Melrose Home

Clue:
A beautiful house was built in 1854
It shows what life could be for the rich before the Civil War
But men did come and take the young to fight next to their side
Name the brigades who took these boys and the men with whom they ride.

Answer:
Melrose Home:

History:
The Melrose home is located at 300 Prairie Street, and is now the Hodge Podge Lounge.

This house was built for the Richard S. Willis family in 1854. It was called Melrose because the house was in memory of an estate owned by ancestors in Scotland. The builder was a well known craftsman by the name of John E. Shelton. This house started with 4 bedrooms, 1 1/2 story house with a detached kitchen.

 When rooming was scarce and additional income for the Civil War, many citizens opened their homes necessary for the families during this time period. During this time, a outside stairway was added which allowed private access to upper rooms which were converted to rental units. After the war, the stairway was removed and new stairs were built inside the house.

This house was home to many citizens of Montgomery including Dr. John L. Irion, a surgeon in the Confederate Army.

This house was also the birthplace of Gary I. Morriss. He was the Grandson of Dr. Irion, and one of the founders in the American Legion. The Roy Waldrop family worked on restoring the outside structure during the 1960's to restore the home. The Menefee family restored the interior of the home.
Dr. Linda Cecil replaced the entire roof while living here as well.

In 2008, this house was purchased by the Shepard family. Mr. Shepard is the great-great grandson of the builder, John E. Shelton. They replaced the outside of the house with yellow paint, while white and green trim shutters and updated the inside walls. During Hurricane Ike in September 2008, the Melrose home sheltered 4 families.

FUN FACT: 10 OWNERS OF THIS HOME IN LAST 158 years.