For now, I’m calling this house “eclectic” because it’s a really hard one to pin down. It’s generally listed as a Queen Anne, with a build date circa 1885. I think it’s much earlier, and was built as something very different. It may just be wishful thinking.
Viewed from a perspective, there are elements of Federal architecture with a bit of Italianate influence. I believe the hip roof and the porches were a later decorative addition. I hope a friend in Eatonton can help me out. It’s a great house, but remains a mystery.
Eatonton Historic District, National Register of Historic Places
I’ve only been able to determine that the congregation at Friendship Baptist was established in the 1890s and the church was built in 1904. Apparently, it has been abandoned, but well-maintained, for quite some time. The surrounding area, just south of Eatonton proper, was once known as Warfield.
These ruins in downtown Eatonton were recently brought to my attention by Dutch Henderson, who notes that they may soon be demolished. Dutch is quite knowledgeable about obscure historical locations in the area and has shared some fascinating places with me over the years.
Henderson notes that the owner, who is a preservationist/historian, believes the structure dates to circa 1818. He has actively sought a preservation solution for the ruins, but they are very compromised by long-term neglect and rapid urbanization and there may be very few options.
The structure was dated circa 1853 and identified as “Brick warehouse” when nominated for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places in 1975. This date may have been related to an advertisement for the business in the 23 May 1854 edition of the Eatonton Independent Press. It’s also believed that 1853 was the year the Marshall family purchased the factory, which was already an established business. David Kaminsky’s 1975 photograph for the nomination form shows that the roof was still in place at that time, and that at least two modern businesses, one known as Bailey’s Garage, were located in the building at some point.
The advertisement, shared by Mr. Henderson, identifies the business as “Marshall, McKavitt & Co., Manufacturers of Carriages, Rockaways, Bugies (sic), Two-Horse Wagons, &c.” [The National Register form misidentifies McKavitt as McKavilland, and includes an extra partner in the business, by the name of Rice].
The bricks were probably made on-site or nearby. Their dependence on the rich red clay dominant in the area is obvious.
There are but a scarce few surviving antebellum industrial structures in Georgia, so I was grateful to be able to document this one. I will update with more information as it becomes available.
Eatonton Historic District, National Register of Historic Places
New South Cottages were a popular style from 1890-1910, seen as a transition away from the dominant high style Victorian. They’re similar to Georgian Cottages, but asymmetrical. They incorporate many different styles, including Folk Victorian and Colonial Revival, as in these examples on historic Madison Avenue.
This house has an ornamented tower which is obscured by the trees on the right, but otherwise, its wonderful Victorian Gothic details are visible here. According to the National Register of Historic Places, it was built as a four-room central hallway house and expanded over the years as it passed from family to family. The Victorian triple gables and tower were added around 1885.
Eatonton Historic District, National Register of Historic Places
Vanishing Georgia: Photographs by Brian Brown 