Americus Historic District, National Register of Historic Places
Queen Anne House, Americus
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Category Archives: Americus GA
Charles F. Crisp House, 1892, Americus
A native of England, Charles Frederick Crisp (1845-1896) came with his entertainer parents to Georgia as a toddler. At the outbreak of the Civil War, he was temporarily residing in Luray, Virginia, with his parents, who were performing there in Shakespearean plays. He enlisted in the 10th Virginia Infantry, was commissioned a lieutenant, and served throughout the war, being captured at Spotsylvania Court House in 1864.
Upon his release in 1865, Crisp rejoined his parents at Ellaville, Georgia, and after obtaining a law degree, practiced there. He was a judge of the Southwestern Judicial Circuit and went on to become a prominent member of Congress. During his time in Congress he served as Speaker of the House. He was elected to the Senate a short time before his death, but did not live to take the oath of office. His son, Charles Robert Crisp (1870-1937) was appointed to fill his term and was later elected to the same seat. Speaker Crisp is the namesake of neighboring Crisp County.
Americus Historic District, National Register of Historic Places
Winged Gable Cottage, Americus
Americus Historic District, National Register of Historic Places
Eclectic Victorian Cottage, Americus
This house has a Queen Anne appearance but the Ionic columns make it more eclectic in style.
Americus Historic District, National Register of Historic Places
Colonial Revival House, Americus
Americus Historic District, National Register of Historic Placesl
Shaw-Heys House, 1880, Americus
Americus Historic District, National Register of Historic Places
Calvary Episcopal Church, 1921, Americus
A historical marker recently placed by Calvary Episcopal & the Georgia Historical Society gives insight to the story of this beautiful church: Calvary Episcopal Church was organized in 1864 as a second effort to found an Episcopal parish in Americus. The cornerstone for the original wood-framed church was laid here in 1869. The current building was completed in 1921 under the leadership of Rev. James Bolan Lawrence and renowned architect Ralph Adams Cram. Cram is primarily known for his Gothic designs in college campuses and churches nationwide, including the Princeton University Chapel and New York’s Cathedral of St. John the Divine. Rev. Lawrence founded churches in Pennington, Vienna, Cordele, and Blakely, and also established congregations in Cuthbert, Dawson, and Benevolence. Rev. Lawrence served the Calvary parish from 1905-1947. Because of his dedication to evangelism and church planting in Southwest Georgia, Rev. Lawrence was recognized as a saint in Georgia by the Episcopal Diocese of Georgia in 1999.
Due to threats from the proposed demolition of the Lee Street Bridge and a new larger bridge project, the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation placed this church, as well as other nearby historic properties, on their 2017 Places in Peril list.
Americus Historic District, National Register of Historic Places
Eldridge-Ferguson House, 1867, Americus
This Second Empire Victorian home was built by Dr. Erwin J. Eldridge (1833-1902). Dr. Eldridge received his medical training from Jefferson College in Philadelphia, with later studies in Vienna, Austria. While in Europe he served as a surgeon in the Crimean War. At the outset of the Civil War, Dr. Eldridge moved to Americus and served as Assistant Surgeon and later Surgeon in the 16th Georgia Infantry Regiment. He served as Chief Surgeon of General Howell Cobb’s command until granted leave in October 1864. While on leave, Dr. Eldridge aided in medical care at Andersonville Prison. A prominent citizen of Americus in the years after the war, he helped organize the local library, served on the Board of Education, and was a director of the Bank of Southwest Georgia.
Americus Historic District, National Register of Historic Places
Lindbergh Memorial, 1992, Americus
Souther Field, now known as Jimmy Carter Regional Airport, is one of the oldest airports in the United States, and was instrumental as a flight training school in both world wars. In 1917, Sumter County purchased what was dubbed the world’s largest peach orchard and deeded it to the United States government. The site was named Souther Field, for army aviation pioneer Maj. Henry Souther (1865-1917). A surplus sale brought a young and unknown Charles Lindbergh to Americus, where he bought his first plane, a Curtis JN4 “Jenny” for $500. Not yet a pilot when he came to Americus in May 1923, Lindbergh had performed wing-walking stunts and parachuting in an aerial circus. In the three weeks he spent here, he learned to fly and made his first solo flight; a lone African-American man was the only witness. Former U. S. Attorney General Griffin B. Bell led the effort to erect this monument to Georgia’s most important moment in aviation history. Nationally respected sculptor and UGA professor William J. Thompson was commissioned to create the monument.
Rylander Theatre, 1921, Americus
New York architect Claude Knox Howell designed this theatre in 1921 for Americus businessman Walter Rylander. William Saling was the interior designer. After closing as a movie house in 1951, the Rylander reopened in 1999 after extensive renovations. Lane Green was the architect for the restoration.
Americus Historic District, National Register of Historic Places