According to Nancy Stephens, who once owned this house, it was built circa 1815 by Thomas Whaley in the Federal style. It was purchased in 1853 by Dr. Edmund Monroe Pendleton (1816-27 January 1884), who expanded it. Pendleton was a graduate of the South Carolina Medical College and a local physician. He was also an entrepreneur and developed the Pendleton Formula, which made use of animal matter as fertilizer. After leaving Sparta, Dr Graves served as chair of the Agriculture Department at the University of Georgia (1872-1877).
Entrepreneur and banker Richard Augustus Graves (11 July 1848-27 December 1901) bought the house in 1880 and modified it to its present Victorian appearance. A native of Burke County, he came to Sparta from Augusta and ran a successful retail store before becoming a banker in 1887. He served as chairman of the county commission and vice president of the Georgia Bankers’ Association.
The house is presently unoccupied.
Sparta Historic District, National Register of Historic Places
I descend from the Pendleton and Graves families who are related, although I would have to figure out how in regards to this house- I have not seen it before now. So beautiful. I hate that it has been left to decay.
I photographed this house myself a few weeks ago!
Is this still unoccupied? There is a satellite dish outside and two dogs out back of the house as of 2-24-18.
That is news to me. There are windows out and I sure have not seen a car in the driveway. The house is right behind the IGA and when you go out of the parking lot you are in front of the house. There may have been a satellite dish from a previous tenant. I understand that there were people squatting in the house a while back. That’s interesting, I’ll have to check it out. Thanks. Hey, maybe somebody bought it and they are going to restore it!
Are you still local to sparta? We are trying to purchase this house to save it! It seems we are finally getting somewhere with the possibility of doing so! We would love to talk to someone that has history with this house! Thanks so much
This house is beautiful. I would love to see it brought back to its glory. Currently, its listed at $99K. A little ride for us but this would be our “George Bailey” Residence! I would love to hear some history. Do you know if the bones and structure are good?
jonw433@gmail.com
I have a piece of furniture that came out of this house and I would like to discuss a few things about it with you and also get some copies of your research if possible. Hank Ramey 770-378-2661
I owned and did a partial restoration on the Pendleton-Graves house from 1989 till 1993. This house has hit on hard times several times in the last 100 years. It is now vacant and belongs to Hancock County. It was put up for tax sale, but there were no bids. I loved this house. It and it’s ghosts. I would dearly love, and would help all I can, if someone will purchase this house and restore it. I put on a new roof in 1992 and painted the outside, and most of the inside, during the rest of my wonderful and magical stay there. The location of the house is terrible, but it is so worth saving. The interior is fantastic. Please help save this house. The last large Victorian (I know that is not how the original house was laid out) that went up for sealed bid (this house’s fate) sold for $5,000. Please save this house. Thanks, Nancy Stephens. PS. I have copies of some the old deeds and from my research, the house was built by Thomas Whaley around 1815.
Hi there! I would like to speak to you about the home and the partial restoration you did on the home. Please email me at sunshinenomore@live.com. Thank you!