Category Archives: –HOUSTON COUNTY GA–

Historic New Perry Hotel Facing Demolition

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Peggy Bramblette recently reached out to let us know that the historic New Perry Hotel, perhaps the best-known symbol of this Middle Georgia town, was facing possible demolition. A week passed and I was not surprised to learn that the demolition is imminent. I’ve witnessed a long history of developers convincing local politicians to agree to the erasure of local landmarks without much oversight. When places like the New Perry Hotel are lost, communities almost always regret it; numerous people in Perry have spoken out against the demolition and it has received a fair amount of local news coverage. You can sign a petition here, though it may ultimately have little impact.

The owners, Triple P Holdings, have applied for a demolition permit, and it seems, the City of Perry is poised to endorse what would be a horrible end for one of their most important historic landmarks. Their boilerplate statement suggests the demolition is all but a done deal. [Note the words in bold font, which echo numerous statements I’ve read before similar properties were destroyed]:  “As we celebrate Perry’s 200th Birthday, we reflect on our rich heritage and cherished memories of Perry’s past. The New Perry Hotel serves as a nostalgic reminder of bygone eras while holding a special place in the hearts of Perry’s past and present residents. Regrettably, the New Perry Hotel has remained vacant for many years and is in a state of disrepair. We are confident the current property owners have a vision for redevelopment which respects Perry’s legacy and meets the quality standards expected by the Perry community. Just as we honor the visionaries who laid the foundation for Perry’s success, we must also embrace the responsibility of ensuring that Perry remains a dynamic and thriving community for future generations.”

The New Perry Hotel is not only important for its cultural prominence in the community, but as a woman-owned business from a time when that was uncommon. The 1925 redesign of the structure, incorporating earlier structures, was overseen by owner Rochelle Cheeves Skellie.

Update: This property was demolished in July 2024.

National Register of Historic Places

Houston County Courthouse, 1949, Perry

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While this structure is the “old” courthouse in Perry today, it is actually the third of four which have served Houston County [established in 1821]. The first courthouse was built on this site circa 1824. It was replaced with a brick courthouse in 1856, which served the county until this structure, built between 1948-1949, opened. A population boom in Houston County necessitated a new courthouse, which was built in 2002.

This courthouse was designed by architect E. Oren Smith in the style known as Stripped Classical. Smith was the son of Thomas W. Smith (1860-1926), a prominent Columbus architect.

Toomer Building, 1905, Perry

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This store was built by Amanda Toomer and later included a pharmacy, the first such Black-owned business in Perry. The Toomer family ran the store and lived upstairs. Mrs. Toomer was also a stockholder in the Georgia Southern Railroad and a landowner. She was the sister-in-law of Amanda America Dickson Toomer, the wealthiest African-American woman in the United States after the Civil War.

In 1915, it was converted to the Toomer Brothers Mortuary and, according to local Black History sources, the bodies of the deceased were tastefully displayed in the windows of the first floor. Years later, it became an apartment building and has been home to some of Mrs. Toomer’s descendants.

Unidentified Warehouse, Elko

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This building, at the edge of Elko, has always been a mystery to me. It obviously serves a storage purpose today, but the arrangement of the doors suggest it was originally a warehouse of some kind. It’s not near the railroad track, but some have suggested they thought it was a depot. I hope to update soon.

Wright-Hardy House, 1854, Perry

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The Wright family were among the earliest owners of this cottage; it was purchased by the T. F. Hardy family in the 1930s.

Dr. B. F. Tharpe House, 1874, Perry

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Built for Baptist minister Dr. B. F. Tharpe, this is also known as the Tharpe-Lawson House. It was purchased by the Duggan family in 1951 and extensively remodeled.

Edge-Andrew House, 1884, Perry

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Built by Dr. J. B. Edge in the 1880s, this was owned by the B. H. Andrew, Sr., family from 1891-1966.

Killen-King House, 1852, Perry

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Built for Judge Samuel D. Killen, this Greek Revival home was later owned by the Francis Marion King family and the Penn-Dixie Cement Company, who used it as a clubhouse. It was purchased by Gardner Watson in 1955 and has been used as a funeral home since then.

George Singleton House, 1834, Perry

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George Singleton received a land grant from the Creek people in 1832 and built this home on the property soon thereafter. It remained in the Singleton family until 1962. It was built in the style of the ‘Sand Hills Cottages’ then common in the Augusta area.