1838 Historic Home, Pleasant Ridge, is under new ownership
When Colonel Scottie and his wife, Tammy Myers, took ownership of Pleasant Ridge, an historic home in Wilcox County built in 1838, there was much work to be done.
In 1985, when the home was listed on the National Register of Historic Places, it was unoccupied and considered one of the most endangered properties in Alabama. Lawyer and planter Tristram Bethea combining Federal and Greek Revival elements. Its brick construction is rare.
The antebellum home had been vacant for nearly 50 years before 1985. During those decades, the home was vandalized, used for storage, and neglected. That year, Louisiana natives purchased the home and began to bring back its historic beauty.
Since then, there have been a few owners, but, for the first time in nearly 100 years, Pleasant Ridge has full-residents with the arrival of Colonel Scottie and his wife.
Colonel Scottie remembers visiting Wilcox County as a child with his father, hunting and fishing. He said, "Those were some of my fondest memories as a child. I loved getting to watch my dad have fun and just play around."
That experience sparked his love for Alabama’s Black Belt region.
Now he and his wife are sharing their love of the fully restored Pleasant Ridge, on Alabama 28 in the community of Canton Bend community near Camden, with visitors.
In the past ten months, Colonel Scottie and Mrs. Myers have slowly watched their dreams become a reality. With a love of history and reenactment, they are eager to see what is in store for them in Wilcox County.
The possibilities seem endless. For example, a film maker recently ask permission to feature Pleasant Ridge in a movie. A crew was set to arrive in July, and the couple said they were excited to share in the fun.
Colonel Scottie explained his love for Pleasant Ridge, saying it makes him feel 10 years old again. He loves getting to have fun and also watching others experience the same thrill he gets.
The new residents of Pleasant Ridge love welcoming local and outside visitors to their home. They currently hold events such as dinners and teas and recently had a father-son camping weekend, all in a time-correct atmosphere dating back to the 1800s.
The owners hope to add new events and expand their options. Plans including opening their home as a wedding venue or for other events such as photo sessions. The couple is considering Bed and Breakfast options and opening a cabin behind the home for lodging.
Right now, Colonel Scottie and Mrs. Myers are offering home tours by appointment for $10 for adults and $5 for children under 16.
The tour is an experience that takes you back in time, stepping into a way of life that shaped the state and county years ago. The homeowners dress in period-correct attire as they walk visitors through each room so they can absorb the home’s history.
Each tour will take guests through antique-filled rooms as the couple shares stories. On the grounds, visitors can enjoy a log cabin, barn, and a formal garden.
Throughout the house, people from the antebellum period are honored and recognized, including one of the most respected bridge builders in the South, Horace King. By 1860, King was one of the wealthiest free Black people in Alabama. One of the bedrooms upstairs is named the Horace King room to honor him and all he accomplished.
If you are interested in touring the home, you can visit www.pleasantridge1838.com or their Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/pleasantridgealabama, for details and information about upcoming events.
Tags: Camden
