It’s been an ongoing labor of love, punctuated by a variety of administrative, pandemic, and supply chain-induced setbacks along the way, but cybersecurity specialists Ross Hickey and John Francis have remained steadfast in their undertaking.

For the past two and a half years, Hickey and Francis have put quite a bit of sweat equity into transforming the Quietdale Estate into a state-of-the-art event venue; a venue that successfully implements modern day technology yet still retains the beauty, grace, and charm of a much earlier era.

Nestled in a neighborhood near the Lincoln Mill District, Quietdale sits on six acres of land, amid large white oaks, magnolia trees, and thousands of daffodils. Although Lee High School and the Coca Cola Bottling plant are just a stone’s throw away, Quietdale is cocooned by lush foliage that buffers the property from the outside influences of modern-day life.

The property was originally owned by William Robinson, the first Sheriff of Madison County.

Unfortunately, the Sheriff never saw the completion of the home. In 1852, Robinson died at age 44, leaving behind a wife and five children. It was his widow, Caroline Moore Robinson, who saw the construction through, realizing her husband’s vision.

Prior to his death, Robinson was one of the largest landowners in the region, having thousands of acres in north Alabama, Tennessee, Arkansas, and Mississippi. Although a skilled bricklayer, Robinson wanted his dream home to be a frame house and sought out the very best lumber he could find.

The house was originally planned to be situated at a point between the house’s present site and what was soon to be the northern branch of the Memphis and Charleston rail line. With that in mind, Mrs. Robinson decided that the building should be farther up on the rise leading to Chapman Mountain.

Mrs. Robinson loved cultivating daffodils and they figure prominently in the early history of the estate. In fact, as part of the deal to gain permission to lay down the tracks for the Memphis and Charleston line, it was agreed that the train would stop each day to pick up Mrs. Robinson and her children, taking them downtown, where they would sell the daffodils.

Since Mrs. Robinson’s death in 1885, the estate gone through several owners, all imprinting their own style in the efforts of home renovation. However, the overall structure itself speaks volumes of the care taken in its construction. Quietdale was built to last. “The architecture is incredible,” said Hickey. “It really tells the story of the home.”

Although Quietdale is a mixture of architectural styles, the interior of the estate is clearly Greek Revivalism. Quietdale has a significant place in the history of Huntsville and also has the distinction of being on the National Register of Historic Places.

Each room in the estate radiates history through its artistic craftsmanship. “It has good bones,” said Hickey.” There are ten fireplaces; each fireplace is unique, no two are alike. The high ceilings in the downstairs parlors and the entrance hall are adorned by large plaster medallions in a dahlia design.

After purchasing the property in March 2019, the pair began redeveloping the estate. First, by tackling the structural and foundational aspects, such as plumbing, electrical, and HVA.

Hickey and Francis also took great care in making sure that everything is up to code and ADA compliant.

It goes well beyond checking off the boxes, however. A great amount of attention has been focused on preserving the charm and feel of the estate – while having the modern conveniences of WiFi and climate control.

Hickey and Francis envision Quietdale as a destination spot for creating timeless memories. By restoring the building and its surrounding property, the two hope to preserve a valuable piece of Huntsville history, as well as meet the needs of a region that’s on a rapid growth trajectory.

There is a great need for event venues and a dedicated space like Quietdale is long overdue. In a recent Chamber of Commerce report, it’s been predicted that catered event growth could rise by as much as 19.30% between 2022-2026.

Weddings in Huntsville also have almost doubled over the past three years, according to the Huntsville-Madison County Convention & Visitors Bureau. Most existing event venues are backlogged and often booked more than a year in advance. As a result, many potential clientele have taken to booking their nuptials during the offseason, such as in the fall or winter. Hosting a wedding in the middle of the week is no longer considered unusual.

Ross and Hickey are currently in the process of finalizing investments to bring Quietdale’s history to the community and they anticipate hosting events by 2023.

When complete, Quietdale will have the capacity to host multiple events simultaneously, accommodating up to 500 people. To address the capacity needs, the pair recently purchased a tract of land from Lee High School to develop into a parking area.