Thanks to Kenneth Goff, the present guardian of this landmark Queen Anne, for sharing this wonderful history: In 1906 Mary Banks, whose husband was namesake of Banks Lake, formed the South Georgia land and Industrial Company to lay out lots of land on Main street for sale as well as the damming of Mill Creek to form lake Irma. In November 1906, P.G. Mallory purchased the lot on the corner of Main and Miller Street.
On December 26, 1906 Mr. Mallory sold the property to M.W.Bargeron. Mr Bargeron served on the board of trustees for Oaklawn Academy where he was a teacher. Also Mr. Bargeron was the cashier for the Milltown bank. Later Mr Bargeron would be elected on December 1, 1920 as Lanier County’s first county treasurer.
In 1910 Mr Bargeron built the Queen Anne structure that stands at its present location corner of Main and Miller. The house was built by J.L. Byrd with home made cement blocks made on site. In December of 1921 Mr Bargeron sold the property to William J Lee. The house stayed in the Lee family until it was sold to John W. Harrell in 1945. In April 1947 the house was purchased by Lakeland Funeral home and was used as a funeral home until 1954 at which time Mr. L.R. Howell purchased. The house remained in the Howell family until Ms. Norma Gaskins Akins in 1992 purchased the house and completely remodeled the house. In 2022 The Goff family purchased the house and has continued the preservation of the historic house. In 2023 an expansion began that will at a three car garage, office, game room, library, and three additional bedrooms. The addition has been carefully planned to complement the historical style of the house. When completed the house will have around 9000 square feet.
The house that stands today has witnessed many things from WW 1 to the introduction of cars, electricity, indoor plumbing, and rockets in space. The house has been used as a private residence, funeral home, boarding house, and some even say a possible brothel. Today the house and property extends warmth and stands a tribute to its rich history in this community.
In 1906 Mary Banks, whose husband was namesake of Banks Lake, formed the South Georgia land and Industrial Company to lay out lots of land on Main street for sale as well as the damming of Mill Creek to form lake Irma. In November 1906, P.G. Mallory purchased the lot on the corner of Main and Miller Street.
On December 26, 1906 Mr. Mallory sold the property to M.W.Bargeron. Mr Bargeron served on the board of trustees for Oaklawn Academy where he was a teacher. Also Mr. Bargeron was the cashier for the Milltown bank. Later Mr Bargeron would be elected on December 1, 1920 as Lanier County’s first county treasurer.
In 1910 Mr Bargeron built the Queen Anne structure that stands at its present location corner of Main and Miller. The house was built by J.L. Byrd with home made cement blocks made on site. In December of 1921 Mr Bargeron sold the property to William J Lee. The house stayed in the Lee family until it was sold to John W. Harrell in 1945. In April 1947 the house was purchased by Lakeland Funeral home and was used as a funeral home until 1954 at which time Mr. L.R. Howell purchased. The house remained in the Howell family until Ms. Norma Gaskins Akins in 1992 purchased the house and completely remodeled the house. In 2022 The Goff family purchased the house and has continued the preservation of the historic house. In 2023 an expansion began that will at a three car garage, office, game room, library, and three additional bedrooms. The addition has been carefully planned to complement the historical style of the house. When completed the house will have around 9000 square feet.
The house that stands today has witnessed many things from WW 1 to the introduction of cars, electricity, indoor plumbing, and rockets in space. The house has been used as a private residence, funeral home, boarding house, and some even say a possible brothel. Today the house and property extends warmth and stands a tribute to its rich history in this community.
Built 1910