Category Archives: –MONROE COUNTY GA–

Ponder-Hill House, Circa 1854 + 1870s, Forsyth

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This house, built as a simple central hallway cottage in the Cabiness community, was moved here by oxcart in the 1850s. J.M. Ponder* bought the house circa 1859; he later added a second story and remodeled it in the Queen Anne Style. Charnell W. Hill bought the house in 1917 and added Colonial Revival elements in 1927. It was remodeled again in the 1950s.

*-The only J. M. Ponder I’ve been able to locate is James Monroe Ponder (1846-1926) and presume this is the J. M. Ponder referenced in the house history. It’s more likely that the local history source was incorrect and that his father, Daniel Ponder (1797-1864) was the original owner.

J. J . Cater House, Circa 1882, Forsyth

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A survey notes: The house was designed by the owner, J.J. Cater*, with assistance from a local carpenter. Cater left the house to his son Lawton when he moved to Florida in 1928. Lawton Cater lived in the house until his death in 1977. The house remains in the family. In 1975 NBC used the house in a TV movie called Judge Horton and the Scottsboro Boys.

John James Cater (1854-1933) operated a general store in Forsyth for 40 years before moving to Coral Gables, Florida, where he operated a successful furniture store, and had a second location in Miami.

Bramblett-Purce House, 1874, Forsyth

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This is one of the most interesting houses in Forsyth. Like many larger houses in towns throughout the state, it has evolved over time. It was built by A. H. Bramblett as an eclectic Carpenter Italianate. Stella Hill Purce* bought it in 1913 and in 1924 expanded it to its present Italian Renaissance appearance. Significantly, he transformed the front porch into an arcade and added a second two-story ell at the front of the house.

*-I’m still trying to confirm this name. A 1990 Georgia Historic Resources Survey actually identifies owner as Stell Hill Purse. I think this was a transcription error.

Ponder-Rutherford House, Circa 1909, Forsyth

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This house was built for J. M. Ponder and his wife, Ella Ensign Porter. They later gave the house to their daughter Abbie, who was married to Sam Rutherford, a three-time mayor of Forsyth and member of the U. S. House of Representatives.

I hope everyone is enjoying the updates from Forsyth. It really doesn’t get its due as far as architecture goes, and I hope this will encourage some of you to ramble around and see for yourself.

Sharp-Hardin House, Circa 1904, Forsyth

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Note: This replaces and updates a post originally published on 1 April 2018.

Ensign House, Circa 1925, Forsyth

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This is a wonderful example of the Mediterranean [Italian] Renaissance Revival style, which was extremely popular during the Roaring Twenties.

Note: This replaces a post which originally appeared in 2018.

Queen Anne Cottage, Circa 1884, Forsyth

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Forsyth has some wonderful old homes and a nice variety of architectural styles. This Queen Anne is a great example.

Cotton Mill, Forsyth

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This old brick mill building, with its distinctive towers, is located just beside I-75 north of Forsyth. It was a landmark on trips to and from Atlanta when I was a child. It’s an old cotton mill, perhaps the Brighton Mill, but was later part of Bibb Manufacturing Company, which built a modern mill behind it sometime after World War II. Today, it’s home to a discount furniture business. I will update when I learn more about the history.

Hall and Parlor Farmhouse, Monroe County

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This house, likely a tenant structure and part of a larger historic farm, is located just north of Forsyth.

Thomas T. Napier House, 1826, Forsyth

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This is one of the most outstanding Greek Revival houses in Georgia and is well-maintained. I believe it was built by Thomas T. Napier, whose Virginia-born father, Thomas Napier, owned over 6000 acres in Bibb and surrounding counties at the time of his death in 1838. Thomas T. Napier also built a home in Ringgold in 1836. I will do my best to clarify this history when I can better discern the genealogy.