The appearance of this house is more Neoclassical than Greek Revival, but it is said to have originated as a raised Greek Revival townhouse. It is associated with Jesse Mercer; an historical marker notes that the most famous Georgia Baptist of the 19th century lived here, but it would have been for a very short time, as the house dates to circa 1840 and Mercer died in 1841. This bears further research and investigation. Since I’m not clear on the Mercer connection, I’m identifying it as the Nicolas Wiley House, since Mr. Wiley was responsible for the present appearance of the structure. He added the colonnade and its custom-made Corinthian capitals which aesthetically define the house today [detail, below]. The street on which the house is located is also named for Mercer.
Later owners were Thomas Heard, in the 1880s, and Mary Callen in the 1890s. Mrs. Callen had the house lowered and modernized, adding electricity and indoor plumbing. Edwin Anderson bought the house in the 1940s or 1950s. It is presently for sale.
Washington Historic District, National Register of Historic Places
Jesse Mercer never lived in this house, however, his home was very nearby.
Merced’s house was incorporated into the St. Joseph’s orphanage that moved to Washington from Sharon, and ultimately to Augusta..
Mercer’s house was a two-story wooden structure with a full height portico with square columns -the portico covered only the center portion of the facade – not a full width portico.
The present-day column capitals ( a composite order of Ionic and Corinthian) known as Scamozzi, are not the original capitals.
They were added in the 1980’s.
Thanks, Mark. I was quite skeptical of the Mercer association, but records pointed in that direction. I’ll update with your information. Thanks again! Hope you are doing well.
That’s a beautiful home in currently remodeling Rock Hill Baptist Church in Vienna Georgia a bunch of trees fell in on the back and destroyed the roof someone broke in and vandalized the interior of the church so it is. Closed until I reopen it probably later in July or August the church belonged to my late gggg great grand _____ and no I’m not the one that’s on drugs. I’m from Savannah Georgia