Sparta Historic District, National Register of Historic Places
Moore-Lewis House, Circa 1823, Sparta
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Category Archives: Sparta GA
Burgamy House, Sparta
Sparta Historic District, National Register of Historic Places
Craftsman Bungalow, Sparta
Sparta Historic District, National Register of Historic Places
Lane-Walker House, Circa 1825, Sparta
This house has been expanded at least twice in its nearly two centuries in Sparta. It is best known as the home of Julia Frances Dickson, the enslaved woman who gave birth to Amanda America Dickson, the wealthiest black woman in 19th century Georgia.
Sparta Historic District, National Register of Historic Places
Sparta Flower Shoppe, 1940s
Sistie Hudson notes that Jewel Stewart opened the Sparta Flower Shoppe here in the 1940s and it served that purpose until closing upon Ginger Yarbrough’s retirement in August 2018. It’s a great structure.
Sparta Historic District, National Register of Historic Places
Holsey Memorial C. M. E. Church, 1924, Sparta
This historic church was built in 1924 in memory of Bishop Lucius Henry Holsey, D. D (3 July 1842-3 August 1920). Bishop Holsey was the son of his enslaver, a white man named James Holsey. During his youth, he taught himself to read, which under the racial laws of the time was a crime. He was baptized in the Methodist Church. After emancipation, he became the Bishop of the Colored Methodist Episcopal Church. An enlightened man who saw education as the best hope for his people, he founded Paine College in Augusta in 1883. At the time of his death in Atlanta in 1920, Holsey was one of the most influential African-Americans in the South.
Reverend W. A. Kelley was pastor at the time. Trustees of the church were: A. D. Latimer; J. W. N. Clay; G. B. Taylor; H. L. Wynn; B. Ford; Thomas Dixon; O. L. Cain; Wilbor Clay; M. Birch; and A. H. Gilbert. R. E. White was the architect. Compass Lodge No. 160, A. F. & A. M. laid the cornerstone on 7 September 1925.
Not Spot, Sparta
In the late 1950s, this was a convenience store owned by David Dyer, who later served as the county school superintendent.
Georgia Railroad Depot, Circa 1881, Sparta
The Georgia Railroad depot at Sparta has been in derelict condition for many years, but the roof has recently been replaced and I believe further renovations are on the drawing board.
It is very similar to other depots of the Georgia Railroad.
Sparta Historic District, National Register of Historic Places
Hancock County Courthouse Rededication, Sparta
I spent many good times in Hancock County when I was a student at Georgia College and still visit at least once a year to explore its wonderful architecture. I was devastated when I learned that their historic courthouse had been consumed by fire on 11 August 2014. But thanks to the untiring determination of Commission Chairman Sistie Hudson, Her Majesty, as the courthouse is often called, rose from the ashes.
Two years to the day after the fire I made my way to Sparta to attend the rededication ceremony. At a time when many counties are building generic government facilities, Hancock County made sure their “new” courthouse would pay homage to the original. It’s nearly identical. Thanks largely to assistance from the insurance fund of the Association of County Commissioners of Georgia, the $7 million project was executed wonderfully, and should stand as an example to other counties as to how to deal with such crises in the future.
The clouds moved in just as we reached Sparta. But it never rained. A large crowd was already gathered and it just kept growing. There was a sense of pride and community that one rarely sees these days.
Politicians were on hand, along with the public, to christen the new and improved courthouse.
Former Congressman and Hancock County native Buddy Darden
Putnam County Commissioner Billy Webster.
Hancock County Commission Chairman Sistie Hudson.
After speeches were made and a benediction given, the clouds slowly began to clear.
The future looks great for Her Majesty and Hancock County. The photos that follow are random images of people at the ceremony. One of the things I took away from this day was a great sense of community pride, and that’s reassuring in these divisive times.
Restoration of Sayre-Alford House, Sparta
One of the “Twin Houses of Sparta”, which was long in a state of neglect and disrepair, the Sayre-Alford House (circa 1829) has been beautifully restored. Click here for an image of the house, before restoration
Sparta Historic District, National Register of Historic Places