This iconic Washington home was given to the State of Georgia for use as a house museum in 1957 and ownership was eventually returned to city. It has served as the Washington Historical Museum for many years and many consider it to be one of the best small-town museums in the state.
Built by Albert Gallatin Semmes circa 1835, it was originally a much simpler vernacular house, of the saltbox style. Semmes did not live in Washington for long, leaving for Florida in 1836. The house was sold to Mary Sneed in 1836. Georgia’s first Railroad Commissioner and an editor of the Augusta Chronicle, Samuel Jack Barnett, Jr., purchased it in 1857 and enlarged and gave it its present appearance. His heirs sold it to William Armstrong Slaton in 1913 and he owned it until his death in 1954.
National Register of Historic Places
I visited this house twice, many years ago, the first time as a stop on the way back home to Savannah, after visiting friends in Athens over Thanksgiving. I took the proffered brochure home, but did not read it until I got there. Then I discovered to my surprise, when I researched an old family geneology I had, that the original portion of that house had been built by my great-great-great-grandfather!
On my next trip to Athens, I made a point to stop by and visit again. The lady who was curator at the time, Doris Martin, was quite surprised when I told her who I was, and insisted on giving me a personal tour, which I appreciated. I well remember the drop-offs where the two (newer) wings met the main house floors, on the second floor. Apparently they didn’t measure the flooring beams to be quite long enough, when those wings were added, so there is about a 4-6″ drop when you go from the main house into the wings.
I remember Ms. Martin quite well, too, because she had the same name as a long-time dance teacher and choreographer in Savannah, who had long been active with the Savannah Little Theatre, as I was. She was also kind enough to direct me to the Mary Willis Library up the street, and told me to ask for the person in charge of their special collections, who could give me access to the various church and family cemetery records. I was never able to locate any records of a Semmes being buried in Wilkes County; but I know another branch of the family came from Taliaferro County, which is not too far distant, so maybe they were interred there.
As I remember, Ms. Martin told me that Albert Semmes’s initial holdings included some ~100 or so acres, which are now “prime residential Washington neighborhoods.” I laughed and said I wished he’d held on to some of those acres, and passed them down!
On another note, some months ago I stumbled across a slender green book (c. 1939 I think) at an antique store in downtown Savannah, a “History of Wilkes County.” I looked through it long enough to discover a number of entries about various Semmes family members who lived in Washington, so bought it; but have not yet had time to go through it carefully. I will be very interested to do so.
I also had the good fortune more recently to come across a DVD in an antique store in Brunswick, “A Narrative of Wilkes County, Georgia, Volume 1,” produced by the Washington-Wilkes Historical Museum, in association with Court Street Films. I will be very interested to see what that holds.
My father was born in Jacksonville, FL, in 1926, and his family moved to Savannah when he was five years old. His parents died in 1940, eleven years before I was born, so I never knew them or had the chance to learn about that side of my family. My dad died in 1972, when I was barely 21, so I never had the chance to learn much from him about his parents, either. So I don’t really know much about their history, sadly.
I do know the Semmes family came to this country in the 1600’s, with Lord Baltimore’s landing in what is now Maryland, fleeing religious persecution in England. From there, one branch made their way to Mississippi, another to Georgia and also Florida. Anyone who spells the last name the same way is supposed to be a relative.
Thank you for this post!
Raphael Semmes
Savannah, GA
Wow, thanks for sharing all that, Rafe. I’ve actually wondered if you were of that Semmes family. I read your “Wholesale Observations…” in the Bryan County News earlier, and really enjoyed it.
That’s me! Jeff Whitten, the long-time editor, has been kind enough to allow me to share my series of general observations on a variety of topics for several years. (He is probably just happy to get free copy; and as far as I know he’s not had any subscriptions cancelled on account of my columns.)
Hi,Rafe,, I enjoyed reading your comment. My husband’s grandfather was William Armstrong Slaton. His mother was born in 1911 but her 2 younger siblings were born and raised in that house. Her name was C. Barnett Slaton and we have been to visit the amazingly beautiful house several times .
Sue Brown
Sue, thanks for your note. Having personal connections to a place like that gives it an extra-special feeling. I appreciate your providing that history.