After nearly ten years of deterioration, the historic McAdory House on Eastern Valley Road is finally receiving a new front porch roof. The moss-covered shingle roof was simply rotten, making the front porch unsafe.
The historic McAdory House, circa 1840, is owned and managed by the West Jefferson County Historical Society. This is an exciting time for the Historical Society.
The dogtrot-style house was the home of Robert McAdory, first mayor of Bessemer, Isaac Wellington McAdory, Jefferson County Superintendent of Education, and Thomas McAdory Owen, founder of the Alabama State Department of Archives and History.
Carpenters and craftsmen have been hard at work for almost four weeks replacing the front porch roof. It has taken nearly two weeks to tear off the old, rotten roof and then frame up the new roof.
Close to 1,500 cedar shake shingles will be used to complete the restoration of the 43 ft. long roof. Each row of shingles first has a row of felt put down for protection, as does the next row of shingles. It is a slow process.
The project should be completed in the next 50 days.
Historical Society member Walter Henley said, “I am new to the organization, and the truth is I drove by the McAdory House and discovered the front porch roof had collapsed.”
The historical society, a nonprofit organization, is accepting donations, and they can be mailed to The West Jefferson County Historical Society, P. O. Box 184, Bessemer, Alabama. 35021.
There will be a meeting of the West Jefferson County Historical Society on Sunday, July 19, 2 p.m. at the historic Owen House on Eastern Valley Road. The public is invited to attend.