Tag Archives: National Register of Historic Places

Singleton Plantation, Circa 1854, Putnam County

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Pediment of the Singleton House, believed to be the work of itinerant carpenter S. J. Suiter

The construction of the late Greek Revival main house at the plantation of Rebecca Louise Griggs Singleton (1833-1907) and David Terrell Singleton (1831-1913) is credited, through oral tradition, to a very skilled but otherwise unknown carpenter named S. J. Suiter, who came to Putnam County from North Carolina. Suiter was still in Putnam County at the time of the 1860 census, living with the family of William Spivey and perhaps doing work on their property. To my knowledge, nothing else is known of Mr. Suiter. A Parisian plasterer lived on site for two years, creating the cornices and ceiling medallions.

Well house, dating to the ownership of the Singleton family. The Victorian details suggest it likely dates to the late 1800s-early 1900s.

The house was built circa 1854, the year of Rebecca Griggs’s marriage to David Singleton and in the National Register of Historic Places nomination in 1974 was described as “a modest, yet classically sophisticated plantation residence.” That characterization still applies. Structures added to the property by Earl McMillen, Jr., the architect who purchased it in 1968, are featured below with earlier historic structures.

Caretaker’s house, near the entrance to the farm. Likely built in the early-mid 1900s, but may be an expansion of an earlier cottage.

Rebecca Griggs Singleton purchased the property through an inheritance from her father, Robert Griggs, who owned adjoining land across Murder Creek. The Singletons bought several more large tracts in the area, and along with other plantations in the area, formed the basis in 1859 of a community first known as Avalona, and sometime between 1882 and 1895, Willard. The Singletons were members of the Avalona Baptist Church.

Covered bridge over Beaverdam Creek, built by Earl McMillen, Jr.

When Atlanta architect Earl McMillen, Jr., purchased the estate in 1968, the main house and outbuildings were all in a very run down state. As a passionate preservationist, Mr. McMillen set about restoring the house to its historical appearance, while adding modern conveniences to the grounds, He also saved and moved the old Phoenix Academy to the farm.

Covered bridge

Mr. McMillen also built a private covered bridge at a point where Beaverdam Creek crosses the property. Recent flooding caused one of the approaches to shift, but it’s still in good shape.

Tenant home converted into a hunting and fishing cabin by the Odums. Mr. Odum told me that one lady lived here most of her life, died at age 104, and climbed the steep stairs to her loft bedroom even in her old age. They’re some of the steepest stairs I’ve ever seen.

The Odums are the present owners and I am very grateful to their generosity in allowing me to visit and photograph a property that is as vibrant as it ever was. Mr. Odum is passionate about the historic structures but equally important, in keeping the land in good shape for future generations. They are doing a wonderful job.

Singleton House, Circa 1854

National Register of Historic Places

Rose Hill School, 1937, Porterdale

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Rose Hill is a historically black community in northeast Porterdale that was originally developed in the early 1900s as a segregated residential community for mill workers. The school was built in 1937 by the Bibb Manufacturing Company and also served as a church and a community gathering place. Rose Hill School and church was the only African American educational establishment in Porterdale while the mill was in operation. The building has remained largely unchanged since construction and reflects a unique era of development in a distinctive mill community.

Porterdale Historic District, National Register of Historic Places

Rose Hill Cottage, Porterdale

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Since this structure is located adjacent to the Rose Hill School, it may have been a teacher’s home, or since the school was also a church, it may have housed the preacher. Since I have been unable to confirm any of these theories, I’m identifying it as a “Rose Hill Cottage”, typical of the others built by the Bibb Manufacturing Company for their segregated African-American employees.

Porterdale Historic District, National Register of Historic Places

Mill Housing, Porterdale

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Ivy Street

Porterdale is one of the most intact mill towns in Georgia and that may be most evident in the housing constructed by the mills for their employees. Typically utilitarian, most of the homes are quite uniform in appearance but in Porterdale, there is some variation, since there were three major mills. This row, on Ivy Street, features bungalow-style cottages. One thing you’ll notice in Porterdale is the proximity of the houses; they’re built very close to one another and there is little yard space, but the houses themselves are nearly all still around and have been modernized for the present generation of owners.

Porterdale Historic District, National Register of Historic Places

Historic Jail, 1917, Porterdale

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Lawlessness was a concern to all communities, and perhaps even more so, in mill villages. I know the mill village in my hometown, whether deserved or not, was known as a rough and tumble place and seemed to have more crime than other neighborhoods. Of course, law and order was tantamount to productivity around the mills; disruptions could be quite costly and were not tolerated. A day or two in jail usually took care of the problem.

The small jail in Porterdale is typical of those built in the early 20th century and was restored and landscaped as the Eagle Scout project of Camden Wyman of Troop 93, in 2015.

Porterdale Historic District, National Register of Historic Places

Central of Georgia Railroad Depot, Circa 1898, Porterdale

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The Central of Georgia Railroad built this depot circa 1898 when they extended their tracks beyond Covington to handle all the business generated by the mills in Porterdale. It’s a bit of an unusual form, and since it’s been restored in recent years, I don’t know if the extension originally featured a loading platform or if it’s part of a newer use for the structure.

Porterdale Historic District, National Register of Historic Places

Welaunee Mill, Circa 1920, Porterdale

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The Welaunee Mill was built on the site of the old Phillips Mill, the oldest mill in Porterdale, and is similar to the Porterdale Mill across the Yellow River but on a smaller scale. The architecture is the same, incorporating continuous rows of segmental-arched windows and a four-story tower. Welaunee was the third and last facility built in the modern mill era that defined Porterdale.

Porterdale Historic District, National Register of Historic Places

Osprey Mill, 1916, Porterdale

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The Osprey Mill was built on the north side of the Yellow River, west of downtown Porterdale. It was the second mill build in the modern era and with a large complex of supporting structures, was the largest mill in town. I believe it was the last of the three, still in operation, and while originally similar in appearance to the Porterdale and Welaunee Mills, was modernized at some point to accommodate changing work requirements.

Porterdale Historic District, National Register of Historic Places

Porterdale Mill, 1899

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The mills were the center of life in the town of Porterdale, and the Porterdale Mill, built in 1899, was the best known. It remains an engineering wonder, spanning about 800 feet of the Yellow River. A 125-foot stone dam was essential to the operation of the mill and is a landmark in its own right. During the early 20th century, the Porterdale mills manufactured more cotton rope than any other mill in the nation, and during World War II, they were the leading supplier of rope to the United States Navy.

The abandoned mill was later converted into housing, known as the Porterdale Mill Lofts, and still serves the community in this incarnation.

Porterdale Historic District, National Register of Historic Places

Porter Memorial Gym, 1938, Porterdale

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Built as a gift to the people of Porterdale by James H. Porter in memory of his father and Porterdale founder Oliver Saffold Porter (1836-1914), the Porter Memorial Gym was one of the main gathering places in the community until the decline of the mills. It was designed by one of Georgia’s first female architects, Ellamae Ellis League.

Though a 2005 fire destroyed much of the structure and collapsed the roof, the foundation and walls remain were re-enforced and the site is occasionally used for gatherings and community events.


Porterdale Historic District, National Register of Historic Places