National Register of Historic Places

Burton, Robert Wilton, House

Auburn, Lee County, Alabama
Listed
May 7, 1980
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
80000701

About this property

The Robert Wilton Burton House, at 315 E. Magnolia St. in Auburn, Alabama, was built in 1885 in Queen Anne style. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. It was deemed "significant for its associations with Robert Wilton Burton (1848-1917), a locally noted poet. Additionally, it is a good example of late 19th century vernacular cottages." Robert Wilton Burton, "a native of Camden County, Georgia, was one of Auburn's most prominent and beloved citizens. From 1880 to 1885, he published four poems - "Fleetwood", "The Bell Ringer of Brinsely", "Q.K." and "The Master of Parton Place". With the money gained from these poems, Burton built this house which he affectionately called "The Four Story Cottage". It remained his home until his death in 1917. In addition to his literary efforts, Burton served the city of Auburn in a variety of positions. At the request of the Board of Trustees of Alabama Polytechnic Institute (now Auburn University), he opened a bookstore to serve the students of the city. In addition to operating the bookstore, he served as clerk of the Town Council (1892-1917) and as secretary for the API Board of Trustees (1899-1917), twice refusing appointment to the board." The house was kept by Burton's daughter Miriam Barton Langston until 1977, when she sold it to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The Robert Wilton Burton House was dismantled in 1993, per the historic marker at its site.

Location

315 E. Magnolia St.
Auburn, Lee County, Alabama
32.60883, -85.66906

Categories

LITERATUREARCHITECTURE
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about Burton, Robert Wilton, House

This page lists Burton, Robert Wilton, House. A full Aubrey report for an address near it pulls together this listing alongside battlefield records, land patents, and every other historical record within a chosen radius:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
First month just $5.99, then $11.99 a month. Unlimited locations, cancel anytime.

Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.

Start your Burton, Robert Wilton, House report
Or see a real report first

Nearby Historic Sites

Loachapoka Historic District
Listed
4.6 mi
Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church and Rosenwald School
Listed
5.6 mi
Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church Cemetery
Listed
6.3 mi
U.S. Post Office
Industrial
10.3 mi
Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site
Industrial
10.5 mi

Nearby Battles

Battle of Autossee (Nov 1813)
1813Early Republic
6.2 mi

Questions about this property

When was Burton, Robert Wilton, House listed on the National Register?

Burton, Robert Wilton, House was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on May 7, 1980.

What type of historic resource is Burton, Robert Wilton, House?

Burton, Robert Wilton, House is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Burton, Robert Wilton, House?

The period of significance for Burton, Robert Wilton, House is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Burton, Robert Wilton, House?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Burton, Robert Wilton, House will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

More in Lee County

Historic places, battles, and census history across Lee County.

Explore LeeCounty ›

More historic places in Alabama

Browse all historic places in Alabama.

View Alabamahistoric sites ›

Conflict records

Explore 19,000+ military engagements across American history.

Browse US conflicts ›

Alabama history

Colonial settlement, territorial period, and statehood narrative.

Alabamahistory ›

Research the history near this site

An Aubrey US report for an address near Burton, Robert Wilton, House will include this listing alongside battlefield records and other historical sources within your chosen radius.

Research your locationView a free sample report