A Marvel on Seventh Avenue
One of Jasper’s finest residences, the Greek revival mansion continues to astound.
Words by Anna Lee Vaughn | Images by Ryan McGill
In 1899, the honorable William C. Davis built his family home, a two-story Greek revival located on Seventh Avenue in Jasper, where he and his wife, Mard, and their two children, William Jr., and Elizabeth, shared their lives together. After being elected Lieutenant Governor of Alabama in 1927, Davis served until his retirement in 1931. He then decided to open a law office, continuing to serve communities in Walker County.
The home has passed through several owners since Davis’ death. In the mid-to-late-1900s, the home was left to Walker College after the death of its owner, a local doctor. Dugan Nelson purchased the home from Walker College in the 1980s, and he and his wife, Jennie Ruth, renovated it, spending an estimated $1.5 million to complete the job.
During this renovation, the Nelsons added many of the elaborate items and features the home is known for today. These include black walnut wood walls and hand-carved ceiling tiles in the men’s parlor, pleated silk on the walls and ceiling of the ladies’ parlor, stained glass windows, hand-painted Sherle Wagner pieces, and oriental furniture and decorations. One significant feature that showcases the home’s opulence is a Sherle Wagner bathtub, which displays a hand-painted design of a swan and is a testament to the home’s value and historic charm.
The exterior of the home has also been updated and is something to be marveled at. A wrap-around porch sits beneath large Ionic columns overlooking the yard, which sprawls across an entire city block. In recent years, a pool with a waterfall, outbuildings, and a greenhouse have also been added to the property’s many features. This is where current owners Pam and Glenn Burgett enjoy spending most of their time.
The five-bedroom, 6,600-square-foot home requires a lot of upkeep, Pam admits. “It’s a lot to keep up, but it’s really pretty; we like it,” she says. Having bought the home to have enough space for Pam’s parents, the two now live in it alone where they enjoy the open living quarters and working out in the yard and greenhouse.
Pam and Glenn have also made a few minor repairs to the home, but overall, they left the original design and feel of the home untouched. “We replaced the carpet upstairs, and repaired a few of the doors, but other than that we didn’t change anything because we liked the design of the home so much,” says Pam.
Overall, the home still offers the amenities and lifestyle that Davis once imagined. Rich in history and beauty, it continues to be admired by all who experience it. 78