Cato House
823 W. Barbour St., Eufaula, ALThe Cato Home was the setting for some of the most influential secessionist meetings held in Alabama during the late 1850's. It was the scene of a great celebration when Alabama seceded from the Union.
Lewis Llewellen Cato, an attorney at law and solicitor in chancery, was known as "the great secessionist." A friend of Yancey's, he was a member of the Eufaula Regency. Lewy Dorman in his Party Politics in Alabama from 1850 through 1860 states, "The most advanced step looking toward secession came from^the fire-eaters of Southeast Alabama under the leader- ship of the Eufaula Regency. It was composed of a strong Southern rights group, principally lawyers from Eufaula." He continues, "They were the most consistent secessionists in the State."
The home was built by Cato on land bought from the Creek Indians. The house has been owned by the Cato family for the greater part of its existence. After the death of Lewis Llewellen Cato, the house was sold to E. B. Young. In 1905 Dr. Julius Cato, a son of Lewis L. bought the house, and Catos have lived there ever since. Miss Annis Cato, a granddaughter of Lewis L. lives there now.
The Cato Home is one of the featured attractions of the Eufaula pilgrimage.
Listed in National Register of Historic Places in 1971.
The National Register of Historic Places is the official list of the Nation’s historic places worthy of preservation. Authorized by the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the National Park Service’s National Register of Historic Places is part of a national program to coordinate and support public and private efforts to identify, evaluate, and protect America’s historic and archeological resources.