Looming out of the encroaching foliage, this impressive mansion looks fit for a person of importance. Indeed, it was once the family residence of a senator. Sadly, years of neglect have left this grand house rapidly disintegrating. Here’s your chance to look inside the former home of a legislator, thanks to photographer Leland Kent of Abandoned Southeast. Click or scroll on to take the tour...

Set in the small city of Adamsville, Alabama, this rectangular brick home looks imposing with its Greek Revival-style exterior. Six giant white columns support the porch roof, mimicking the design of Greek-style edifices found on many of America's powerhouse political buildings. The architecture is seemingly quite apt as this house was once home to Robert L. Ellis, an Alabama senator.

Inside, you’re greeted by an attractive twisting staircase and a wide, open entryway that draws your eye toward the living rooms. The origins of the house are somewhat of a mystery. A recent property listing claims the residence was built in 1988. However, Leland Kent was told by the developer that the house dates back to the 1930s, and many of the surrounding properties were constructed in the mid-20th century, though some are as old as 1900.

The four-bedroom, three-bathroom house seems to have a vintage feel and could arguably date back later than the 1980s, so it’s possible an older property on the site was renovated at this later date. Another view from the entrance hall reveals wonderful light-filled living spaces with an intriguing illustration visible on a far wall. The downstairs walls feature lots of heavy wooden panelling, which was popular from the 1950s through to the 1970s.

This sitting room has smart white wood wall panelling and an ornate candelabra-style pendant light fitting. Notice the lovely pocket-style doors, which neatly slide onto the wall, leaving internal doorways open for light and bright open-plan living. The centrepiece of the room is an elaborate wall mural that stretches across two walls. The neo-classical-style scene shows a couple in 18th or 19th-century clothes waving goodbye to a steamship. Worringly, the boat doesn’t look very buoyant!

Here’s the sitting room from another angle, where you can see the dramatic floor-length curtains with a ruched pelmet gathered into loose folds. However, the utilitarian heating unit seems somewhat out of place with the elegance of the space. The window dressings frame huge windows overlooking the overgrown grounds. The house is set back from the road on a hill, nestled within a generous plot of land. 

This unusual living room has 1960s or 1970s vibes, featuring floor-to-ceiling light wood panelling, a feature brick wall, and a large open fireplace. Debris, crumbling plaster from the ceiling and fragments of wood are strewn across the floor, offering a reminder that the house has been abandoned for years.

This downstairs room on the other side of the entrance would make a great dining room with its large windows and elegant fireplace. Future senator and former owner of this home, Robert Ellis, was born in 1922 in Ensley, a neighbourhood of Jefferson County, Alabama. He went on to graduate from the University of Alabama and Auburn University.

The galley-style kitchen is in a reasonable state but time has clearly taken a toll, with varnish peeling off the dark wooden units. A mop and broom are propped up in the corner opposite a large fridge-freezer, as though they've just been set down. As a young man, Robert was thrust into the horrors of the Second World War. According to his obituary, he served as a Master Sergeant in the Army Air Corps.

This eccentric space is at the far end of the kitchen. The built-in bench seating features unusual under-seat cupboards, while the cream leather suggests this element of the room dates back to the 1970s. Whimsical retro wallpaper peels away from the walls and the floor tiles are broken and littered with crumbling plaster. The home is in urgent need of renovation!

This unusual device found in the kitchen may be a very old-fashioned intercom system that was once linked up to the rooms in the house. Robert married his sweetheart Mary Thomas in 1942 and the couple must have endured a painful separation during Robert’s war years. Thankfully, this romance had a happy ending, with Robert and Mary remaining married for more than six decades.

The couple went on to have a son and two daughters. Here’s the colourful downstairs restroom, which has plenty of personality for such a small space. The fresh, blue wall tiles look completely intact, while the floral wallpaper is peeling ever so slightly in one corner. A big mirror and a towel rail make the most out of the compact footprint.

The staircase is a show-stopping central feature on the ground floor. Stepped wooden panels are arranged to form a curving spiral following the twisting line of the stairs, and the white-painted spindles have been ornately carved. In 1960, Robert Ellis took his first step into public life when he was elected to the Jefferson County Board of Education, according to Leland Kent.

This shot shows off the elegant twist of the staircase from above. Notice the scrolled wood finish at each end of the bannister. The stairs and panelling look to be in very good condition. A pendant light on a long metal chain with a carved foliage design adds architectural interest. Six years after sitting on the Board of Education, Robert entered politics. He was elected to the State House of Representatives, serving from 1966 to 1973.

This first-floor bedroom is in need of restoration. The curtains are falling from their rail and there are patches of damp on the walls and plaster crumbling off the ceiling. Notice the unusual covering on the ceiling light – it’s a map with compass points. After his term in the House of Representatives, Robert entered the Alabama State Senate and served a four-year term, while also serving as the District Governor for three years, according to his obituary. 

Here’s the vintage ensuite bathroom with mint-green tiles, matching wallpaper and curtains. It's quite a full-on scheme! The white cupboards and lavatory are in a bad state of repair, and the showerhead has been knocked off its stand and now dangles over the bath. As well as being a leading figure in state politics, Robert was a mechanical engineer for 32 years with the Southern Natural Gas Company, according to Leland Kent.

The olive-green carpet in this bedroom has been faded by the sun and you can see a slightly darker shade where furniture once stood. In 1993 at the age of 71, Robert stepped back into the spotlight of public life. He was elected as a Jefferson County representative to Alabama’s first Silver-Haired Legislature, reveals Leland Kent. This group passes legislation on the welfare of senior citizens in the state.

The wrinkling wallpaper and peeling paintwork in this bathroom betray the fact that the house has been left to languish. Notice the attractive border featuring a shell design, which is reflected in the mirror, along with fleur-de-lis tiles across the back wall. Robert also found time to support Alabama Lions Sight. Inspired by a speech by disability rights advocate and Alabama native Helen Keller, the charity was established in 1944 and Robert joined as a member in 1951.

Stuck in a sorry state, this bedroom clearly hasn't seen daylight in some time. Concerningly, an electric cable runs across the room from a precariously positioned heater wedged on a narrow windowsill. The colour scheme looks very dated, with clashing hues and a dramatic landscape print across the curtains. Robert Ellis died in 2006 from complications of Parkinson’s disease, according to Leland Kent. He was survived by his wife of 64 years, along with his three children, four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

A mysterious basement is found on the lowest level of the house. It's unclear what the dusty space was originally used for, but given the table tennis table and the hopscotch grid drawn on the floor, it was probably a makeshift games room in later years.

Even overgrown and untamed, the garden looks picturesque. The building once had even more acreage surrounding it, according to Leland Kent, but parcels of land were sold off when the property came into the possession of a bank some time following Robert's death. Happily, the house is set to have a new lease of life. It was sold in May 2022 for $139,500 (£1194), with the new owners planning a full renovation of the intriguing home.

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