Heritage Hall, one of Madison’s oldest preserved historic houses, also serves as headquarters for the Morgan County Historical Society. It has also become a popular tourist attraction, particularly during the Christmas season, with its candlelight tours.
Built-in 1811, just two years after Madison was officially founded, the former private home was eventually inhabited by three of the city’s wealthiest families, thus receiving its secondary name, the Jones-Turner-Manley House.
According to the MCHS website, the house was initially built 200 feet south of its current location. In 1909, a portion of the home’s previous acreage was sold, so it was jacked up, placed atop a series of logs, then rolled to its current location, pulled by horses and mules.
The home was donated to MCHS in 1977, shortly after the passing of its last resident, Sue Reid Walton Manley.
MCHS Executive Director Stephanie Donelson said she became interested in Heritage Hall after taking the candlelight tour in 2022 and credits her college degree in communications for leading her to volunteer opportunities at the site.
“I met the then-director, Sarah Lynn Holbert,” Donelson said. “I let her know, ‘If you need help with anything in the [public relations] area, I’d be more than happy to offer some volunteer time.’”
Donelson eventually landed a job as a docent for the house and was promoted to executive director in January after Holbert stepped down in December. Donelson says she is still learning about what it takes to be an executive director.
“I’ve taken on scheduling for the docents, accounts receivable, accounts payable, the programming for the society, social media, and advertising,” she said. “So, I’ve definitely been sticking my fingers in all the pots, and I’m still very much learning.”
According to Donelson, the house was built by Dr. William Johnston, who in 1830 sold it to his sister and her husband, Dr. Elijah Jones. The two lived in it for several decades. They also added multiple rooms throughout the residence, Donelson said, bringing it to the structure that exists today with four rooms downstairs and another four upstairs.
Considering the impact of the Jones family on Heritage Hall, MCHS renovated the home to match their time in it. Donelson believes this brought a unique aspect to the touring opportunities due to its history before the Civil War.
“We have styled the house in the 1850s,” Donelson said. “It’s a neat step back in time before the Civil War came to Madison, and it gives the history of the home of the people who lived in it.”
In addition to tours at Heritage Hall, the former residence is available to book for events such as weddings, receptions, parties, and meetings.
With the significant history of Madison during the 1800s, Donelson suggests it’s important for the community to know more about its background.
Though Donelson has lived in the city for only a couple of years, with her new position as MCHS executive director, she considers it important to educate her children about Madison’s unique history.
“It is important for me to make sure that they know the value of it,” she said. “I feel like it is a very big deal to make sure that we honor that and have it able to be given to the next generation in the way that it was handed to us.”