Decatur Scottsboro Boys Museum 

818 Sycamore NW

c. 1920

This home was constructed circa 1920 and is an example of an American Foursquare. It is two stories and primarily constructed of brick. The front porch was replaced at some point in the late 20th century, but a period photo showed the original design. Local organization, Celebrating Early Old Town with Art, (CEOTA) is working to restore the porch to its original form as part of the larger rehabilitation project for the house. The original owners were Owen J. and Hettie Thomas.  The couple lived here until the late 1920s. By 1932, Ms. Letitia Gunter owned the home, and, by the late 1930s, she was renting the house out to Clarice J. Worley, a widow. Ms. Worley lived there through the 1940s with her four teenage children and a boarder, Mr. Revis Wildman. Although known as an African American neighborhood now, it was historically mixed race. During the Scottsboro Boys Trials, after recanting her story, Ruby Bates, one of the accusers was brought here for safekeeping. Be sure to see this preservation in progress on this year’s Christmas Tour. It will be open for tours from 2 to 5 pm.