Tait–Ervin House

The Tait–Ervin House, also known as Countryside, is a historic two-story wood-frame plantation house near Camden in Wilcox County, Alabama. It is a historic property rather than a commercial brand, product line, or operating company. The house was constructed in 1855 for Robert Tait, a member of a prominent family whose grandfather, Charles Tait, had served as a United States senator from Georgia. Construction was carried out by Henry Cook, who is identified as the builder of the residence. The property's later history connects it to the Tait and Ervin families. After the American Civil War, Robert Tait's sister, Sarah Asbury Tait Ervin, and her husband, Dr. Robert Hugh Ervin, acquired the plantation. Dr. Ervin was active in Alabama public life: he served in both chambers of the Alabama Legislature and became president pro tempore of the Alabama Senate in 1872. The residence remained associated with the Ervin family for more than a century after the postwar transfer. In 1991, the house left the Ervin family and was sold to the Phillipi family. Its architectural and historical significance was subsequently recognized through inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places on February 24, 1995. Historic American Buildings Survey documentation, including photographs made in 1936, provides additional archival evidence of the property's appearance and significance. Because the Tait–Ervin House is a named historic property, conventional brand attributes such as products, markets, corporate ownership, executives, financial performance, campaigns, and commercial positioning do not apply. Its importance lies in its architectural survival, association with the Tait and Ervin families, and connection to Alabama's nineteenth-century political and plantation history. The available reference material does not establish whether the house currently operates as a public site, private residence, museum, or other visitor destination.

The Tait–Ervin House is a historic residence near Camden, Alabama, known also by the name Countryside. The surviving structure is a two-story wood-frame house erected in 1855 for Robert Tait. Henry Cook is identified as the builder. The house was created within the social and economic context of antebellum Wilcox County, an area whose historic landscape included large agricultural estates and residences associated with influential families. Robert Tait belonged to a family with an established political background. His grandfather, Charles Tait, had represented Georgia in the United States Senate. The house therefore reflects not only local domestic architecture but also the regional presence of families connected to public office and plantation ownership. Following the Civil War, ownership of the plantation passed to Robert Tait's sister, Sarah Asbury Tait Ervin, and her husband, Dr. Robert Hugh Ervin. Dr. Ervin was a significant Alabama political figure. He served in both houses of the state legislature and was elected president pro tempore of the Alabama Senate in 1872. The property's association with the Ervin family continued for many decades, preserving the house as a physical link between the Tait family, the Ervin family, and Alabama's postwar political history. The house remained in Ervin family ownership until 1991, when it was sold to the Phillipi family. The change in ownership marked the end of the property's documented long association with the Ervins, but not the end of its historical significance. Earlier documentation had already recorded the building's architectural character: the Historic American Buildings Survey photographed the property in 1936, producing an important visual record of the house and its setting. On February 24, 1995, the Tait–Ervin House was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This designation recognized the property's historical and architectural importance. The available material does not provide a detailed architectural inventory, a complete account of later alterations, or information about its current public accessibility and preservation arrangements. It also does not identify the present owner beyond the 1991 sale to the Phillipi family. Accordingly, the property's current operating status is recorded as unknown.

• 1995

  National Register listing

  [1]Tait–Ervin Houseen.wikipedia.org

  The Tait–Ervin House was added to the National Register of Historic Places on February 24.

• 1991

  Sale to the Phillipi family

  [1]Tait–Ervin Houseen.wikipedia.org

  The house left Ervin family ownership and was sold to the Phillipi family.

• 1936

  Historic American Buildings Survey documentation

  [1]Tait–Ervin Houseen.wikipedia.org

  The property was photographed as part of the Historic American Buildings Survey, creating an archival record of the house.

• 1872

  Dr. Robert Hugh Ervin becomes president pro tempore of the Alabama Senate

  [1]Tait–Ervin Houseen.wikipedia.org

  Dr. Robert Hugh Ervin, later associated with the property, was elected president pro tempore of the Alabama Senate after serving in both chambers of the Alabama Legislature.

• 1855

  Construction of the house

  [1]Tait–Ervin Houseen.wikipedia.org

  A two-story wood-frame plantation house was built near Camden for Robert Tait, with Henry Cook identified as the builder.

1. 1Tait–Ervin Houseen.wikipedia.org