In Cornerstone and Grove: A Portrait in Architecture and Landscape of Emory’s Birthplace in Oxford, Georgia, Erik Blackburn Oliver notes: The original part of this plain-style Greek Revival house is thought to have been built in the mid- to late 1840s; however, “there are records of a dwelling on these grounds in 1850 owned by the widow of Professor George W. Lane.” Lane, a clergyman, had been the classics teacher of the Manual Labor School, served as secretary to the board of trustees, and became the first professor of ancient languages of Emory College, so if indeed this was his first home in Oxford, it might date to the late 1830s.
It was later the home of Isaac Stiles Hopkins, hence the name. Hopkins was a professor and later the ninth president of Oxford (1884-1889).
Oxford Historic District, National Register of Historic Places
Brian, I have been so busy readying my book for publication that I haven’t commented recently on your postings. However, I love that you are doing this and wish that you could publish some of your work in the magazine, Georgia Backroads, a perfect fit for them.
If you get to Ocilla, look up the Sumner house. My grandfather, J B D Paulk, built that house prior to 1900 and twelve children were born there including my father, James D Paulk born there in 1910. I’m a Junior. We were named for my great grandfather James Paulk who was called Joe Paulk. The property for the Frank Church nearby was donated by our family and the Paulk cemetery is adjacent to and maintained by the church.
As a young lad I enjoyed going over there with my grandfather who had moved to Glynn County in 1920. Mr., John L Sumner who managed the farm lived in grandpa’s house, and I believe his grandson lives there now. With a 125-acre mill pond on the property, my primary reason for going there was fishing, always a passion in my life. I rode around with Mr. Sumner in his pickup truck and helped move the cows from one pasture to another and even rode a tobacco sled pulled by a mule to the barn for curing the leaves of the tobacco plants. When Grandpa died, the family wanted Mr. Sumner to have the property, and the arrangements were made. To my brother, Bobby, and me, he was like an uncle to us, related maybe. Jim