the J.J. Espy Family descendents. Of the three owners who have held title to the home, the present owners are Rick and Lisa Burris, they are performing a wonderful job in the restoration and preservation of this 106 year old Headland Landmark.   

• More Anon!

 

The “Old Espy House” by Marilyn Espy McClendon

The house was built around the turn of the century, and originally had upstairs and downstairs porch surrounding it. This was removed later, possibly when the road was widened. Behind the house stood a large barn and a carriage house and stable for horses.

The house was built for John Jolly Espy and his wife, Emma Carroll Espy; four children were born to them: Sarah Frances Espy, John Jolly Espy, Jr., Major Watt Espy, and Josephine Espy. Josephine died as a child. John J. Espy, Sr. was killed in an automobile accident on Thanksgiving Day in 1933 I believe.

Emma Espy rented out rooms in the house as her children began to leave the nest; some of the residents were Sidney and Blannie Hodges (parents of Martha Parks; may need to verify this fact Watty supplied with Martha), M. C. Watkins, his wife and daughter Mildred.

Sarah Frances Espy Sidney and her husband, Charles W. Sidney, moved back to Headland in the mid-forties; they had lived in New Jersey and returned home when he became ill with cancer of the bladder. They had no children but had a beloved cocker spaniel, Patsy, who came with them; upon Patsy’s death she was buried in the garden on the east side under the trellis. The gardens were a particular love of Sarah Frances. She was active in First Baptist Church , the Headland Study Club and the Headland Garden Club. When they returned the downstairs and upstairs were remodeled; originally the staircase was immediately inside the front door to the left and landed in the current large bedroom upstairs. The current back porch was added.

When Sid Sidney died, Sarah Frances continued to live in the house upstairs while her mother lived in the downstairs, west side. Emma became an invalid and spent many hours on the porch watching people come and go. Sarah Frances remodeled the quarters her mother lived in after her death in 1962 and moved downstairs. She married Rev. Roby J. Lee, father of Peggy Lee Marley, and they lived there together until her death; he continued to live in the house until moving in with his daughter and her husband upon their retirement. Peggy and husband, Needham , also lived in this house while their home was being constructed out on the farm.

Lisa and Rick Burris are the third owners of the house since heirs sold the homeplace; thankfully, they have restored the house in many ways. Many memories were born here in the hearts of the heirs (Major Watt Espy, Jr., Mark C. Espy, Sr., Marilyn Espy McClendon, Mila Espy Woods, children of Major W. Espy, Sr.; and Beverly Espy Dayries, daughter of John J. Espy, Jr.)

The End

Thanks to Gordon Marley, who took all these photographs back in the mid-70s, we have a fabulous record of what the Old Espy House on East Church Street looked like during that period - both inside and out. Everything but the upstairs bedrooms was captured. Gordon is the grandson of the late Roby J. Lee. Uncle Roby married my aunt, Sarah Frances Espy/Sidney, after their spouses had passed away. It was a second marriage for both of them. At the time these photographs were taken, Aunt Frances had recently died. The home decor and the outside grounds both reflected her exquisite taste and style. In the video, be sure to take note of Uncle Roby relaxing in his chair.

The first image came from a slide of the Old Espy Home. The year was 1975. It was in a batch of slides that belonged to Sarah Frances Espy Sidney/Lee. The other images below came from negatives belonging to Gordon Marley, a grandson of Roby J. Lee, who was married to Aunt Frances for many years.

"I'm not sure of the year but they are from the seventies when I was a student at Auburn.  An architecture professor wanted to offer a photography elective so he had the school set up a b&w dark room for us and that is when I first got into photography really.  One of the class assignments was to photograph an "environment", and I chose the Espy place."  Gordon Marley (grandson of Roby J. Lee, pictured below)

Some items that were once in the Old Espy Home

Emma Carroll Espy painted this

Click here for a video of Sarah Frances' niece, Marilyn Espy McClendon, playing a piano that she inherited from her aunt. Marilyn also talks about some of the furnishings and paintings that were once in the Old Espy Home.