Built by pioneer Abraham Ragan in the Plantation Plain style, this house originally sat on the adjacent hill before being rolled to its present location in 1910 to accommodate the construction of Roswell J. Atkinson’s ‘The Terrace’. During the Civil War, it was open to wounded soldiers, serving as an impromptu convalescent hospital. The Ragans sold the home to Henry Harris. I’m unsure when the columns were added, but it was likely at the time of the move.
Confederate veteran Samuel Monroe Davidson built this house. He served in the 31st Regiment Georgia Volunteer Infantry (Mountain Tigers) and was wounded at Cold Harbor in 1862. Upon his medical discharge at Macon, he settled in Greenville and built this house around 1870. He was a city councilman and was instrumental in bringing the railroad to Greenville. The Mabon family were later owners.
Greenville Historic District, National Register of Historic Places
This house was hidden by trees and brush for many years and has recently been restored. I’ve not been able to locate any information on the builder or specific date; tax records indicate an 1860 construction but it is most certainly older than that. It’s also thought to have been the inspiration for FDR’s Little White House. I will update as soon as I locate more information.
Originally, this house was a small cottage built by Judge Hiram Warner (1802-1881) in 1836. Judge Warner came to Georgia from Massachusetts in 1822 and eventually became Chief Justice of the Georgia Supreme Court. Around 1869 Judge Warner’s daughter, Mary Jane Warner Hill, added another structure to the extant one, creating a two-story house. The Greek Revival appearance likely dates to this time. The Louie Cleveland Clark family purchased the house in 1934. The property has long been known as Clarkland Farms and is now an event venue.
National Register of Historic Places
Built as a Victorian, the Hill House took on its present Neoclassical appearance with a 1909 remodel. The house was designed by Mrs. Hill’s brother-in-law, Newnan architect W. A. Steed. Burwell O. Hill (1856-1918) was a prominent Meriwether County farmer. His son, Obadiah W. Hill, and grandson, J. Render Hill, both served in the Georgia legislature.
National Register of Historic Places
This house, begun on a much smaller scale in the Plantation Plain (I-House) style, is the focal point of the Render Homestead National Register property. James Render (1777-1854) came to Meriwether County in 1832 and established a large cotton plantation from this house. He served as a justice of the Inferior Court of Meriwether County. He migrated from Wilkes County, where he had served several terms in the General Assembly. By 1850, he owned 1900 acres, cultivated by the 76 men, women, and children he enslaved. One reason for his success was his diversification. Besides cotton he raised potatoes, sweet potatoes, Indian corn, wheat, rye and oats. He had eleven children and among his descendants were Governor James M. Terrell of Georgia and Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice James Render Dowdell. Render’s son, Joshua (1818-1867) inherited the house and continued the successful farming operations of his father. Forty-two of the plantation’s freedmen remained as contract laborers after the Civil War. Upon the death of Mrs. Joshua Render in 1902, James L. Render (1863-1932) became the owner of the property. It was during James L. Render’s ownership that the house was expanded to its present Neoclassical appearance, thought to have been the work of prominent Georgia architect T. F. Lockwood. There have been at least four owners since the death of Sarah McGehee Render in 1960. It is beautifully maintained to this day but not open to the public.
National Register of Historic Places
This charming Queen Anne cottage is one of the highlights of Court Square.
Greenville Historic District, National Register of Historic Places
Built by Georgia’s most prolific courthouse architect, J. W. Golucke, the Meriwether County Courthouse burned in 1976 but the external walls remained intact and a restoration which took several years returned the structure to its prominence in the community. It’s one of my favorite Georgia courthouses.
National Register of Historic Places
William (1885-1934) and Obadiah Hill (1888-1956) bought this building from Albert Hill (1874-1951) in the early 1900s. They opened a farm supply store that sold everything from clothing to hardware and was the social center of Greenville for much of the first half of the 20th century. President Roosevelt is said to have even stopped by on one occasion, inquiring about politics. Its recent restoration is outstanding.
Greenville Historic District, National Register of Historic Places
Aaron Ashmore writes: For those familiar with the movie and book, Murder in Coweta County, this was the gas station that Wilson Turner came to get gas after having his gas tanked drained by Sheriff Collier so that John Wallace could run him down….Needless to say, Turner saw it was a trap and sped off…the tank wasn’t fully drained, allowing Turner to cross the “county line”. The rest as they say is history.
Greenville Historic District, National Register of Historic Places
Vanishing Georgia: Photographs by Brian Brown 