It’s my guess that this house is the work of Charles E. Choate; it has a very close relative in the nearby Brantley-Haygood House. It was initially identified as the Addams House, but Mary Murphy suggested the present name. After a brief review of tax records, I think she is correct.
North Harris Street Historic District, National Register of Historic Places
North Harris Street Historic District, National Register of Historic Places
One of the most interesting features of this house is the concave curve of the balcony, which is nicely reflected in the curve of the portico.
North Harris Street Historic District, National Register of Historic Places
In 1864, Americans celebrated the first officially designated Thanksgiving as we know it today, on the fourth Thursday of November. President Lincoln had proclaimed the holiday as a means of national healing, though on that very date [24 November 1864], General William T. Sherman and his forces entered Washington County as they pushed toward Savannah. Two days later, the troops made camp in a meadow across from this house, then known as Woodland Terrace. General Sherman is said to have chosen the house for his temporary headquarters for its large size and the view of Sandersville it afforded from its elevation.
Built by Nathan Haynes circa 1850 and originally christened Woodland Terrace, it was purchased by William Gainer Brown in 1860. His descendants remained in the house until the 1970s. Commanding a high ridge overlooking the beautiful North Harris Street neighborhood it’s quite imposing from any angle. Today, it’s home to the Washington County Historical Society and is open to the public as the Brown House Museum. It is well furnished with a large collection of period furnishings and other domestic antiques.
North Harris Street Historic District, National Register of Historic Places
From The Rambler, May-June 2001, Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation: Dr. Solomon Brantley, a physician who served in the Civil War from 1861-1865, and his wife Mary originally built the plantation plain house with little ornamentation. Architect Charles E. Choate added the Victorian detailing in 1899, when he was hired by a later owner to remodel the house. Story has it that Mary Brantley was among the women in Sandersville who begged Sherman not to burn down the town, and he rescinded his order to burn the houses. The house was passed down through several owners before the Haygood family bought it in 1953. The house is now being used as apartments…The house was originally built on piers, which were later filled in with concrete block.
North Harris Street Historic District, National Register of Historic Places
Major Mark N. Newman (1827-1906) of Company C, 49th Georgia Volunteer Infantry, built the first section of this house in 1855. It was extensively remodeled before the Civil War, with the front porch being added then.
North Harris Street Historic District, National Register of Historic Places
Charles Edward Choate, the architect responsible for the Holt Brothers Banking Company building on the courthouse square, also designed this home. Thanks to Caroline Ross for the history.
North Harris Street Historic District, National Register of Historic Places
Sandersville is one of the old towns of the Georgia interior, having been designated Washington County’s seat of government in 1796. The present courthouse is the third to serve the county. The first was destroyed by fire in 1855 and a second structure was burned by Sherman’s forces during the Civil War. This High Victorian, with its Second Empire clock tower, has long been a symbol of Sandersville. Sadly, its architect is unknown.
National Register of Historic Places
Passersby often mistake this for a Confederate Monument, but instead it honors Jared Irwin, one of Washington County’s best-known politicians of his time. The monument was moved from the earlier courthouse square to its present location some time after the Civil War. Today, Irwin is barely known, but he lives on as the namesake of Irwin County, Irwinville, and Irwinton. It’s a sad fact today that he isn’t considered one of Georgia’s greatest heroes; his rescinding of the Yazoo frauds alone should place him high above most any Georgia politician of any time. Other than the namesake places, this is, to my knowledge, the only monument honoring this great Georgian. Governor Irwin is who brought me to Washington County on this trip; I was determined to find his grave and pay my quiet respects. The monument’s base, heavy with text on all four sides, describes the varied career of Irwin, albeit in the flowery, adjective-laden style of the mid-19th century.
South Side: Erected by the State of Georgia to the memory of Governor Jared Irwin, who died at his residence, Union Hill, Washington Co., on the first day of March 1818 in the 68th year of his age.
East Side: A true patriot. He entered the service of his country as Captain and soon rose to the rank of colonel in the Revolutionary War. As a soldier, he was brave and gallant. He distinguished himself a the sieges of Savannah and Augusta and in the battles of Camden, Brier Creek, Black Swamp, and several other engagements, he was at all times foremost leading his gallant band to victory. And not with his sword, and in his person only did he do service for his country. From his private means he erected a fortress in Burke County for protection of the people of the surrounding districts.His pure devotion to the cause of liberty marked him in the eyes of the enemy, and on more than one occasion was he plundered of his property, and his premises reduced to ashes. At the close of the War of the Revolution, with the rank of General, he was actively engaged in the service of the state, in repelling the attacks and invasions of the hostile Indians; and here, again, was his liberality called into activity. He, at his own expense, built a fort at White Bluff, for the security and protection of the frontier inhabitants against the savage attacks of the merciless foes.
A band bearing Irwin’s initials, surrounds the obelisk.
North Side: General Irwin was one of the convention which met at Augusta in 1788, and ratified the constitution of the United States. He was a member of the convention in 1789, which formed the constitution of the State of Georgia. In 1798, he was president of the convention which revised the constitution of the State of Georgia. He rendered distinguished to his country as commissioner, in concluding several treaties with the Indians. At the close of the war of Independence he was a member of the first legislature under our present form of government; a position which occupied for several years. He was elected president of the senate frequently, at various periods from 1790 to the time of his death. He was governor of Georgia from January 17, 1796, to the 11th of January, 1798, and again from the 23rd of September, 1806, to the 7th of November, 1809. His administration was distinguished for his justice and impartiality; and his was the honor, after several years’ labor in the behalf, of signing the act rescinding the Yazoo Act.
West Side: In his private relations Governor Irwin was beloved by all who knew him. The spotless purity of his character, his benign and affable disposition, his widespread benevolence and hospitality, made him the object of general affection. To the poor and distressed he was ever a benefactor and friend. In every position of public life, as a soldier, a statesman, and a patriot, the public good was the object and the end of his ambition; and his death was lamented as a national calamity. But his memory will ever be embalmed in the hearts of his countrymen; and the historian will award him a brilliant page in the records of the country. Peace to his ashes! Honor to his name.
The monument is quite difficult to photograph. I’ll work on a better image next time I’m in Sandersville. I’m grateful to Ray South Irwin for historical background.
Sandersville Commercial & Industrial District, National Register of Historic Places