The Oaks Plantation
Historical Marker
The Oaks Plantation Historical Marker dedicated April 14, 2011
by the East Montgomery Historical Society
Alabama Historical Association
by the East Montgomery Historical Society
Alabama Historical Association
Youtube Video of The Oaks Marker Dedication
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The History of The Oaks Plantation
Pike Road, Alabama
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The house was built ca. 1830’s by Alexander Carter on a small land holding. Increasing fortunes led to a 1780-acre diversified and innovative plantation. Oak trees planted on either side of the front drive led to it's name. During WWII, an auxiliary landing strip, called Mt. Meigs Field, was built on the land by the Army Corp of Engineers. It was used for training by American, French, and British aviation cadets from Gunter Field, as well as by “Tuskegee Airmen” from Moton Field. Prominent families who owned The Oaks include those of Edward Pierce, E.T. Davis, William Nicrosi, Price McLemore, Tine Dave, Wayne Dawson, Roy Granger and Dwight Henderson.
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 10 November 1960, The Alabama Journal, Montgomery, AL
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This excerpt is from “Memories of the Mount”
By John B. Scott written in 1993
By John B. Scott written in 1993
“A number of the principal houses around Mr. Meigs especially those clustered in the village itself- were miles away from the plantation which supported them. The outlying plantation houses were more closely tied to the land. At The Oaks Plantation at Waugh, the house and land have remained inseparable all through the years. The house at The Oaks was built in the early 1830’s by Alexander Carter, who, like many of his neighbors, had emigrated from South Carolina. Beginning with a small holding, Carter gradually acquired 1,790 acres stretching from Marler Hill Road east to Line Creek.
The original house was a one-story flat roof structure with a two-room basement. It was a well-built small house but certainly no Tara. As his fortunes improved, Carter added two rooms with impressive proportions to the front of the house and converted the original front porch to a cross hall. Fireplaces were installed along the sides of this hall and a wing room with a portico was added at each end. The long front porch of the enlarged house was supported by octagonal posts and topped by an overhanging roof with an ornate pediment. Carter also laid out formal gardens around the house and planted along each side of the front drive a long avenue of water oaks which eventually grew to great size and gave the place its name.
All of the large plantations, of necessity, raised some corn and hay to feed the mules, and some hogs, and vegetables to feed the people, but usually the sole end purpose was growing cotton. The farming operations at The Oaks were different. Alexander Carter was light years ahead of most of his neighbors in diversification and innovation. By the 1850s, he was raising barley, rye, merino sheep, and purebred hogs. At the state agricultural fair held in Montgomery each fall during the 1850s, Alexander Carter was usually awarded more prizes than any other planter in the state. At these fairs his wife, Elizabeth Carter, also won fame for her wines and preserves.
Alexander Carter died in 1863 and his holdings passed to his three children, John C. Carter, Henry C. Carter, and Harriett Carter McLemore. In 1876, the Carter heirs sold The Oaks Plantation to Edward Pierce, a wealthy businessman of Hartford Connecticut. The Pierce Family used the place primarily as a second home and refuge from the cold Connecticut winters. Upon the death of Edward Pierce and his wife, the place passed to their three unmarried daughters Minnie, Harriet, and Helen.
Eventually, the Pierce sisters moved to California and the house fell into complete despair. By the last 1930s there were holes in the roof and the house was well on its way to ruin. In 1939, the Pierce sister sold the place to E.T. Davis. After brief ownership by Mr. Davis and then William Nicrosi, The Oaks was acquired by Price McLemore in 1945, who returned the house and grounds in grand style, and put the rich field back in production. The McLemores kept The Oaks for fourteen years, and during their tenure it was a lively place. Many old-time residents of the community will remember with special pleasure the McLemore custom of holding open house on Christmas Eve, when the blazing open fires and garlands of greenery around the house would have gladdened old Alexander Carter’s heart.”
The following has been added to the above information as of July 2022.
Wayne Dawson purchased The Oaks in 1984. Mr. Dawson sought to return The Oaks to its former glory. At that time, the home was in need of significant renovations. More than 150 years old, time had imposed wear and tear. He renovated and restored the home and embellished it with fine furnishings and antiques. He also added a “living suite”.
Roy Granger purchased The Oaks in 1995 with plans to develop “Grangemoor”. The plans for Grangemoor were the first charrette of what was to become The Waters. Hurricane Opal, with its accompanying tornados, destroyed a large portion of the grand Oak trees on the property. Fortunately, the house was spared.
Dwight Henderson, the current owner, purchased The Oaks Planation in 2003 with plans to maintain the beautiful and tranquil environment for the enjoyment of many for special events. A fire in 2005 destroyed the right wing and a portion of the center of the house. All would have been lost except for the extreme efforts of the Waugh, Pike Road and Rolling Hills fire departments. The house was restored to its previous grandeur except for the “living suite” which was converted to a Grand Hall for an open venue area. The Oaks today hosts many weddings and special events and is enjoyed by people from around the world.
It is a beautifully preserved example of the plantation houses that once made Mt. Meigs famous.
The original house was a one-story flat roof structure with a two-room basement. It was a well-built small house but certainly no Tara. As his fortunes improved, Carter added two rooms with impressive proportions to the front of the house and converted the original front porch to a cross hall. Fireplaces were installed along the sides of this hall and a wing room with a portico was added at each end. The long front porch of the enlarged house was supported by octagonal posts and topped by an overhanging roof with an ornate pediment. Carter also laid out formal gardens around the house and planted along each side of the front drive a long avenue of water oaks which eventually grew to great size and gave the place its name.
All of the large plantations, of necessity, raised some corn and hay to feed the mules, and some hogs, and vegetables to feed the people, but usually the sole end purpose was growing cotton. The farming operations at The Oaks were different. Alexander Carter was light years ahead of most of his neighbors in diversification and innovation. By the 1850s, he was raising barley, rye, merino sheep, and purebred hogs. At the state agricultural fair held in Montgomery each fall during the 1850s, Alexander Carter was usually awarded more prizes than any other planter in the state. At these fairs his wife, Elizabeth Carter, also won fame for her wines and preserves.
Alexander Carter died in 1863 and his holdings passed to his three children, John C. Carter, Henry C. Carter, and Harriett Carter McLemore. In 1876, the Carter heirs sold The Oaks Plantation to Edward Pierce, a wealthy businessman of Hartford Connecticut. The Pierce Family used the place primarily as a second home and refuge from the cold Connecticut winters. Upon the death of Edward Pierce and his wife, the place passed to their three unmarried daughters Minnie, Harriet, and Helen.
Eventually, the Pierce sisters moved to California and the house fell into complete despair. By the last 1930s there were holes in the roof and the house was well on its way to ruin. In 1939, the Pierce sister sold the place to E.T. Davis. After brief ownership by Mr. Davis and then William Nicrosi, The Oaks was acquired by Price McLemore in 1945, who returned the house and grounds in grand style, and put the rich field back in production. The McLemores kept The Oaks for fourteen years, and during their tenure it was a lively place. Many old-time residents of the community will remember with special pleasure the McLemore custom of holding open house on Christmas Eve, when the blazing open fires and garlands of greenery around the house would have gladdened old Alexander Carter’s heart.”
The following has been added to the above information as of July 2022.
Wayne Dawson purchased The Oaks in 1984. Mr. Dawson sought to return The Oaks to its former glory. At that time, the home was in need of significant renovations. More than 150 years old, time had imposed wear and tear. He renovated and restored the home and embellished it with fine furnishings and antiques. He also added a “living suite”.
Roy Granger purchased The Oaks in 1995 with plans to develop “Grangemoor”. The plans for Grangemoor were the first charrette of what was to become The Waters. Hurricane Opal, with its accompanying tornados, destroyed a large portion of the grand Oak trees on the property. Fortunately, the house was spared.
Dwight Henderson, the current owner, purchased The Oaks Planation in 2003 with plans to maintain the beautiful and tranquil environment for the enjoyment of many for special events. A fire in 2005 destroyed the right wing and a portion of the center of the house. All would have been lost except for the extreme efforts of the Waugh, Pike Road and Rolling Hills fire departments. The house was restored to its previous grandeur except for the “living suite” which was converted to a Grand Hall for an open venue area. The Oaks today hosts many weddings and special events and is enjoyed by people from around the world.
It is a beautifully preserved example of the plantation houses that once made Mt. Meigs famous.
