Category Archives: Perry GA

Houston County Courthouse, 1949, Perry

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

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.

Wright-Hardy House, 1854, Perry

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

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

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

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

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.

Houser-King-Chapman House, 1903, Perry

This four-over-four house was built for Sam Houser. Later owners were the King sisters and, beginning in 1948, C. C. Chapman, who served for many years as the sheriff of Houston County.

Dr. Henry Holtzclaw House, 1870s, Perry

Built for Dr. Henry Holtzclaw, the second president of the Houston Female College, this Eclectic Victorian house was purchased in 1925 by the Penn-Dixie Cement Company for use as its employee clubhouse. It later served as the Penn-Dixie superintendent’s house and is today home to Century 21 Real Estate.