I just learned via social media that this landmark was recently damaged by at least one, if not two, fallen cedar trees, likely the result of recent storms. It appears, from a photograph shared by Sam Smith, that the damage is mostly to the roof. I hope this is a silver lining and the house is able to be repaired.
I’ve never been able to find out much history about the place, other than the fact that locals suggest it’s in its original location and owned by the same family for the duration of its existence. Obviously, the owners cared enough to add a newer roof and porch at some time. As a vernacular form, dogtrots are emblematic of rural Georgia in the 19th century and variations were built well into the early part of the 20th century. This is one of the nicest examples I know of in Georgia and if anyone knows more about its fate, please share.
Photo copyright James Clark, shared with permission
Situated behind the iconic Woodland plantation house is this amazing survivor, an enclosed dogtrot thought to have been built by the first McArthur family member to settle here; their ownership of the land dates to 1827. It is possibly the oldest house in Wheeler County. After use as a storage shed for many years, it was restored in 1993.
Frontier Village is a collection of publicly accessible historic structures located adjacent to the replica of the 1816 blockhouse. There’s no admission cost. The two houses below are a good general representation of early styles common in the area in the 19th century.
Newt Engram Dogtrot House
Originally located in Lightard Knot Springs near Zetto, this is thought to have been built by Seaborn P. Engram and passed to Newt Engram. (Some Engrams in Clay County spelled their name with an “E” while others in the family spelled it with an “I”.
Herbert and Liza Ingram House
This single-pen log house was originally located near Sutton’s Corner.
The original front door of this house appears to have originally been a much wider opening, suggesting it may have been built as a dogtrot. Tim Ganey writes: “This was a tenant house owned by Colonel Collins – my understanding is that he owned a lot of the surrounding farmland (at least back in the 40’s). My grandparents (GANEY), father, brothers and sisters (as kids), lived here in the 30’s or early 40’s – sharecroppers.”
If you’ve ever traveled Georgia Highway 125 between Fitzgerald and Tifton, you probably recognize this house, situated slightly west of Irwinville. I’ve been seeing it my entire life and only learned some of its history today. It was the home of Elbert George McClellan Fletcher (1866-1952), likely built around 1889, when he married his first wife, Mary Jane Elizabeth (Polly) Hobby Fletcher, who died in 1916. Upon Polly’s death, Elbert married Ruth Turner Fletcher (1870-1956) in 1917. The house was built as a dogtrot, and originally contained an annexed kitchen, which has since been removed. It would have been a “fancy” dogtrot compared to the cruder log structures usually associated with the style.
Winston McDuffie shared these memories of the house: Elbert was quite dignified, handle-bar mustache, and walking stick, sitting on the front porch in his rocking chair. I can’t remember him talking much, and Tobyand Ruth were together talking so there was not too much for a 5-6 yr old boy to do. There was a fence across the front, the gate had a chain with a weight to pull it closed, and there was a pomegranate bush beside the gate, always a pleasure to pick one. There was a cane-grinding set-up in the right-hand corner (towards Tifton), under the Oak tree. We attended a cane-grinding a couple of times. There was a barn on the left side, back behind the house. I remember Mama and Deal would pick cotton for John (son) all during school. The house had a dog-trot hallway, with 4 doors (2 per side), and opened onto a porch all across the back of the house. There was another dog-trot off the porch to the separate kitchen. The first door on the left was the sitting room, and the other 3 were bed-rooms. Toby and I slept in the one adjacent to the sitting room when we spent the night. There was a full grand-father clock in the room, but I can’t remember what any other furniture was like. No grass in the yard, it was swept clean with gall-berry brooms.
This historic log house, which likely originated as a dogtrot, is an amazing survivor, dating to the year of Calhoun County’s formation. It’s part of a large plantation between Dawson and Morgan and though it’s obviously been renovated it’s a great example of a pioneer structure in antebellum Southwest Georgia.
