To spot Rally Hill, look for the impressive two-and-a-half-story brick mansion with tall white columns and a welcoming porch right ahead of you, tucked behind a line of old shade trees.
Now, picture this stately house around 1848: a young James Walker, brother-in-law to President James K. Polk, stands proudly on that front porch, perhaps rolling up the latest edition of The Western Chronicle. This is where the whispers of national politics and family secrets might have buzzed beneath the solid roof. Life here was busy, with Walker’s wife, Jane Maria Polk, and their three boys-one of whom, Lucius M. Walker, would go on to become a Confederate general. Rumor has it, the house was shaped by the dignified Federal style (despite a little Greek Revival confusion sprinkled in later), with its plain brick face and massive pocket doors ready to impress any high-society guest-or wandering tour guide, for that matter! After Walker’s family, Dr. William M. Biddle took over, adding the hustle and bustle of mayoral duties and patient visits to these halls from 1900 to 1912. Imagine stories echoing through its simple trim-history’s drama, a dash of politics, and more than a little Southern charm all bundled into one remarkable mansion, now proudly on the National Register of Historic Places.
