The Creation of The Victoria
Your travel source with a personal touch!
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The Creation of The Victoria |
Your travel source with a personal touch! |
Built in 1888, the Victoria was home to three prominent Anniston families before its preservation as a country inn and restaurant in 1985.
In 1887, John McKleroy, partner in the Anniston Land Company, chose the highest hill on Quintard Avenue on which to build his home. McKleroy was a Confederate Veteran, State School Superintendent, and a candidate for governor twice. He died in 1894 and his widow occupied the home until her son William moved her out while she was on vacation in Florida. William was mayor of Anniston and died six moths after moving his mother out. the McKleroy family occupied the home for 25 years. There is a silver chafing dish in the Gentlemen's Retreat which once belonged to the McKleroys when they lived here.
The McKleroy Suite is the most Victorian of the main house's bedrooms. It features antiques from the 1880's when Anniston was a boomtown. And while its mantle looks to be marble, it is actually iron made in one of Anniston's foundries and painted to create the marbleized effect. The bath features a claw-foot tub. In 1920 William McKleroy's widow sold the house at public auction to William Coleman Wilson. Wilson was president of the Emory Foundry Company, which produced cast-iron pipe, Anniston's most prominent product. The Wilsons occupied the residence until 1949.
The McKleroy Suite is the largest of the bedrooms with in the main house. It features the middle portion of the three-story turret half-canopied bed. Again the mantle is iron and painted to look like marble. Under the window on the right as you come in, you will notice a smaller door. This functioned as a doorway to the porch. Just open window and push the smaller door open. These have now been sealed. A claw foot tub is also featured in this room's bath.
When Mr. Wilson died in 1949, Frank and Robbie Kirby became the third owners and the last full-time residents. Mr. Kirby was the founder and president of Anniston Electric Co. Mrs. Kirby was a leading musician in the community and entertained graciously in her music room, now known as the Victoria's Piano Bar.
The Kirby Suite displays the chintz and colors popular again today. The modernized bath was updated when the Kirby's bought the house. Additionally, this bedroom features Victorian built-ins in the bath and the entryway closet. We understand this closet was uses as a dollhouse for visiting nieces. Again, the antiques are indicative of the 1880's. The simple fireplace is painted iron.
After the death of these owners, the Victorian estate went to a trust for their sisters, the Methodist Church, and a children's Methodist home. These heirs were contacted by a creative thinking realtor to consider making this a country inn. they loved the idea and in 1984 the estate was purchased by South Carolina developer. Anniston architect Julian Jenkins and contractor Earlon McWhorter designed and restored the Southern home. The Victoria was listed on the National Register of historic places in 1984. Restoration for Alabama's first country inn took approximately two years under the careful guidance of Jenkins and McWhorter. The main house maintained its original Queen Anne Victorian beauty from the hardware on the doors, the incised oak paneling and staircase, to the double layers of stained glass which dominate the second-floor landing. Outside you will notice a mixture of wave and square shingles, that were one painted red and mustard yellow, with Dutch and German siding on the lower portion and entrance. In the tiles of the first level fireplace mantles you will find numerous details of nature as well as sunbursts on both sides the house outside.
Because Anniston needed hotel rooms, the annex additions to the main house were created with 26 rooms in 1986 and 18 more in 1988. Architect Julian Jenkins integrated the new architecture with the old. "We wanted to capture the spirit of the original structure and the new work to achieve a continuity of architectural experiences. The transactions spaces, both opened uncovered, were woven into an outdoor atrium canopied by large oaks to accommodate garden and terrace activities. In every case, we considered the dignity of the original structure inviolable."
In 1996, McWhorter completed the final phase of the Victorian with an addition of 12 guest rooms. The Victoria now has 60 rooms and a fine-dining restaurant which can seat up to 100 people. It was the goal of McWhorter and Company, Inc. to do justice to the architectural plan by providing the highly skilled craftsmen and artists required for the specialized project. A fascination and love of this property prompted McWhorter to purchase the property from the South Carolina firm.
The Victoria is open year-around and dinner is served Monday through Saturday beginning at 5 PM. For reservations, call 256.236.0503 or 1.800.260.8781.