Purcell-Killingsworth House

William Henry Purcell moved to Alabama from North Carolina after the Civil War and settled on land that was purchased by his father Malcolm who had acquired the land before the war. After establishing himself in Columbia, Purcell had several careers that would make him one of the town’s leading businessmen. During his 45 years of doing business Purcell operated the main river landing and its connected warehouse. In addition, he was also involved in planting, cotton, insurance, drayage, and in the hotel business. In 1886 Purcell served as a Columbia City Councilman and as a commissioner for neighboring Henry County between 1885 and 1888. In 1894 and again in 1898 Purcell was elected as a delegate to the Democratic County Executive Committee representing Beat 4.

At the height of his business success, Purcell decided to build a home large enough for his family and stage in life. He bought land from James H. and Mary L. Hooten on November 20th, 1883 for $800. In 1889 construction began on the house in late summer and would not be completed until the next year. Originally called Traveler’s Rest by Purcell, the building is a two-story, Queen Ann style house, featuring a large central octagonal turret. In Columbia it is the finest residential structure, is a good example of simplified Victorian taste, and once stood as the tallest building in town for a long period of time.

This home served as the childhood home for Purcell’s son Bishop Clare Purcell (1884-1964) who, in 1955, was elected the President of the Council of Bishops. This position was extremely notable due to it being the highest place of recognition ever achieved by a native-born Alabama Methodist Minister. In 1938 Clare Purcell was elected to be a bishop at the last general conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, south in Birmingham. He served in Charlotte North Carolina until 1948 and in Birmingham Alabama until retiring in 1956.

The building and property were owned by the Purcell Estate until sold to the Killingsworth’s on January 9th, 1946. The Killingsworth’s, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Killingsworth, meticulously restored the Victorian Mansion to its former glory. After being restored the building was placed on the National Register of Historic Places on December 16th, 1982. In 1989 a historical marker was added to the property by the Historic Chattahoochee Commission and the Purell Family.

Around 2005 the building was bought by Gary and Diane Norman and renovated into a bed and breakfast. Today it nows serves as a bed and breakfast called Garden Path Inn.

Ussery, Peggy. Garden Path Inn, a Victorian bed and breakfast, Dothan Eagle. September 23rd 2015. Accessed December 4th 2020. https://dothaneagle.com/lifestyles/local/garden-path-inn-a-victorian-bed-and-breakfast/article_5734c634-6172-11e5-960a-47e3ebe9837f.html.

Purcell-Killingsworth House, Encyclopedia of Alabama. Accessed December 4th 2020. http://www.encyclopediaofalabama.org/article/m-9037.

Purcell, Douglas Clare. Purcell-Killingsworth House, National Register of Historic Places. December 16th 1982. Accessed December 4th 2020. https://npgallery.nps.gov/NRHP/AssetDetail?assetID=5148d73b-d8cc-429f-b314-8eee5cd43ba5.

Hilton, Mark. Purcell - Killingsworth House, Historical Marker Database. August 28th 2020. Accessed December 4th 2020. https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=73370.