Craftsman House, 1935, Demorest
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Category Archives: –HABERSHAM COUNTY GA–
Craftsman House, 1917, Demorest
Ford House, Circa 1900, Demorest
Shingle Style House, Circa 1908, Demorest
The Shingle style was an eclectic Victorian movement most popular between 1880-1900. Shingle style houses need not be covered in shingles but need at least one prominent feature containing them, therefore, my best identification for this house. I’ve seen this identified as being originally owned by George Pease but haven’t confirmed it at this time. Whatever the details, it’s a great house.
“Wedge” House, Demorest
This house features a very unusual wedge-shaped front.
Victorian House, Circa 1895, Demorest
This house features handmade brick that may have local origins and may be earlier than the date given. Closed Gothic windows on one side of the house suggest it may have been a church at one time. I will update when I learn more.
Methodist-Congregational Federated Church, 1908, Demorest
This was first home to Union Congregational Church, founded in 1892 by an Ohio-born minister in the Women’s Christian Temperance Union hall. The early members were from New England and the Midwest and part of the prohibition settlement that became Demorest. As the Congregationalists never had a large membership, they merged with Demorest Methodist Church in 1947 and remain active today.
Demorest Commercial Historic District, National Register of Historic Places
Historic Storefronts, Demorest
A very small historic downtown remains in Demorest and the existing structures have been nicely restored and are in use. The building on the right, the Starkweather Building or “Brick Block”, is the oldest, built in 1890. The other two-story building is the Chrisler Building, constructed in 1916. It is now home to Piedmont College’s Mason-Scharfenstein Museum of Art. Sweet Breads restaurant is just beyond it.
Demorest Commercial Historic District, National Register of Historic Places
Demorest Women’s Club, 1902 & 1954
Built as the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1902, this structure was significantly altered upon its acquisition by the Demorest Women’s Club in 1954. [The National Register designation is for the Women’s Club, not the church]. Besides the removal of the steeple and chimneys, the interior and foundation were also modified to fit the needs of the club. The Demorest Women’s Club was founded in 1934 and for many years held meetings in member’s homes. Evie Gillespie initiated the effort to acquire the church building after the Men’s Civic Club turned it down, citing it was too dilapidated.
An interesting footnote: Soong Mei-ling [宋美齡] who became Madame Chiang Kai-shek, was hosted by a member of the Methodist Church while she was in eighth grade in 1909-1910. She attended services and Sunday School here.
National Register of Historic Places
Ryles House, Circa 1902, Demorest
