389 Summerville Road, Smiths Station, AL 36877

A letter from the sellers: When we bought Lawson Farms in 2015, we knew we were becoming part of something special. This historic Smiths Station home, once owned by local author Caroline Lawson Ivey (1912–1972), has a story as rich as its setting. Ivey, who wrote The Family in the Library, was a Lee County native educated at what is now Auburn University. She taught in local schools before turning to writing, and her quiet creativity still seems to linger within the walls. In recognition of her lifelong dedication to education and the arts, the Caroline Ivey Memorial Foundation was later established in her name to provide grants for aspiring middle and secondary teachers. Originally built as a four-room dogtrot in the 1890s, the home has grown gracefully over time. In the 1950s, a grand Southern staircase and second floor were added, and in the 1970s, a downstairs bedroom with a private porch and morning room expanded the living space. Many original features remain intact,...