Now known as Heritage Hall, and operated by the Morgan County Historical Society as a house museum, this elegant Greek Revival mansion is the most visited site in Madison. Dr. Elijah Evans Jones, chairman of the board of trustees of the Madison Female College, was its most prominent early owner. Originally located 200 feet from its present location, it was moved in 1909 by Stephen Turnell after he donated a portion of the property for the construction of the Methodist church. In 1923, Turnell transformed it into the Traveler’s Inn. Mrs. Sue Reid Walton Manley was its last private owner. Her granddaughter donated it to the Morgan County Historical Society in 1977.
Madison Historic District, National Register of Historic Places
Founded in 1807 as part of the Apalachee Circuit, Madison Methodist Church has been a part of this community since its founding. In 1849, the congregation had an active role in the founding of the Madison Female Institute, one of the oldest women’s colleges in the United States. The Institute was active until the Civil War. The present sanctuary, of the Akron plan so popular in the late-19th and early-20th centuries, was completed in 1914. Tiffany stained glass windows are among the most prominent decorative features. The congregation remains among the most active in Morgan County.
Madison Historic District, National Register of Historic Places
Graham and Adelaide Ponder restored this building in the 1960s as the offices of The Madisonian. When built, it housed several offices, including Western Union.
Madison Historic District, National Register of Historic Places
This Federal I-House, built by Reuben Rogers, is among the oldest in Madison and is open for tours via the Morgan County Historical Society. This is a style sometimes referred to as Plantation Plain or Piedmont Plain. It’s a decidedly Federal form. The ornate porch posts and fine trim are later additions in the evolution of the house.
Madison Historic District, National Register of Historic Places
This stately Greek Revival is located next door to the Madison Graded School and is the former home of the Georgia Female College. It’s considered Madison’s best example of Early Classical Revival architecture.
Madison Historic District, National Register of Historic Places
One of the first graded schools in the Southeast, the Madison Graded School served that purpose from 1895-1957. In 1976, after an extensive restoration, it opened its doors as the Madison-Morgan Cultural Center. Today, it’s a showplace for local artists, craftsmen and a multitude of cultural and performing arts events. It’s considered a model for other communities seeking to highlight cultural affairs at the local level.
Madison Historic District, National Register of Historic Places
This history of Madison Baptist Church, from their website: The Madison Baptist Church, organized November 13, 1834, was located originally on the site now occupied by the Calvary Baptist Church on Academy Street. Twenty-four years after its founding, the church moved in 1858 to its present location on Main Street when its new building was completed. Costing $11,436.89 (plus $1,900 for the purchase of the lot), the new structure, and the fence, which stood in front of it, was built of handmade brick monogrammed “J.B.W.” for John Byne Walker, who contributed the brick made on his plantation, probably by slaves. Eventually, the fence was dismantled and the bricks were used in the construction of the chimneys for a pastorium, which was erected, where the Educational Building now stands.
In the years since the building’s completion in 1858, the outside of the structure has undergone several renovations and modifications. Initially, the front of the building was flat, with access to the second-floor sanctuary provided by inside stairways. In 1917, however, the front of the church was remodeled and the outside steps, which now lead to the sanctuary, along with the columns across the front, were added.
While the present sanctuary maintains a close integrity with the initial structure in design and appearance, it reflects several modifications, which have been made over the years. The slave gallery remains as it was; but the baptismal pool in a front corner of the sanctuary, constructed in 1896 and still used regularly, replaced the old baptismal pool, which had been built in the basement of the church in 1869. The other part of the front of the sanctuary remained largely unchanged through the years until a new pipe organ and console were purchased in 1965, and the choir loft was remodeled to accommodate the changes necessitated by the purchase. The new organ replaced the pipe organ, which had been installed initially in 1919, and the new console replaced the console, which had been in use from 1956.
Most observers agree that the most striking feature of the sanctuary is the beautiful, large, memorial windows, which grace the church’s worship center. Installed in 1906, the leaded, stained glass casts a diffusion of rich color from the penetrating rays of the sun which permeate the worship environment each Sunday morning. Just here, it might be noted that, while ten stained glass windows are visible from the outside of the building, only eight can be seen from the interior of the structure. This is because of the modifications made to the front of the building, which dictated the closing off of two of the windows in the vestibule.
Madison Historic District, National Register of Historic Places
In a city of beautiful churches and homes, this is one of my absolute favorites. The congregation of Madison Presbyterian dates to 1821 and during their first 21 years they met at the court house and various local schools. Architect Daniel Killian was hired to design this beautiful sanctuary in 1842, and it remains largely unchanged today, a testament to the architect’s skill and the congregation’s appreciation of history.
Madison Historic District, National Register of Historic Places
From the Morgan County Bicentennial Historic Marker, placed here in 2007: The name Apalachee is derived from the Indian Tribe that was part of the Creek Confederation, though there is no evidence that this tribe had ever settled in this area. The town of Apalachee was incorporated by the Georgia Legislature in 1907. However, this community has roots that are much older. The area around Apalachee was settled prior to 1820 and is considered to be one of the oldest communities in Morgan County. The community of Dogsborough predates the formal incorporation of Apalachee, and was the site of an early post office and dry goods store. Additionally, references to the community of Shields and Hulletto identify their locations in proximity to Apalachee along the railroad.
The Apalachee community has also been referred to as Florence. The Central Railroad came through Apalachee, the station was name Florence Depot in honor of local citizen; however, by the time of incorporation, the name “Apalachee” had been chosen. Subsequent references to the post office location, schools, churches and civic organizations identify this area with the name Apalachee. The railroad brought commercial development, including three general merchandise stores, a cotton gin, a cotton oil refinery, and a seed house by 1920. In the early 20th century, Apalachee boasted of several documented cultural societies, including a Glee Club, a Players´ Club (for music), a Literary Club, and the Apalachee Improvement Club, all of which supported the betterment of the town.
