This is said to have been the home of Allen Johnston, who settled the area of present-day Ludowici around 1850. The community was known as Johnston Station until 1905. If Johnston did live here, the house has been changed greatly.
The house has been locally dated to circa 1858. I’m unsure of the validity of that date but don’t completely discount it. It’s also possible that a smaller house dating to that time is hidden within this structure, with a later expansion resulting in its present appearance. It’s believed the Ludowici Tile roof was added circa 1905, and perhaps that’s when it was expanded to its present appearance. Bessie O’Neal, a granddaughter of Allen Johnston, was the last immediate family member to live here.
Lived in this house back in 1993, I loved this place. So sad to see it gone. Loved the front balcony it had, so wished I would have bought it, and just stayed there. The landlords who owned it then.There last name was Love. I lived there for two years. Great memories!!
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Just wondering why no photos of the front of the house? The front roof overhung a balcony. I visited there a number of times when *Aunt Bessie* lived there.
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While living in Ludowici, I knew a family that rented this house for quite a while. I lived with them for a few months in 1994. The house was still in good condition. The rooms were massive, with the kitchen having been added on to the back of the house. Such history in the beautiful house. So sad to see it in this condition.
I use to disappear in this house and was part of the last family that lived in this house. The stories and memories I will have of this house has me looking into purchasing this house.
so sad to see this house in disrepair, wake up Long County and restore this house to it’s original state. It’s a shame to let this “piece” of history slip away….
we’re lucky it is in as good a shape as it is. If I were rich I’d buy and maintain it, just sos if I ever went through Ludowici I could look up and say, “There it is, the house of the original settler of Ludowicii.”
I enjoyed reading about the history of the town. Durinig the l950’s and perhhaps later, the town was notorious for its “speed trap”.
Great old house, very similar to those around these parts!
as usual – wonderful post! good condition or not, i’d bet that tile roof is what’s keeping that house standing!
Very interesting history lesson…thank you!