National Register of Historic Places

Caplewood Drive Historic District

Tuscaloosa, Tuscaloosa County, Alabama
Listed
May 29, 1985
Type
District
Period
Listed
Ref No.
85001159

About this property

Caplewood Drive Historic District, in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, is a residential historic district which was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1985. It included 37 contributing buildings out of a total of about 45 buildings, on 11 acres (4.5 ha). The district runs along the long narrow lane of Caplewood Drive, originally known as Caplewood Terrace, south to its intersection with University Boulevard in Tuscaloosa. It is between downtown Tuscaloosa and the University of Alabama campus. Specifically it includes 1418 University Blvd. and 21–27; 301–329; 400–430; 1309, 1315, 1409, 1411, 1415, 1416 Caplewood Drive. It is a set of modest bungalows and cottages built primarily during the 1920s and 1930s by local builders, using common building materials and designs which happen to achieve a kind of unity. The street was developed by J. D. Caples, Sr. (1860–1934) in 1922 along a creek and a natural ravine. Low areas were filled by dirt excavated in the construction of the NRHP-listed City National Bank, and sewers and water pipes were installed by manual labor. Caples paved the street and planted trees. Caples himself built five or six of the homes; his son-in-law B.D. Sumner built three; only one is known to be designed by an architect, being the one at #33 designed by Birmingham architect George P. Turner. It includes one or more Craftsman bungalows, as well as mission/Spanish revival and English Cottage styles.

Location

Tuscaloosa, Tuscaloosa County, Alabama
33.21304, -87.55613

Categories

COMMUNITY PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENTARCHITECTURE
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.

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Overview
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The Land
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Geology
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LiDAR Terrain
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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
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Historical Maps
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Finds & Access
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Literature
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Spotlight
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Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
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Nearby Historic Sites

Pinehurst Historic District
Listed
0.1 mi
Audubon Place Historic District
Listed
0.2 mi
Alabama Book Store, The
Industrial
0.3 mi
Guild-Verner House
Industrial
0.4 mi
Druid City Historic District
Listed
0.4 mi

Nearby Battles

Engagement at Tuscaloosa (Wilson's Raid)
1865Civil War
0.8 mi

Questions about this property

When was Caplewood Drive Historic District listed on the National Register?

Caplewood Drive Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on May 29, 1985.

What type of historic resource is Caplewood Drive Historic District?

Caplewood Drive Historic District is classified as a district in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Caplewood Drive Historic District?

The period of significance for Caplewood Drive Historic District is recorded as the listed era.

Can I research the history near Caplewood Drive Historic District?

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