Living in Classic Elegance
Jack and Anne Allen Build a Life on Academy Hill
Words by Alyson Robbins | Images by Ryan McGill
An enchanting, ivy-cloven drive winds up a hillside, widening to a clearing with a stately red-brick residence. Sitting atop Academy Hill, Jasper’s highest point, is Marymont, the home of Jack and Anne Allen.
Named after Mary Crew, the original lady of the estate, it inhabits the same soil Jasper Academy once did, with only the school’s stone steps remaining testifying to its aspirations. When the Academy burned in 1892, L. B. Musgrove and Jasper Land Company donated acreage on the Hill to be home of the new Walker County High School, which also burned in 1916. The land was deeded back to L. B. Musgrove and Jasper Land Company and sold in 1938 to W. S. Crew. Marymont, designed by Henry Sprott Long and built in 1939, remained in the Crew family until 1988, when the Allens purchased the home from Crew’s daughter, Jane Hamilton.
“It’s a funny story,” Jack explains. “Jane wanted something smaller so she could travel, so she bought our house on Valley Avenue. We exchanged houses on the same day. She moved her stuff out, Delta Transfer moved us in, and she moved to our house on Valley. It was a disaster!”
Jack admits he was not interested in the property at first; he and Anne owned land and had plans to build, but the panoramic view of downtown Jasper sold him on the idea of purchasing the older home.
The three-story structure of over 5,000 sq. ft. needed mostly cosmetic repairs. Fresh paint and the restoration of the original hardwood floors revived the home’s five bedrooms and three bathrooms. In contrast, the kitchen underwent drastic renovation to become a functional gathering place for the family.
The Allens are fond of many of the home’s features, including a woodburning fireplace in the formal sitting room, a porch off the kitchen, and an upstairs fitness room. The grand, curved staircase in the entry would make the perfect setting for a 1940s Hollywood movie. The most unique features are the Czechoslovakian crystal chandeliers, acquired before World War II, adorning every room.
A second stairwell in the back of the house displays carefully curated collages documenting the childhood years of Jack and Anne’s three sons: Matt, Jud, and Hunter. While growing up, the boys built trails, camped, rode four-wheelers, and romped through the wooded property.
Throughout the years, the family has enjoyed country living in the heart of downtown. The Allens have hosted family milestone celebrations at their beloved home—the nuptials of Jud and Megan, rehearsal dinner for Hunter and Ansley, and graduation parties for all three sons.
Reflecting on building a life in a historic home, Anne says, “I wouldn’t trade this house for any other.” 78