Urban explorer and photographer Leland Kent, creator of Abandoned Southeast, has documented many forgotten properties across the American South. One of his most striking finds is a brick mansion built in 1899 for Robert H. Moulthrop, an Alabama state senator known for his work in education reform. Even in abandonment, the home’s scale and craftsmanship reflect an era when buildings were meant to convey permanence, pride, and status.
Designed in a blend of Imperial Revival and Queen Anne styles, the mansion features a prominent turret, decorative brickwork, and tall windows that once filled its five-bedroom interior with light. The layout suggests a home built for both family life and formal gatherings. Despite decades of neglect, the structure still carries a sense of grandeur, with its architectural details remaining visible beneath layers of decay.
The home’s remarkable endurance is largely due to its construction. The Moulthrop family owned one of Alabama’s largest brick manufacturing operations, allowing them to build with exceptional materials. In places, the exterior walls measure up to six bricks thick, helping the building withstand time and the elements. The columned veranda remains standing, its solid brickwork contrasting sharply with the damaged interior.
Inside, however, the decay is unmistakable. Sections of the roof have collapsed, leaving debris throughout the rooms. Fireplaces and walls have crumbled, and once-elegant features show severe structural damage. The mansion stayed in the family until the 1980s before being abandoned. Today, it stands as a reminder of both architectural resilience and how quickly even grand homes can fade without care.