This simple cottage was probably built as a shotgun house, with the side wing being added at a later date. The saw-tooth ornamentation along the front gable is a nice element. It doesn’t appear that anyone has lived here for many years.
I never get tired of finding grave houses. Though they’ve been around nearly as long as human history itself, in one form or another, most of the examples I’ve found in Georgia have a decidedly Victorian appearance, like this one in Stewart County’s historic Red Hill Christian Church Cemetery. Elements of the grave house have probably been restored or replaced, as is often the case with these curious monuments.
The simple ledger stone that marks this burial reads: John & Mrs. Coker’s Baby – 1900. Presumably, the child died in infancy. Mr. Coker’s obituary in the Stewart-Webster Journal, 25 March 1943, notes that John Martin Coker (1866-1943) had lived in or near Richland most of his life, and was well known as a miller.. He was in charge of the Usher mill near Lumpkin for a long period and for many years operated the Richland gin. He had been a member of the Christian Church for more than fifty years. Mrs. Coker was Fannie Coker, but that is about all I’ve learned about her.
I’d guess this unusual house dates to the late 19th or early 20th century, and likely once featured Folk Victorian elements. The left and right gables are of a different style, essentially independent of the front gable. It appears a large front porch has been lost over time, further altering the look of the house. There are very few survivors of the early days of Box Springs, and this is a nice example.
This home is obviously still well-loved by the family who call it home. It’s a central hallway with Queen Anne porch posts and a half story above the main floor. A shed room at the rear of the house and an attached kitchen complete the scene, a classic of vernacular architecture and rural Georgia.
The recent photographs I’ve shared from Griffin were made in 2017. I’ve recently recovered them after thinking they were lost. Griffin is growing but still feels like a small town to me, at least in its historic core neighborhoods. Many of its homes have been converted for various commercial uses. I’ve identified this house as a “Folk Victorian” mainly because it’s been modified beyond what I believe was its original Queen Anne appearance. The ornamentation that remains, in the eaves, suggests it was more elaborate at one time, but it’s still quite substantial.
This is a dream of an old house to me, like something from a childhood nursery rhyme. In its abandoned state, it’s still full of charm and intrigue. I imagine its days are numbered but wouldn’t it be nice if someone could save it?
In form it appears to be a central hallway cottage, with an overall effect of the Folk Victorian style that was ubiquitous in Georgia in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. What makes this one special, as you can see, is the small vented gable and the saw tooth header board along the screened-in front porch. An industrious carpenter, possibly the owner, certainly had an eclectic taste.
Though it features Queen Anne fretwork along the top of the porch, this house should be considered Folk Victorian. The bay wing on the right side of the house and the diagonal placement of the front door and steps is quite eclectic. I haven’t been able to locate any history.
Anyone who’s ever passed through the idyllic Stillwell community has inevitably noticed two places: the old Gnann store & post office, and this stately Folk Victorian home. Situated at the center of what remains of this historic community, this well-shaded house seems just about perfect. The Simmons family has ties to the earliest days of Stillwell.
As to locating a date for the house, that has proven more complicated than finding a name for it. One source dates it to 1889, another to 1901, and yet another to 1919. For now, I’m going with the 1889 date, but I could be wrong. Folk Victorians actually came into prominence around 1900-1910 and maybe the different dates signify changes made to the structure. Whatever its year of origin, it’s definitely a landmark in this part of Effingham County.
This is a fine Folk Victorian home, strongly influenced by the ornamental look of the Queen Anne style.
This home has an overall Victorian appearance and displays the eclecticism common at the turn of the last century. Like most houses I’ve found dates for in Palmetto, the given date of 1920 seems a bit late for the style.