Tag Archives: Georgia Farmhouses

Central Hallway Farmhouse, Circa 1889, Effingham County

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The outbuildings found on this property suggest that this was an historic small farmstead at one time. I didn’t photograph them, but they are an amazing collective resource. The 1990 Historic Resources Survey that documented the site noted the presence of a livestock barn, corn crib, well house, and a garage/machinery barn. Several old oaks shade the front of the yard, which appears virtually unchanged from the way it would have looked a hundred years ago. To me, it’s a perfect scene of the area and sadly one that is increasingly endangered.

The house itself is outstanding and originated as a central hallway cottage. As is evident in the above photograph, a shed room was added at the rear of the house. The projecting wing whose roof is visible at left may be an attached kitchen.

Hall and Parlor Farmhouse, Twiggs County

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This house probably dates to the early 1900s. It’s a common form, of which many were modified with screened-in porches, like this example. This is part of an old farm, I think, in the southern part of Twiggs County. It may have originally been a tenant house, but as it appears was a long-term residence.

Greek Revival Farmhouse, Circa 1855, Twiggs County

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Ten years ago, this amazing house was hidden by saplings and one would have imagined its future to be uncertain. Luckily, someone has cleaned up the place and obviously appreciates its historical importance.

To me, it’s of a type house that I associate with the decade or so before the Civil War. In floor plan, it’s what is now called Georgian Cottage, but the Georgian Cottage is really just a “toned-down” evolution of the Greek Revival to me, and this house is certainly more Greek Revival than Georgian Cottage. In comparison to the Georgian Cottage I shared in the previous post, you’ll notice that this house is set on piers, has a much lower hipped roof, a wider layout, and not only a transom, but full-length sidelights, as well. The windows are six-over-six and there is a porch with square Doric columns.

As to farm house, it was certainly that. Considering the date, it was probably the center of a working plantation that was transformed into a tenant farm after the Civil War. And enslaved people would have surely been a part of the operation. Google Earth views from 2009 and 2013 show several outbuildings that have since been removed, likely due to poor condition.

It may have been associated with the Walker descendants or other area pioneers like the Griffins, Walkers, or Jordans. That’s just a guess and probably not even a good one. I’m just grateful someone cared enough to save it.

*- The 1855 date comes from real estate listings, and while such listings are often wildly inaccurate, I tend to think this one is correct.

Georgian Cottage, Longstreet

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This typical Georgian Cottage was likely built in the 1870s, but I might be off by a decade or so. I call it a farmhouse because I can’t think of anything else that was going on in this neck of the woods at that time. The old Longstreet Academy was once located adjacent to this house, but it has been gone for many years. In fact, besides the church, nearly all the historical places that symbolized Longstreet have been gone for decades.

Longstreet is best known today, if it’s known at all outside the area, as the home of the Longstreet Methodist Church. The simple church structure happens to be the oldest documented building in Bleckley County, dating to 1812. Bleckley County was part of Pulaski County until 1912.

George Walker II, a veteran of the Revolutionary War, who came here from Burke County, was one of the first known settlers of the area, arriving before Pulaski County was established in 1806. Walker’s four sons, Charles, David, George III, and Thomas, built their homes in a three-mile stretch of this area, which came to be known as Longstreet. Charles was one of the founders of the Methodist church and gave the land for its construction.

Saddlebag Farmhouse, Monroe County

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This is a good example of a saddlebag house, in this case missing its original central chimney.

There are identical wood-framed hearths with shelf mantels in both rooms of the house.

Hip-Roof Farmhouse, Circa 1890s, Lamar County

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This unusual hip-roof farmhouse is located east of Johnstonville, near the Monroe County line. It’s a style I’ve seen a few times, but one I would consider very uncommon. Two large trees have recently fallen on the property but luckily the house was spared.

Though a photograph of this house is not included in the National Register nomination for the Johnstonville-Goggins Historic District, another smaller tenant house very close to this location is documented.

Johnstonville-Goggins Historic District, National Register of Historic Places

Winged Gable Farmhouse, Goldsboro

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The winged gable house is another important vernacular type and can be interchangeable with the central hallway type. In many cases, the “wing” is simply a small kitchen which has been enclosed but it can imply any added room/rooms. These are some of the workhorses of Georgia architecture.

As I’m finishing my Bleckley County re-edits, I’m replacing a few older files using better originals. This is one of those, originally published in February 2014. I believe the house was still standing when I was last in the area about six months ago.

Tenant Duplex, Bleckley County

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This was photographed in 2014 and I don’t know if it survives. For lack of a better term I’m calling it a tenant duplex, as it appears to have been two separate residences.

Hall and Parlor Farmhouse, Bleckley County

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I photographed this farmhouse in 2014. I don’t know if it’s still standing. It may be an early prefabricated example, i.e. a kit house.

Central Hallway Farmhouse, Jones County

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The central hallway house may be one of the most common types in rural Georgia. This one, likely dating to the late 19th century, has a nice screened-in front porch.