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The People Who Lived on the Land that is Now Redstone Arsenal, page 359
to coincide with the angle of the outer banister. At regular intervals in the wall along the stairs were placed niches for statuary, comprising another feature seen in few local homes.
From the front section of the dwelling, back to the old brick part was constructed a connecting link a story and a half in height and composed of four more rooms. This division was inclosed on both sides and at the back brick stoop, making it possible to pass from any room in the house during rainy weather without going out into the dampness.
A cellar, reached by two doors from the outside or by an inner door near the back, was excavated under the entire building.
Porch Built of Cedar
Though its floor was of brick, the framework of the front porch was of solid cedar, shading a doorway in two panels, with transoms at both sides and at the top.
This house probably never saw many dances during its occupation by the Lees, but in later years, particularly the decades following the Civil War, it became the social center for Pond Beat. Gay times, with many guests from Huntsville and the surrounding country were frequent there then.
On October 3, 1853, Charity's second husband died. His survivors, beside his wife, included eight brothers and sisters, Caswell of Tennessee, Alfred of Missouri, Anne J. of Tennessee, P.J.G. Lee of Missouri, Preston of Tennessee, W.P. of Missouri, Pryor N. of California and Eliza A. of Madison county, all of full age, but the last named mentally deficient.
With the exception of $1,000, which he willed to his niece, Mary Elizabeth Inman, daughter of Anne J., he left his entire estate, including 18 negroes, nine mules, four wagons, 51 sheep, one bull, four yokes of oxen, six steers, 15 yearlings, 11 cows, three heifers and 162 hogs, to his wife.
But even with the property left her by her two husbands, Charity was unable to meet her indebtedness before the beginning of the Civil War. The strain of this conflict carried her debts to such a large figure that she had to turn the home over for a sheriff's sale in 1867 in order to cover her agreement with Fennell. The estate was bought in [no date was in the text] by the Fennell heirs, James W. and Francis Fennell, for $7,745.97.
Charity died childless and with a small amount of money in March, 1872. In her will, she set aside funds for her own burial and for the removal of the graves of her two husbands to the graveyard at Ebenezer Presbyterian Church. In addition, she left $200 to the church to buy window blinds, curtains, library bell, stoves, and for the repair of the cemetery.
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