As best I can determine from limited sources, this was the home of Dr. William Benjamin Johnson Hardman (23 November 1822-21 August 1904), the father of Governor Lamartine Hardman, who was also a physician. The elder Dr. Hardman was one of the most prominent and best-known citizens of Harmony Grove (changed to Commerce in 1909). Dr. Hardman served in Deadwyler’s Company, 4th Georgia Cavalry.
Owners Perry Benson and Scott Jenks painstakingly restored this beloved landmark in 2018 and learned that it was built by Enoch Bush, circa 1904. Previously, it was known locally as “The Wallpaper School” for a business that had once occupied it.
State Street is located just off South Broad and most of its historic storefronts have also been restored.
Commerce Commercial Historic District, National Register of Historic Places
Many of the historic storefronts in downtown Commerce have been nicely restored. It’s a busy area.
Most of these structures houses businesses typical of small towns, from department and grocery stores to lawyer’s and doctor’s offices.
Commerce Commercial Historic District, National Register of Historic Places
Commerce Commercial Historic District, National Register of Historic Places
This is about as authentic an old grocery store as you’ll find anywhere.
Located a mile or so from Commerce, it was likely “out in the country” when it was open.
This late-19th-century Victorian farmhouse has been a popular stop for photographers for years. Joe McGrady writes: It was built by James Monroe Ellison (1857-1932). He was married twice, lastly to Lillie Mae Haynes (1874-1967). He had 10 children with his first wife, Gerushia Victoria Cox (1858-1903). He had 3 children with Lillie Mae Haynes: a boy (1906-1906) who was stillborn; James Benson Ellison (1907-1966); and Lillie Mae Ellison (1910-1996). My mother’s mother was Amanda Jane Haynes (1872-1914), who was Lillie Mae’s sister. Amanda was married to William Nathaniel LeMaster…We visited the Ellisons often in the late 1960s… I am not sure who owns the property now…I know that Lillie Mae willed a portion of her property to the church.
The architecture indicates the house was Queen Anne in style.
Since it’s a couple of miles from the center of Maysville, it was probably a working farm.
A smokehouse survives on the property, as well.
As I was walking around Maysville, Debbie Akins invited me into Ganache, the bakery and bistro she created out of an historic commercial space that would otherwise have been lost. She noted that the interior had to be completely rebuilt. It was a nice break and the place smelled wonderful. Her chef was preparing lunch and putting the finishing touches on the day’s fresh pastries. Debbie talked about the challenges of running business in a small town. She’s had several here in the past few years. She’s also restored historic houses and is presently working on the old Methodist church. Every small town should be so lucky as to have someone like Debbie working to revitalize their business districts.
As of 2022, Ganache has closed. But I imagine Debbie is pursuing more restoration efforts of some kind.
Maysville Historic District, National Register of Historic Places