Cowan-Ramser House

Built in 1840, the Cowan-Ramser House is one of the oldest surviving Greek Revival residences in Eufaula, Alabama. Although the home was last used as Mrs. Colonel White & Sons Funeral Home, the house was originally built as a private residence for Dr. William Lockhart Cowan, who was one of Eufaula’s earliest physicians. He built the city’s first drug store in 1850. Cowan and his wife, Anna Pugh Cowan had eight children, three of whom tragically died young. They also raised his wife’s orphaned brother. The couple’s daughters married wealthy district attorneys or state senators. One of Cowan’s sons, James served as an officer during the Civil War after attending West Point. In 1862, tragedy struck when his daugther, Laura Josephine Fleming's husband, known for sleepwalking fell from the porch balcony becoming paralyzed. After the accident, the family moved to Union Springs.

The estate was subsequently sold to Jacob Ramser, a Swiss furniture craftsman. While living in Eufaula, Ramser, became a member of the city council, and held the position of mayor as well as superintendent of education. Ramser and his wife, Mary Singer Ramser had four children. After he died on September 14, 1892, his son inherited the property.

The Lewis family purchased the property in 1948 and the house was converted for use as Colonel White and Sons Funeral Home (later Mrs. White and Sons Funeral Home). After the passing of Colonel White Jr. On Oct 24,1953, it was passed down to his son, Colonel White III and it was co-owned by Kenzie Kelly Jr., a funeral director, and embalmer. For decades, the White family operated a funeral business downstairs and lived upstairs. After Colonel White III passed away on December 19, 1992, the name changed to Mrs. White and Sons Funeral Home. His wife continued to live in the house until she passed on November 6, 2004. At which time the business was closed.

The home was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1986 as a contributing structure to the Seth Lore and Irwington Historic District. The house is one of eight historic structures in Eufaula recorded during a Historic American Building Survey in 1935. In 2017, a windstorm damaged the roof and broke several windows. The storm damage was exacerbated by Hurricane Michael in 2018. In 2019, it was placed on the Alabama Trust of Historic Preservation Places in Peril hoping the owner would take steps to repair the house. It wasn’t until February 29th, 2020, that a crew was spotted at the home clearing it out of trash and debris. The backyard contained at least five hearses, some rusting and covered in kudzu. A 1950s Chevrolet sedan and various other cars which have since been removed. On December 8, 2020 Gloria Lewis of Orlando, Florida sold the home to Divine Biz Consultants LLC of New Haven, Connecticut in a quitclaim deed for a dollar.

Currently, the mayor is wanting to demolish the home for a parking lot. The home's lower windows have been boarded up and its future grows more uncertain with each passing day.

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