POWERGRAMS

The 6,000-square-foot white-stucco- covered-brick structure sitting on a 5-acre city block south of downtown is considered one of America's three greatest Greek Revival homes. And the man who made it so is an oft-forgotten genius who excelled in nearly every effort he undertook. "Whitfield is known as 'the Jefferson of Alabama,'" says Gaineswood Director Paige Smith, noting that he entered the University of North Carolina at age 12. "If there was a problem, he was going to find a solution, and usually in a very grand manner." Whitfield bought more than 5,000 acres south of Demopolis in 1834 but moved his family to town eight years later after three of his eventual 25 natural and adopted children died of Yellow Fever. He acquired Gaines' house and the surrounding 1,200 acres and immediately began construction, completing additions in 1843, 1847, 1850, 1856, 1860 and 1861 to accommodate his large family and many important guests. College architecture students annually tour the home as a part of their studies. "He had no architectural training at all, but traveled extensively and was well-read,"' says Smith. "He knew what he liked, and he designed the entire house based on his experiences." Whitfield designs include the nearby First Episcopal Church and the town's first city square park. Yet, some of his best ideas ended up in the home named for his friend Gaines: the dining room and parlor that mirror each other with 1-ton domed ceilings and cupolas; a flutina player- piano; a 6-foot-tall silver-plated table centerpiece and its rosewood storage cabinet; flat glass on curved surfaces that give the illusion of rounded windows; a massive 12-burner chandelier; 28 identical interior Corinthian columns, each crafted from tools he made; and his hand- carved wooden pineapple gazebo top. Gaineswood is noted for its marble fireplaces, matching faux-marble baseboards that took an artist 18 months to paint, art-glass transoms by John Gibson (who did similar artwork in the U.S. Capitol), and vis-a-vis mirrors from France that produce a series of 13 reflections. Today three-fourths of the furnishings are original to the house, as well as photographs, letters and other Whitfield belongings, most of which have been donated by descendants. There is a violin he played (in addition to his talent for the Celtic harp, bagpipes and other instruments). The family Bible lists deaths, births and marriages in Whitfield's handwriting. His original oil paintings grace several rooms. In 1923, Whitfield's granddaughter, Bessie Dustin, sold Gaineswood. Forty-two years later it was purchased by the state and then opened to the public in 1975 for the following year's national bicentennial 15 1-ton domed ceiling and cupola. Twelve-burner chandelier

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