By George, We've Got It!
This President’s Day, celebrate our Founding Father with a trip to Alabama’s own Washington museum.
BY SARAH CAMPBELL | PHOTOGRAPHY BY JOSEPH DE SCIOSE

From Birmingham, it’s more than 700 miles to Mount Vernon, home of the nation’s largest collection of George Washington artifacts. But it’s just a 40-minute drive to the country’s second-largest collection of Founding Father material: the Karl C. Harrison Museum of George Washington, located in Columbiana. If you haven’t heard of Shelby County’s George Washington museum before, you’re not alone. Even though the venue has received international visitors, Alabamians are usually shocked to discover this local, yet national, museum in their backyard.
     A central Alabama museum honoring the prominent Virginian may seem several states out of place, but the bulk of the museum’s holdings actually come from Charlotte Smith Weaver, a sixth great-granddaughter of Martha Washington who lived in Chelsea. (George and Martha never had children together, but Martha did have two with her first husband, Daniel Parke Custis.) When Weaver decided to pare down the number of family heirlooms in her possession, she contacted Mount Vernon first. Though interested, at that point in the fiscal year, the estate could only afford to buy two of George’s personal letters; and so, in 1980, Weaver sold a third of her inherited collection to Columbiana banker and history buff Karl Harrison.
     Karl founded the museum two years later in the conference room of Columbiana’s library. But by 1989 he was out of space, storing furniture belonging to George’s half-brother Augustine—items he’d purchased that year at a Kentucky estate sale—upstairs at the First National Bank of Riverchase. It was 11 years before the museum moved into a new building big enough to finally display all its artifacts at once—more than 1,000 pieces of Washington memorabilia that span more than a century and a half, from the 1710 will of Colonel Daniel Parke (the grandfather of Martha Washington’s first husband) to a tintype of a military-clad Robert E. Lee, made eight days after the surrender at Appomattox. Besides a few letter facsimiles, all objects are originals.
     With holdings in Washington artwork, ceramics, furniture and personal items, the museum’s collections contain something for everyone. Interested in objects that offer insight into the Founding Father’s daily life? A button worn by our First President, several of his survey instruments, and a letter supposedly containing a lock of his hair are all on display. Curious about Mount Vernon? Marvel at the color sketch of its grounds, drawn in 1787 by Samuel Vaughn, or examine a snippet of George’s coffin lining, removed when his remains were reburied in a new tomb on the estate in 1831.
     Other perennial favorites are Martha Washington’s squat red prayer book and her letter box. Though Martha burned the correspondence between them after George’s death, you can find letters from John Adams, James Madison, John C. Calhoun and James Monroe displayed in other museum cases. In the next room, a table has been set with Minton porcelain, part of a 207-piece set from the estate of Augustine Washington. Nearby is a tea set from the Lewis family (as in explorer Meriwether Lewis) and more heirlooms from the Lee family; both can trace their lineage to Washington.
     These days the museum is looked after by Bonnie Atchison, a retired high school teacher who was friends with the Harrisons for 40 years. “Every year Mr. Karl—I always called him that—came to my Honors English class to talk about Shakespeare,” she remembers, “and his wife Mildred and I were in the Daughters of the American Revolution together.” Bonnie began serving as curator of the collection in 2004 after her second retirement (this time from the South Shelby County Chamber of Commerce). It was a perfect fit; she had even had the grandchildren of Charlotte Smith Weaver in her class. “I taught English, speech and drama, so I’ve always loved to read. And George Washington has been my hero my whole life,” she says.

The Karl C. Harrison Museum of George Washington is open weekdays from 10-3, with guided tours offered Wednesday-Friday. Admission is free.

 

Made to Order
Rustic meets refined in contractor Erica Neel’s Crestline kitchen.
BY ELIZABETH BEELER | PHOTOGRAPHY BY JEAN ALLSOPP

When local contractor Erica Neel isn’t on the job, you’ll likely find her in the kitchen, whipping up a tasty dish while spending time with friends and family. The queen of renovations and owner of Birmingham-based Stuctures Inc. has orchestrated noteworthy remodels all over town, but inside the walls of the Crestline home she shares with her husband, Preston, lies her most stunning redesign to date.
     With plenty of experience overseeing the transformation of remodeled kitchens, Erica didn’t have to look far for inspiration when it came time for designing and building her own. The latest energy-efficient appliances with restaurant-grade capabilities were a given. But style-wise, Erica wanted a space that offered upscale rustic appeal.
     “We wanted it to feel Modern and have all the conveniences of a newly remodeled kitchen with the character and personality of a space that had been around for decades,” says Erica. Most of all, the Neels wanted their kitchen to feel like home. “We weren’t going for anything too fancy or over-the-top,” she says. “But we cook a lot, and I knew we would spend a lot of time here.”
     Erica and Preston worked with Shepard and Davis Architects to draw up preliminary plans. In order to maintain an open and airy feel, the blueprints omitted upper cabinetry, instead offering a windowed wall that floods the room with natural light. “With the dark, heavy woodwork overhead, I knew we’d need plenty of windows to brighten the room,” says Erica. The team designed the room around a large central island, which offers plenty of prep space and doubles as a buffet. They installed an additional task sink beneath the window—a useful perk when more than one person is cooking.
     Erica then looked to local kitchen expert Cyndy Cantley to fabricate custom cabinetry and assist in the selection of materials and finishes. With 3-inch limestone countertops and a ceiling made of reclaimed lapped siding from a Midwest barn, the kitchen commands attention. Erica introduced her favorite color into the otherwise neutral space with a flashy backsplash tiled in sea-blue mosaic glass. The bold hue adds unexpected visual drama to the kitchen. “It’s just enough color to make a statement without being overwhelming,” says Erica.   
     Though she has countless projects under her belt, Erica still finds satisfaction in her work. “This business is so gratifying,” she says. “Unlike so many other career fields, with every finished job, I visually see an end result.” In her own home, the result is a truly one-of-a-kind space. “Guests enter our home and stop when they get to the kitchen,” says Erica. “It’s the star of the house.”

Design PRO-files
Birmingham-based contractor Erica Neel of Structures Inc. specializes in everything from new construction to complete remodels.

the motto: Improving clients’ lives by improving their spaces.
the goal: To provide excellent construction services at a reasonable rate.
the facts: Structures Inc. specializes in the finest quality renovations and has experience in green building and universal design. The company has offices in Pelham and Pepper Place and is currently building new homes in Shelby County.

For more information call Structures Inc. at 205.663.4252 or visit structureshomes.com.

Majestic Monteagle
Escape to this Tennessee retreat high above it all.
BY LOYD MCINTOSH | PHOTO COURTESY OF MONTEAGLE INN

Spring break: For many undergrads, it’s a time to run wild along the beaches of Mexico. But for those couples and families seeking a more low-key respite, the Monteagle Inn in Tennessee is one place that fits the bill. Set atop Monteagle Mountain, the 13-room bed-and-breakfast is a relaxing haven just minutes from the campus of the University of the South (also known as Sewanee), one of the Southeast’s most historic and beautiful small colleges. Resembling an English manor with its red brick exterior, hunter green trim and six stately gables, the Monteagle Inn is almost fortress-like, protecting visitors from the stresses of the world. Originally built as a private home in 1940, the structure has had some additions through the years. In 2004, Jim and Donna Harmon transformed it into the stunning inn it is today.
     A dazzling array of foliage lines the grounds, while herbs such as lavender, rosemary and thyme provide a unique and fragrant welcome to visitors. “We wanted to plant the herb gardens at the entrance so that people’s first experience with us would be something pleasant,” Jim says. Many of the herbs and
vegetables grown in the inn’s gardens are incorporated in breakfast specialties, such as the breakfast quesadilla with corn pudding. (This must-try dish features free-range scrambled eggs tucked inside a spinach tortilla with fresh herbs
and a side of white kernel corn pudding with a hint of cilantro, cumin and lime.)
     The Monteagle Inn’s grounds offer guests plenty of room to relax outdoors. Add in a glass or bottle of wine from the inn’s collection—one of the largest in the Southeast with more than 3,000 bottles on hand—and the perfect weekend in the Appalachians begins to take shape. Several times a year, the inn hosts five-course wine dinners, allowing experienced wine enthusiasts and newbies alike the opportunity to sample some of the world’s finest wines with accompanying food from the inn’s kitchen. Of course, you don’t have to wait until mealtime to pop a cork: Enjoy a bottle of Sancerre while gently swaying in one of three hammocks under a stately oak tree on the corner of the estate, sip on a glass of Caymus while reading a book from the inn’s library, or enjoy a glass of Alliance Chiraz while browsing through one of the inn’s two organic gardens as the sun sets in a fiery display of red and orange over the mountain.
     Inside, the inn is bright and colorful, but never busy, incorporating antique and period-style furnishings with an occasional modernist touch (like glass bowl sinks, some of which are handmade originals by local artists). Plush sofas, antique tables, bookcases and period art invite visitors to relax in the living room, where you can enjoy an evening in front of the inn’s beautiful fireplace or a view of the courtyard through the large windows and French doors leading out onto the patio. Guest rooms offer a balance of old and new, with some rooms, such as the Honeymoon Suite, housing a flat-screen TV along with an enormous king-size, four-poster bed that requires a wood stool to climb atop in the evening. (And yes, workaholics, Wi-Fi is available throughout the inn.)
     All four seasons are spectacular on Monteagle Mountain, with cooler temperatures than the lower altitudes in the summer and plenty of beautiful color as the seasons change in autumn. So whichever season you travel in, the Monteagle Inn is sure to offer a restful retreat—crazy college-kid free.

Find great dining and hiking tips in our February/March issue on newsstands now!

The Face of Alabama Healthcare
Get to know the CEOs guiding Birmingham through today’s ever-changing medical system.
BY SARAH BRUEGGEMANN | PHOTO COURTESY OF UAB HEALTH SYSTEM

Will Ferniany
CEO, UAB Health System

Getting there: “In college, I volunteered at Bryce State Hospital and saw a need to help the mentally ill. My strengths were in business, so I decided to become a hospital administrator specializing in psychiatric hospitals.  When I finished the master’s program in health administration at UAB, I went back to Bryce to do my administrative residency and stayed on as an assistant administrator. After a period with the Southwest Alabama Health System, I went back to UAB to receive a Ph.D. in administration – health services.  After receiving my doctorate, I went to work for Healthcare Services of America (HSA), a psychiatric hospital company. I was then recruited to UAB to administer the Department of Psychiatry and to develop the Center for Psychiatric Medicine for the hospital. It was while at UAB that my career started to move from psychiatry to administration in academic medicine.”
Goals: “The UAB Health System not only educates most of the physicians who practice in Alabama, but also is the primary ‘safety net’ for the state’s physicians and hospitals. Many physicians in Alabama, and in our surrounding states, use UAB when they have a patient who needs a higher level of tertiary or quaternary care. As part of this ‘safety net’ responsibility, we are developing a hospital outreach division to develop ways we can work together.  And within  this
program, we are evaluating developing an e-ICU program. We are also evaluating developing a tele-emergency service to support smaller hospitals’ emergency capabilities.”
Recent changes: “The opening of UAB Hospital’s new women and infant centers and the radiation oncology center in February will be a major advance in women’s and cancer care in Alabama. The new regional neonatal intensive care unit, with separate rooms for the bassinets, will provide a much more family-centered experience than available anywhere in Alabama. Our simulation centers for training, 100-percent mortality review, and Baptist Health in Montgomery’s SMART program are examples of programs which are making a difference in the care we provide.”
Toughest part: “Like all academic medical centers, UAB has three missions: clinical, education and research. In this time of limited resources, aligning these three missions and achieving national recognition in all three is our biggest challenge. The second challenge all hospital administrators are dealing with is the uncertainty of health reform.”
What’s rewarding: “When I get a letter or hear from someone about the excellent and compassionate care the physicians and faculty provide. These stories make all the hard work that everyone at UAB provides worth it.”