This old Victorian farmhouse, with superb Carpenter Gothic elements, stands in an increasingly urban area. I hope it can be saved. The Bailey family were early settlers in the area and had over a dozen enslaved laborers at one time. At least three slave dwellings which once stood on the property have not survived.
This Carpenter Gothic barn was built by a Mr. Stone for the Graves family around 1890. It’s been a local favorite ever since and is an ongoing restoration project of the Sparta-Hancock County Historical Society.
The ornamental scroll work makes the barn a unique treasure, especially in an urban setting. Barns were common in towns a hundred years ago, but to have one of this caliber survive the years is a real wonder.
Sparta Historic District, National Register of Historic Places
Sparta is full of architectural gems and this Carpenter Gothic landmark is one of my favorite houses in this town. It is thought to have been built by Olney Ethridge. It was purchased by Charles DuBose around 1856 and was owned by his descendants until 1944.
Sparta Historic District, National Register of Historic Places