CORNELIA and EDWIN SLOSSON HOME

     The first building in the Silverhill area that was built by a northern settler, was constructed in 1895 by Edwin C. Slosson. A windmill water pump and barnyard were behind the home. The Slossons opened their home to guests seeking land purchases before the Oscar Johnson home or hotels were built in Silverhill.

Silverhill's early promotional booklet showing the Oscar Johnson Home and the Slosson Home. Oscar Johnson's house was in the center of Silverhill. Edwin Slosson's house was over 2 miles southwest of the center of town. Click to Enlarge.

     On February 3, 1890, Mr. and Mrs. John Craft sold 600 acres of land to Cornelia D. Slosson for the amount of $350. This was land that Kerney Wallace had sold to John Craft just a few days earlier. See PDF of land deed.

This is a recent satellite view of the 600 acres described in the deed above, highlighted in blue, which Cornelia Slosson bought in 1890. The house is marked with a blue push pin. - Click to enlarge.

     Location: This building still exists today (2024) as a family home at its original location on the west side of County Road 49 a little more than 2 miles from Silverhill. It is known as the Aina Swoboda home.

     Interesting facts:

1. Edwin C. Slosson and his family were the first of the northern pioneers to move into and settle in Baldwin County.


2. Part of the land, which Oscar Johnson and the Svea Land Company purchased to become Silverhill, was land owned by Edwin C. Slosson's father-in-law Aaron Harford.


3. Edwin C. Slosson was a machinist, inventor, farmer, and a sawmill owner. His sawmill provided lumber to the earliest of settlers in the Fairhope, Fish River, and Silverhill area. Oscar Johnson's own house and land office were most likely supplied lumber from the Slosson mill. Oscar Johnson built a sawmill on Polecat Creek in 1902 for use in building the Swedish homes and businesses. He may have received direction from Dr. Slosson when constructing the mill.


4. Edwin C. Slosson was known as Dr. Slosson even though he never went to medical school. In the sparsely settled areas of the county far from a practitioner, he helped those who were sick or injured. Dr. Slosson made countless trips on horseback to assist ill and needy people.

The Slosson House
Click each picture to Enlarge.

The Slosson House with a windmill water pump in back, 1900.	The Slosson House 1900.
The Slosson House with an Aermotor windmill water pump in back. Lois Slosson is feeding a calf in barn yard.	The Slosson House, view from the back showing the separate kitchen on left and pumphouse on right.
The Slosson Barn.	The Slosson Smokehouse.
The Slosson House about 1906.	The Slosson House with windmill damaged from 1906 hurricane. A gas engine replaced the wind powered water pump.