Residents of Huntsville’s McThornmor Acres have a new reason to be proud of their neighborhood with the addition of their community to the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP).

Constructed in the 1950s, the design of McThornmor Acres reflected the City’s goals to create a modern neighborhood for the workforce of the space and rocket program. The neighborhood is remarkably intact, with most of its homes retaining their original appearance.

The homes reflect the architecture of the time, including post-war and split-level ranches as well as mid-century contemporary structures.

This addition follows closely on the heels of the addition of another historic Huntsville neighborhood, Edmonton Heights, to the NRHP just six months ago.

“The addition of McThornmor Acres to the National Register of Historic Places is an exciting announcement for all our citizens,” Mayor Tommy Battle said. “We have so much residential growth and development happening in all corners of our City, but this honor reminds us we need to recognize and protect our existing historic neighborhoods as well.”

Historic Huntsville Foundation Executive Director Donna Castellano initially identified McThornmor Acres for possible inclusion on the NRHP. David Schneider of Schneider Historic Preservation, LLC, surveyed the neighborhood, which was completed in 2018.

“McThornmor Acres is valuable because it is a link between the people and events that helped shape Huntsville,” said City Preservation Planner Katie Stamps. “We are continuing to bring recognition to our historic neighborhoods through resource surveys in hopes of attaining national recognition.”

A public meeting will be held on Thursday, Feb. 17, at 7 p.m. about a planned historic resource survey for Magnolia Terrace, another Huntsville neighborhood built in the 1950s and 1960s that was home to some of Huntsville’s early Black professionals and middle-class families. The survey represents the first phase in a multiphase process to assess Magnolia Terrace’s eligibility for future inclusion in the NRHP.

More information about the public meeting on Magnolia Terrace can be found here.

Photos provided by the City of Huntsville.