SETS
FOR MONROE COUNTY HERITAGE MUSEUM PRODUCTION "TO KILL A
MOCKINGBIRD":
The year 2003 marked the thirteenth year for The Monroe County
Heritage Museum's production of Christopher Sergel's play, "To Kill
A Mockingbird." Adapted by Sergel from the novel by Monroeville
native Nelle Harper Lee, the play in two acts centers around the
trial of a black man, Tom Robinson, accused of raping a white woman,
Mayella Violet Ewell. The setting is the small town south in the
1930's. The old Monroe County Courthouse served as the model for the
courtroom in the movie, "To Kill A Mockingbird" so it is only
fitting that the old courthouse should also host annually in May,
the ever popular production of the play, under the direction of
Monroe County Heritage Museums' director, Kathy McCoy.
The first local production took place in fall of 1991, and was only
a one act version. In 1995, Act 1, was added, and the sets on this
site were built by the museum, and have remained in place ever
since. Facing the sets, the Atticus Finch house is on the left; Boo
Radley's house is in the center; and to the far right are local
busybody Mrs. Stephanie and Mrs. Maudie, along with the morphine
addicted Mrs. Dubose. The play is enacted by an all local, amateur
cast, "The Mockingbird Players." The cast also includes a gospel
choir, "The Monroe County Interdenominational Mass Choir." The
production has been sold out every year for its local run, annually
in May. Each production seats around 240 people. Tickets sell out in
March after going on sale the first Monday of March each year. The
production has traveled to Jerusalem in celebration of the Festival
of King David, to Kingston-Upon-Hull; to the Kennedy Center for the
Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., to the Saenger Theatre in
Mobile; to the Alabama Supreme Court Building.
MURAL
FROM TKAM:
In the novel, "To Kill A Mockingbird" Scout, Jem, and Dill are
perpetually interested in their mysterious neighbor, Boo. This
scene, captured by a local artist, depicts the three children
peering through the fence into their neighbor's yard, trying to see
if Boo Radley would "come out." The courthouse dome is in the
distance.
TRUMAN
CAPOTE HISTORIC MARKER:
Former Site of the Faulk House/Truman Capote Historic Marker.
On this site was the original Faulk house, owned by Truman Capote's
cousin, Miss Jennie Faulk. Miss Jennie Faulk owned a millinery shop
in downtown Monroeville. (It was the old Morgan Furniture Building,
presently housing Computer Support Services on the east side of
downtown square.)
Miss Jennie Faulk lived with her two sisters, Callie and Sook, and
brother, Bud, in the house on this site. The original house burned
to the ground in 1940.The second house on the site was demolished in
1988. The stone wall was original to the first home on the site, and
there is an indentation to the rear of the property where a goldfish
pond once existed. This site is virtually all that is left of Truman
Capote's Monroeville childhood. Many of Capote's writings are
considered to be based on his Monroeville childhood: "A Christmas
Memory"; "The Thanksgiving Visitor"; "The Grass Harp", etc. Truman,
born Truman Streckfus Persons, was very close to his Monroeville
relatives, and visited frequently over the years. He served as the
model for Dill in Harper Lee's "To Kill A Mockingbird." Capote and
Lee were childhood neighbors and lifelong friends.
THE
J.C. HUDSON HOUSE:
The J.C. Hudson House was built circa 1928 by J.C. Hudson, Sr., a
local business man and entrepreneur, who passed the house on to his
son, J.C. Hudson, Jr. J.C. Hudson, Jr., and his wife, Mary, lived in
the house and this is where they raised their four children. It is a
two story brick, colonial revival house. This home has been
continuously occupied by the Hudson family since it was built.
Currently, J.C. Hudson Jr's daughter, Pattie, lives in the house.
Her mother, Mary, widow of J.C. Hudson, Jr., recently passed away.
J.C. Hudson, Sr., was probably one of the first entrepreneurs in
Monroeville. He put in the first electric lighting system in the
county. He and his partner, D.D. Mims, had thirteen cotton gins. He
also had the Pan American Oil Distributorship.
The house was built by a Mr. Henry Hayles, with the architect being
a Mr. Marsh from Mobile. The original roof was changed from slate
due to weather damage. A bathroom was added. Both of the original
chimneys are still standing. The south porch was glassed in. The
original double garage in back of the house was made into four
apartments during World War II, due to the housing shortage. Three
of these have been removed.
FINKLEA/TATE
HOUSE:
The Finklea/Tate House was probably built in the early 1900's,
between 1906-1908, by the same contractor who built the N.S. Hare
Home, and the Hybart, Hendrix, Lewis, Brewton Home. The home was
first built for B. B. Finklea, the great uncle of Betty Hudson Tate,
who currently resides in the house. B.B. Finklea married Betty
Tate's aunt, Annie Sellers. She was his third wife. The first wife
died, the second wife was fatally burned in this house. Annie
Sellers Finklea was the third wife. Betty Tate has all the Victorian
furniture original to the house, which was left to Mrs. Tate by her
aunt. The Finklea's never had children, and the house was left to
Mrs. Tate, also.
No rooms have been added to the house. It has had aluminum siding
added. The ceilings have been lowered in back of the house from 12
feet to 16 feet. Sheetrock has replaced the original plaster walls,
and closets have been added. The fireplaces have been closed up, but
the Tate's still have the original mantles, which they plan to
re-install one day.
