User:Ecday2/Gorgas–Manly Historic District

Gorgas House
Enslaved people worked in the Gorgas House from its beginning, from helping in its construction to staffing the kitchen and dining areas during its use as the Campus Dining Hall. Enslaved workers endured repeated harassment and threats of violence from students, ultimately resulting in the students losing use of the building as a dining hall. Enslaved people continued to work in the building up until the destruction of the campus during the Civil War.

Little Round House
Shortly after its construction as shelter for university sentries, the Round House was converted into headquarters for the university Drum Corps. The Drum Corps consisted of slaves rented from local residents. The members of the Drum Corps, Neal, Gabe, and Crawford (Crawford replacing Neal in 1864), provided music and assistance with military drills during the university’s time as a military institution. Neal and Crawford were the first to alert the cadets when Union forces approached the university in 1865.

Woods Hall
Woods Hall, built after the destruction of campus in 1867, was named after Alva Woods, the first president of the University of Alabama. Under his administration, the university began its first significant usage of enslaved people on campus.

Manly Hall
Manly Hall is named for the second and longest-serving university president, Reverend Basil Manly. Manly was a staunch defender of slavery and remained loyal to the Confederacy, giving the prayer at the inauguration of Confederate President Jefferson Davis. He owned a large number of slaves, employing the enslaved workers who constructed the President’s Mansion on campus and renting out other for use on campus.

Garland Hall
Garland Hall is named for Landon Cabell Garland, the third president of the university. Garland was the final president to own personal slaves, as well as overseeing the renting of Neal, Crawford, and Gabe, the slaves making up the University Drum Corps.