Swanscombe was built by the first white settler of Covington, Cary Wood, and is the oldest house in the city. It was originally a more simple form; the columns were a later addition, but they were present before the Civil War. The descendants remained in the house for several generations until selling the property to Thomas C. Swann in 1884. The name Swanscombe was given to the house during his ownership.
Floyd Street Historic District, National Register of Historic Places
This Greek Revival landmark, known locally as “The Cottage”, was built for Neal Patterson between 1855-1859.
Floyd Street Historic District, National Register of Historic Places
Robert O. Usher (25 April 1809 – 9 May 1859), a prosperous merchant in Covington, built this house circa 1840, and it remained in the family for over 90 years.
Floyd Street Historic District, National Register of Historic Places
This house likely originated as a small cottage with expansions over the years resulting in its present appearance.
Floyd Street Historic District, National Register of Historic Places
This house is a beautifully maintained exemplar of the Neoclassical Revival. It was built for Lester Lee, who resided here until 1924, when it was sold to the O. W. Porter family. Like many historic homes in Covington, the mansion has been used extensively as a set location for Hollywood productions over the years, including The Vampire Diaries, Bessie, and Sweet Magnolias, among others.
Floyd Street Historic District, National Register of Historic Places
This structure is the last remaining store building in the historic Starrsville community, which was settled circa 1821. It has had several uses throughout its history and is also referred to as the Franklin and Banks Store. One resource notes that it was used as the Starrsville post office for a time, but I haven’t been able to confirm this yet.
Starrsville Historic District, National Register of Historic Places
Thanks to Craig Skinner for showing me this property, between Mansfield and Newborn.
What was once the main house of a large working farm was later used as a tenant residence.
I believe it was occupied until the 1980s.
It’s not very often that I find a place like this. Blackwell Grocery, though, is the real deal. It’s a grocery store located in a hundred-year-old building in a small downtown, and it’s without pretense.
Today, most places like this are made to look old and sell specialty items that are more geared to tourists than normal folk. Not so Blackwell Grocery. For over thirty years they’ve been a staple in Mansfield but they plan on building in a new location soon.
I don’t know when I’ve seen hand-written signs in a grocery store. And there were just four aisles, if I recall correctly.
They don’t have as much as the big box stores, but they probably have anything you might need.
I’m not sure what this structure originally served as, but it’s now occupied by Air Power, Inc., a leading distributor of specialized industrial equipment. The building has been nicely restored.
Ava Campbell writes: [It was the] Pacific Uniform plant in the 50’s and 60’s if I’m remembering correctly. It employed many women from the area inc. Newborn, Shady Dale and Covington.
