Burton Despard House

Colonel Burton Despard was the gentleman whose Civil War slumbers were so disturbed by the “hideous braying” of the U.S. Army mules corralled across the street. His brick house, now the oldest on Quality Hill, is Greek Revival in form with Italianate detailing in the cornice. Overall, the house has a decidedly “deep South” feeling, mostly due to the extremely tall windows that extend virtually from floor to ceiling on both floors. A shallow iron balcony supported on brackets extends in front of the second-story windows, in case anyone should want to step out. Townspeople dubbed the house Despard's Folly when the prominent attorney and coal developer built such an extravagant mansion so far out of town. It is now used as a funeral home.