Return on investment

The Snyder family plants roots in well-known Hartselle home

Story by Jennifer L. Williams

Photos by Sam Roberts

When Marianthe Snyder walked in the front door of the Duncan house, she knew it was home.

The Acadian-style home on Oak Lane in Hartselle was the first house Marianthe and her husband, Michael, looked at when preparing to move from Florence in 2015. It had been the home of Walter Duncan, a prominent Hartselle doctor, and his wife Elaine since 1960.

Michael Snyder retired from the U.S. Army in 2015 and lined up a job as the senior instructor for JROTC at Decatur High School.  Marianthe knew nothing of the area but looked online for homes with five bedrooms to accommodate their large family. She found the Duncan home and convinced Michael to come see it with her.

That was it.

She said the unique style of the house spoke to her — from the front door from New Orleans and the dining room chandelier from Italy to the multiple entrances to each room in the large home. Marianthe choose to keep the Duncans’ touches and has added her own throughout.

An artist of Greek heritage, Marianthe has traveled to 36 countries and has brought a little from each place to incorporate into her home décor.

“I’ve been called an eclectic bohemian,” she said with a laugh. “I guess that’s about right.”

After buying and moving into the home, the Snyders had Walter over for dinner a few times, and he shared some of the home’s history with them—something Marianthe treasures.

One of the historic connections the Duncan-Snyder house has is that legendary Alabama coach Bear Bryant visited the home a few times in the 1970s to recruit Walter’s son, Conley Duncan, to play for him. Another interesting connection:

The Snyder family has found a forever home in Hartselle. Daughter Lydia, 15, is involved in band, chorus and theater at Hartselle High School; daughter Marilyn, 12, is a cheerleader for Hartselle Junior High School; son Creighton, 11, adopted in 2008 from Guatemala, is in sixth grade at Hartselle Intermediate School; and daughter Eleanor, 8, is in third grade at Burleson Elementary School.

Marianthe has become involved with the Hartselle Kiwanis Club and serves on the Board of the Historic Burleson Center. She also volunteers at Burleson Elementary for art club on Fridays and at First United Methodist Church for a pre-teen Bible study on Wednesday nights. Michael also volunteers with the Wednesday night pre-teen Bible study at FUMC, and he serves on the Hartselle Planning and Zoning Board.

“We just love the quality of life here and how the whole community really supports our children,” said Marianthe. “We plan to stay here and have this be our forever home.”

Marianthe said she also loves the antique places around town; she enjoys going on “treasure hunts.” “I love finding pieces that remind me of my travels,” she said, “and then finding a place for them in the house.”

Foyer

The Duncan-Snyder House features marble quarried in Alabama and, of course, the front doors from a New Orleans estate. “Mrs. Duncan was from New Orleans,” said Marianthe, “and she hired an architect to build the house in the popular Louisiana Acadian-style and wanted those doors for her entrance.”

Family Room

The copper hood on the fireplace in the family room is a unique feature, and the Snyder family uses a built-in wall unit to display pieces from Marianthe’s Greek heritage.

Dining Room

The dining room features the Italian chandelier bought by the Duncans on a 1990s trip to Italy, and it has plenty of room for large gatherings of friends and family for the holidays. The Snyders have “adopted” George Mills, 97, a World War II veteran from Decatur who was captured as a POW during the Battle of the Bulge, hosting him and various cadets and service members Michael has taught or worked with over the years. They “always have a friendly place to spend the holidays,” said Marianthe.

Sun Porch

The spacious sun porch has been converted to an artist’s studio for Marianthe, and visitors can always find her latest creation on an easel there. The room also features a large table for children’s homework and crafts.

Upstairs Bonus Room

The upstairs boasts a huge bonus room and bedroom for guests. A pool table and a collection of Masters memorabilia — a nod to Michael’s upbringing in Augusta, Ga. — fills the large space, where the children can play video games and host sleepovers.