Table of Contents
6 Cozy Garden
A look inside a beautiful garden in Lexington and tips on how to make your own.
7 Design Quiz
What design style and decor would you prefer for your home?
8 Recipe for Restoration
Rowdy Rooster owners take a break from baking for a look into their cottage renovation.
9 Sweethearts Renovation
Iris and Barry Walker consider what’s best for their home over time.
10 Get Away From Everyday
These two Airbnbs are perfect for a relaxing break.
13 Colorful Creations
Artist Vyvyan Hughes discusses the inspiration behind her recent projects with bright neon lights.
14 Fixed-up Federal
A kitchen renovation featuring materials from this couple’s church makes it one of their favorite rooms in the house.
17 Family Farmhouse
Tim and Penni Stoudenmire created a new traditional farmhouse with a modern touch.
20 Antiques and Interiors
A glimpse into Kristina Turner’s decor.
22 Home Away from Home
A 1920s home updated into a classic bed and breakfast in Maxeys.
23 Crawford Revival
A home's journey continues.
24 Restored and Renewed
This couple’s homestead includes a restored railroad depot, a 19th century farmhouse, a pond with walking trails and more.
28 Art Appreciation
Richard and Jean Westmacott's restored farmhouse features a lifetime of stories told through art.
33 Returning Home
Three generations revisit their former family home in Crawford.
24
Photos by Amanda Kinderman, Jill Ward, Lily Aldrich, Katie Guenthner and Ella Kroll.
Cover photo of Penni Stoudenmire by Olivia Wilson
Editor’s Note
Bringing Joy
December always gives me a double dose of feeling nostalgic and sentimental. The holiday season coupled with the end of the semester as a professor — the crunchtime of grading with the joy of how students have learned and grown — offer many moments and reasons to reflect.
Giving you the second edition of Home Grown, the Echo’s award-winning magazine, also brings those same waves of emotion. Our magazine is filled with stories about how homeowners love the history of where and how they live, with enough nostalgia to make the Grinch’s heart grow. For some of you in Oglethorpe County, rescuing neglected properties or building your heart’s desire is a way to make your own history, knowing how time is fleeting. A few months ago, our students mingled with people in The Oglethorpe Echo’s office on Main Street for the start-of-the-semester open house. It didn’t take long on that August day for me to be reminded of how so many of you are proud of living here.
Alice Hughes, a longtime history advocate, waved a cutout of the Echo’s front page at me. We had asked readers to suggest homes, and she couldn’t wait to tell us about her daughter’s artwork and her home. Kathleen deMarrais and Jamie Lewis huddled at the counter, chatting with me about homes and gardens they adored and providing a constant stream of names and contact info.
Meet the staff
Lori Johnston, editor
Blake Campbell, designer
Jacqueline GaNun & Emily Slepsky, copy editors
Their in-person commentaries joined the emails I received from people sharing details and photos about their homes, art and hobbies. The students in my home and garden class dashed with me across Main Street to stroll through Lexington’s historic district. We paused at homes, as I asked them to describe what they liked, hearing lots of love for the fretwork on the porches, columns, artwork and front doors. We discussed how what we saw and learned on Church Street would translate
to the stories we would write about homes, not just in Lexington, but throughout the county. Their smiling, glowing faces (I choose to believe it wasn’t the heat or sun) in our selfie showed me I had the right group for this second issue. They showed excitement and provided ideas in every step of the process. And when a student discovered a family connection to the county — just as it happened with the
first issue of Home Grown — it further confirmed to me that this magazine was just meant to be.
The stories, photos, headlines and cover lines — written, produced and brainstormed by the 20 students in my class — show an enormous understanding since August of the nature of home and garden writing. We examined other stories, talked to editors with Magnolia Journal and Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles for inspiration, visited UGA’s Special Collections Libraries to view archival documents, photos and maps, discussed how to feel comfortable conducting interviews and taking photos in someone’s home, and practiced shooting interior and exterior photos.
What you see in these pages are the result of hours of planning, “boots on the ground” in homes and gardens, and sharing with the homeowners the intent of the stories and photo shoots. Whether it was having a fresh-baked pie to star in a photo, or the Stoudenmires setting up and staging a dining table outside, down to the throws on the chairs and a delectable tablescape, we are thankful for everyone (and, not to forget, the Stoudenmires’ cows!) who gave their time to help us produce a magazine that conveys their joy of calling Oglethorpe County home.
Lori Johnston Editor
Andy Johnston, editor
Amanda Bright, assistant editor and instructor
Blake Campbell, designer
Trisha Bearden, business manager
Valerie Argo, administrative assistant
Dink NeSmith, chairman, The Oglethorpe Echo Legacy Inc.
Catherine
(Photo/Lauren Pike)
Back (from left): Lori Johnston, Suzanna Woodall, Miller Rich, Kendall Kelly, Lily Aldrich; Middle (from left): Sarah Coyne, Bridget Goodman, Shweta Krishnan, Jacqueline GaNun, Ashlyn Carroll, Emily Slepsky, Jill Ward, Kayda Hammock; Front (from left): Ella Kroll, Amanda Kinderman, Olivia Wilson, Katie Guenthner, Mary
Dodys, Saylor Williams, Avery Cameron, Holly Kate O'Brien
Ryan Pittman (below) designed a garden with features that include a wooden arbor. The garden is a tribute to his late mentor, Rick Berry. (Photos/Miller Rich)
Outdoor Tribute
A lush garden sits off Main Street in Lexington
By Miller Rich
The Garden
Ryan Pittman, who began working on his Lexington garden in 2021, describes it as a blend of Japanese and cottage garden concepts. It stretches from the front to the right side of his home, whose green exterior appears to be a nod to his appreciation for the landscape.
A cedar branch arbor, which he built and covered in wisteria and clematis vines, serves as an entrance to the side of the garden. Walking through the arbor, many varieties of plants can be seen, including variegated boxwoods, French lavender, rosemary, roses and Japanese maples. Two small koi fish ponds surround a fire pit. The ground cover blends seamlessly with the green and vibrant blooms. A wooden pergola frames two metal chairs and a table, where Pittman and guests enjoy the peaceful sounds of running water and wind blowing the leaves.
Goodness Grows
Pittman started working at Goodness Grows when he was 16 and fell in love with plants. “As a teenager I would bring stuff home and plant it in the ground,” Pittman said. He learned the botanical names of many plants while working at the nursery and would have an exam every Friday on them, Pittman said. His mentor, Rick Berry, encouraged him to use his creativity by helping to design the garden at Goodness Grows, and then to start his business, Unique Gardenscapes.
His Inspiration
Shortly after Berry died in 2021, Goodness Grows closed; however, Pittman carries on Berry’s legacy. He didn’t intentionally make the garden at his home a tribute to Berry, but it became that. “I think about him every time I plant something,” Pittman said, “a lot of the things that I have he grew.” Some of the plants that
Berry grew include Lantana camara ‘Miss Huff’, Hibiscus mutabilis and Chrysanthemum x Morifolium ‘Ryan’s Pink’. Lantana camara ‘Miss Huff’ has its origins in Athens and has orange, yellow and pink blooms. “That was one of the main plants that people would come to this nursery to buy,” Pittman said. Hibiscus mutabilis is one of Pittman’s favorite plants that Goodness Grows sold. “You’ll find that plant around a lot of old homesteads, especially in this area,” Pittman said. The flowers bloom from October to November and start white then fade into pink. Chrysanthemum x Morifolium ‘Ryan’s Pink’ was named after garden designer Ryan Gainey, who cultivated it. “People would always come to Goodness Grows to buy that plant because nobody else sold it,” Pittman said.
How to Make a Garden
To start gardening, Pittman
suggests visiting garden centers monthly to see what’s in bloom. Having a good-looking garden isn’t just what you have planted. There are three tenets to focus on while designing your garden. “It’s all about adding structure, texture, color, in that order,” Pittman said. To make your garden beautiful, Pittman advises to look for plants with different textures.
Structures can be in many different forms. One form can be topiary, like his hinoki cypress tree, which gives structure to his garden with its shape and height. Other structures include archways, a pergola and a cedar fence he built. “Even this fence, like the gnarly cedar fence, that’s just giving structure and creating a barrier from the other part of the garden,” Pittman said.
Find Your Style
By Shweta Krishnan
1. Which exterior style would you choose?
2. If you were to update a room with a light fixture, what would you choose?
Discover how your design style matches homes in Oglethorpe County
3. Which item is a must-have for your front porch?
A) Ceiling fan C) Rocking chair
B) Swing D) Stationary wooden chair
4. Which plant styles and flowers would you choose?
A) Shrubs and potted plants C) Hanging ferns
B) Stately, large trees D) A small pond
5. Which kitchen design would you choose?
A) Dark antique wooden cabinets and light granite countertops
B) A mix of wood cabinets and marble countertops
C) All white cabinets with black countertops
D) A mix of white and wood cabinets and dark wood countertops
If You Answered Mostly A’s:
You would live in a farmhouse!
This restored 1800s farmhouse has been added onto and hosts family.
If You Answered Mostly B’s:
You would live in a historic Colonial Revival home! The home has its original architecture, including French doors inside its entrance.
If You Answered Mostly C’s:
You would live in a new farmhouse! This bucolic dreamscape is a three bedroom, three-and-ahalf bathroom home with antique furnishings.
If You Answered Mostly D’s:
You would live in a 1920s brick house! This house was built with only two bathrooms, but has now expanded to include five bedrooms and seven bathrooms to accommodate guests.
Photo/Emily Slepsky
Photo/Ella Kroll
Photo/Olivia Wilson
Photo/Gillen House
A breakfast table is set by a newly restored window in a cottage under renovation beside the Rowdy Rooster. The sweet scent of cherry pie fills the air. (Photo/ Amanda Kinderman)
From Pies to Preservation
A 1900s cottage revival is near and dear to the owners of the Rowdy Rooster
By Amanda Kinderman
When Kathleen deMarrais and Jamie Lewis aren’t busy baking pies and scones or assembling quiches for the Rowdy Rooster, they turn their attention to saving homes. Just next door to “the Roo” on East Main Street in Lexington, a 1,588-square-foot cottage is their latest restoration project, in an effort to preserve a piece of the past.
The white cottage has been part of the city for over a century. The three-bedroom, one-bathroom Folk Victorian-style home, was built in the 1900s. The open front porch adds a quaint touch to the enduring home, which sits on 1 acre. The cottage contains handcrafted details throughout, and its windows and flooring have withstood the test of time.
“I just think the windows are so beautiful,” deMarrais said. “The layout is interesting.”
Lewis and deMarrais began renovating
the cottage with contractors last June and are considering turning it into a rental property. So far, they have fixed the foundation and worked on the bathroom.
Together with contractor Rick Saxon they have focused on meticulously restoring the historic windows. Along the front of the cottage, there are floor-toceiling windows, while other rooms feature double-hung windows with six-over-six mullion patterns. Saxon inspected all the windows, focusing on the ones that were leaking, said deMarrais, who added that he did an excellent job with the restoration.
Each restoration project has brought deMarrais and Lewis one step closer to their vision of saving the home while preserving its roots. They envision the home with neutral colors throughout. The woodwork will be painted in SherwinWilliams’ Cotton White, and light gray will permeate throughout the cottage.
The original hardwood floors, worn by years of footsteps and rugs, tell their own
story. They’re in good shape, so a little bit of polish will allow their rich tones and natural patterns to glow again.
In addition to preserving the windows and hardwood floors, the couple plans to keep the original light fixtures. They add a touch of vintage that keeps the home’s historic ambience vibrant, deMarrais said.
History is ingrained in every room, especially within the front room, where they plan to remove the drop-down ceiling and brighten the room by allowing in the sunshine. The back room’s floor bears stains, likely from a rug that had been in place for many years. A piano, left behind in the entryway, adds a nostalgic touch to the parlor. The back screened-in porch, though weathered, offers a quiet retreat with views of the surrounding property.
Each repair brings Lewis and deMarrais closer to saving another home. Their careful renovations ensure the cottage will remain a lasting part of the Lexington community.
Remodeled with Love
High school sweethearts devoted to county and helping homeowners
By Sarah Coyne
Iris and Barry Walker built their farmhouse home in 1987 and remodeled it over the years to fit their updated tastes.
Porch swings, ferns and impatiens invite guests to come and relax. The Walkers, who were high school sweethearts, have enjoyed living on the 60 acres for decades.
“We love the peace and quiet of living in the country,” Iris said.
up, she said. White crown molding –originally brown — creates a bright, welcoming environment.
“When we built the house ourselves, we stained and sanded and sealed every piece of molding in this entire house ourselves,” Iris said.
The Walkers also updated the flooring with white oak planks from Southern Surplus. Originally the living room was carpet,
A back porch overlooks a creek that feeds into a pond. The couple, who have 10 grandchildren, built an in-ground pool in 2018.
The couple originally used the property as a turkey and hog farm, before becoming real
Salem Woodworks built white kitchen cabinets and a cabinet into the wall in the master bedroom for extra storage.
The master bedroom features a custom cabinet made by Salem Woodworks that allows for extra storage. (Photo/Sarah Coyne)
Cozy Little Getaways
These Airbnbs beckon folks to experience nature
By Ashlyn Carroll
Silver Farmhouse
The Silver Farmhouse, located near Comer, was built in 1926. The charming, rustic exterior alludes to it being frozen in time since then; the front porch is complete with rocking chairs and a porch swing. Take a step inside and guests are greeted with the original stone fireplace and wood paneled walls; all of the wood is taken and refinished from the original home. To the right of the fireplace is a memorial to the builder, with a story of how it was passed down through the years. A coffee table book with before-and-after photos shows how much work was put into the cabin. The living room and kitchen
are separated by the stone fireplace, giving the room a focal point, and the peninsula countertop further sections off the kitchen. A spiral staircase leads to two beds upstairs topped with quilts for a homey feel. Around back, a fire pit surrounded by Adirondack chairs caters to those seeking peace and quiet. String lights outline the perimeter of the 1,072-square-foot house, and the hay bale out in front is hand-painted by one of the owners. Just minutes from Watson Mill State Park, the three-bedroom farmhouse can sleep up to eight guests. The home rents for around $175 a night on Airbnb as of early December.
Tiny House
The Tiny House in Winterville offers a warm and cheerful stay. A short walk lined with string lights leads to the red front door. Even though it’s a small space, with around 400 square feet, the owners made the most of it. A television is placed under the counter, and the living room opens up to a kitchen with a two-seater table. Posters of the B-52s and R.E.M., and a framed T-shirt signed by Michael Stipe, lead singer of R.E.M., give the tiny house a retro vibe. Wood paneling on the walls and ceiling give a natural look; dark
tile in the bathroom accents the woodsy feel. The windows welcome in natural light, and stained glass above the bed adds a pop of color. To the right of the front door, a nook is located in front of the kitchen, where one can sit and do work. The main bed is in the loft, but guests can sleep on the futon if they are uncomfortable with climbing the ladder. The double doors in the living room open to a porch with chairs and a table, where guests can sit, read, dine and enjoy being in nature. Tiny House can sleep up to four. The home rents for around $119 a night on Airbnb as of early December.
The Silver Farmhouse is an Airbnb built in 1926 that is available year-round. (Photo/Ashlyn Carroll)
The Tiny House is an Airbnb in Winterville that is available year-round. (Photo/Ashlyn Carroll)
Meet Your Home Team
From first-time homeownership to expansions and renovations, local Mortgage Loan Officer Holli Gailey is here to guide you through every step of the mortgage process.
And with Pinnacle Bank’s range of mortgage options, finding the perfect fit for your budget and lifestyle is easier than ever.
Let’s make your home dreams a reality right here in Oglethorpe.
Artist Spotlight
Vyvyan Hughes has bright ideas
By Avery Cameron & Saylor Williams
“Neon is more than just a pawn shop, a strip club and an open sign,” artist Vyvyan Hughes said.
No matter where she is, she always makes time for her art.
Hughes splits her time between Oglethorpe County and Atlanta, creating everything from quilts inspired by her third-grade teacher to bright neon art used on the sets of major film projects. Her work has been used in numerous ways and productions, including Marvel, “Stranger Things” and “The Vampire Diaries.”
“I have pretty much hand touched almost everything,” Hughes said.
One of Hughes’ most recent projects is a big neon fish she made for Peacock’s upcoming show, “Teacup.”
Vyvyan Hughes (pictured below with her mother, Alice) will strategically position the neon work on old wooden pallets in a square array to imitate the pattern of a stitched quilt. (Photos/Saylor Williams)
'MAMIE BELLE’S 9 PATCHES'
One of Hughes’ recent pieces is inspired by Mamie Belle Wiley, her third-grade teacher from Walton County. Hughes grew up watching her quilt and is recreating the pieces in the form of neon designs inspired by Wiley’s quilts.
Hughes is making a 3x3 “quilt” with neon art. Though not an actual quilt, Hughes will strategically position the neon work on old wooden pallets in a square array to imitate the pattern of a stitched quilt.
'HOT SUMMER NIGHTS PLAYING OUTSIDE'
Several of her pieces are on display at the Winterville Cultural Center Gallery, each of which are inspired by her childhood. Hughes, the daughter of Alice Hughes, has many pieces throughout her mother’s home in Oglethorpe County that reflect the project’s overall theme of stars.
“Children today, I don't feel like they ever look up at the stars,” Hughes said. “There’s so much pollution and light noise, and kids are always on a screen.”
This idea led to the creation of her biggest piece in the Winterville gallery. The work is inspired by her best friend, Kim Schachle, who she has known since she was 6. It was created with 21 stars double-layered, glitter paint and spray paint.
“So basically, it’s just all kind of come from my roots,” Hughes said.
“Neon is happier when it’s on, ” Vyvyan Hughes said. (Photo/Saylor Williams)
Timeless Elegance
Federal home showcases renovated kitchen
By Suzanna Woodall
Danny and Karen Sanders stand in front of the rustic red door of their Federal-style home, admiring the view of their spacious property in Stephens.
Their two tracts of land total about 35 acres. The 3,300-square-foot-plus home was moved to the Stephens community after the Sanders family bought it in the early 1990s.
Danny and Karen, who own Oglethorpe Feed and Hardware Supply in Crawford, spent over a decade renovating one room at a time. Karen says the process overall was “stressful,” but in the end was well worth it, especially the kitchen.
“It was over a 10-year process that we actually finished the house. This is our last project,” said Karen, laughing. Their intricately detailed home
was built in two stages. The log cabin was constructed around the 1790s in Greensboro. The second section was added around 1815, Danny said. The front porch features four symmetrical Doric columns and nine wellproportioned, tall windows with classic black shutters.
The home has three bedrooms and three bathrooms, along with several original pieces that include wood paneling and fireplaces throughout. The interior is full of character, and Karen adds a personal touch with framed floral paintings and fresh flowers.
Gathering Spot
Their kitchen was renovated to reflect the original Federal-style design. The wood paneling and original fireplace make the space feel true to the traditional style. The
The island is handmade from the wood of two old pine trees cut down in front of Salem Baptist Church. Danny and Karen Sanders remodeled the kitchen with stainless steel appliances, granite countertops and subway tile backsplash. (Photos/Suzanna Woodall)
The Sanders moved the home from Greensboro to Stephens in the 1990s. (Photo/Suzanna Woodall)
idea for the renovation was to create an inviting kitchen that would serve as the heart of the home. It was upgraded to include stainless steel appliances, cabinets, granite countertops and subway tile backsplash.
Spending quality time with family is something that has always been important to Karen, and her renovated kitchen is a big part of that. The couple often sits at the island talking and spending time with their children and grandchildren. The base of the island is a greenishblue, adding a pop of color in addition to the off-white cabinets overlooking the sink and appliances.
“I had always said I wanted a large kitchen because we have Sunday lunch after church, and it just seemed I couldn’t be satisfied until I had that larger kitchen,” Karen said. “That’s how that evolved.”
Nod to History
The Sanders attend Salem Baptist Church in Lexington, just 3 miles away. When the church was renovated, Danny asked anyone who might be interested to take the wood that came from the roof if they wanted it.
No one claimed it, and
Danny decided to hold on to it until he found a use for it. He enjoys collecting and storing various items until he eventually finds a use for them. They used the wood from the roof for the paneling on the walls and ceilings.
“A lot of our kitchen is our church,” Danny said.
The island was built during the renovation and holds sentimental value to the Sanders, especially Danny. The top is made from the wood of two pine trees that also came from the front lawn of their church. The trees were between 180 and 200 years old, said Danny, who counted the rings.
“These two trees that you see here, those leaning pine trees, they have been there all my life,” Danny said. “My daddy is 88 years old. He said they’ve always been there.”
A hand-carved wooden fireplace in the kitchen, featuring dentil molding at the top, is an original feature. The details of the mantel are a charming addition to the meticulously decorated kitchen, and these original carvings offer a glimpse into the artistry of the late 18th century.
“I’ve always said everybody needs to move an old house and restore it,” Danny said. “Everybody needs to do that.”
Since the creation of The Oglethorpe Echo Legacy, Inc. in November 2021, our students and faculty have operated under one commitment—to serve the residents of Oglethorpe County with fair, unbiased, ethical journalism. Thank you for the opportunity to tell your stories.
Building the Dream
With Scottish Highland cows for company and antiques for charm, the Stoudenmires craft a custom country lifestyle on family land.
By Jill Ward and Olivia Wilson
Nestled in the backroads of Crawford, down a long gravel driveway, sits a bucolic dreamscape with the trifecta of comfortable country living: a white farmhouse, boutique cows and a 20-acre pasture.
Penni and Tim Stoudenmire, the homeowners and longtime teachers, spend their evenings enjoying their newly built home. The covered porch across from the fire pit creates a cozy nighttime setting. With two kids, Grayson and Ella, grown and out of the house, designing a welcoming environment was a must for them.
“I really wanted a place where our kids could come home, and we could have family Christmas and family Thanksgiving,” Penni Stoudenmire said.
Their property also is home to cows Duncan, Daisy and Primrose, who roam the land with their lavish coats and eager personalities. Scottish Highland cows are known for their rich milk and high-quality beef, however, on this farm they’re used more for their photogenic qualities. The cattle is used for photoshoots in the pasture and around the county. This is a new business for the Stoudenmires, who can see it expanding as they
add more cows to their property.
The Stoudenmires had long considered building a farmhouse on the family land they were gifted from Penni’s parents. The pair designed the 3,200-square-foot farmhouse, with only the help of an architect for the blueprints. Their plan came to fruition in November 2023, when they moved into their new home.
“We’re both pretty driven people, like, if we want something, we’re gonna do whatever it takes,” Penni said. “For two years, I played online finding a house plan, and then we took a plan and sort of modified it to what we wanted.”
After two years of precise planning and tough work, the Stoudenmires turned tree-covered land into the home they had long envisioned. Complete with three bedrooms and three-and-ahalf bathrooms, there is plenty of room for friends and family to visit.
An open floor plan connects the kitchen and living room, while two screened-in porches allow the family to enjoy the Georgia weather. A combination of impressive Facebook Marketplace finds and sought-out antique furnishings fill the interiors.
“We love old homes and purposefully incorporated lots of antique elements to help achieve a traditional farmhouse look,” Penni said.
Penni Stoudenmire sets the dining table in the backyard of their new farmhouse. Just a few years ago, the land was overtaken by trees, which the couple cleared to make space for their home. (Photos/Jill Ward)
Tim and Penni Stoudenmire built their home on 20 acres of family land. The couple designed and decorated the home themselves, learning the ins and outs of construction as they went. It was finished in 2023. “I was the contractor that dealt with all the headaches,” Tim said. “I bought the windows, I bought the bricks. I bought the mortar. If it’s on that house, I had to line it up.” (Photo/Olivia Wilson)
The tablescape is complete with yellow sunflowers and greenery. Baby’s breath and plaid blankets complement the white tableware on the antique wooden table. The matching blankets were ordered from Amazon. (Photos/Olivia Wilson)
The couple incorporated antique elements throughout their “traditional farmhouse with a modern touch,” searching on Facebook Marketplace and various antique shops for pieces they liked. “I think having all the furniture we knew we loved and wanted to use, that kind of helped me,” Penni said.
(Photo/Olivia Wilson)
“We love old homes and puposefully incorporated
lots
of antique elements to help achieve a traditional farmhouse look.”
— Penni Stoudenmire
This porch brings the feeling of inside outside with stained glass windows and a hint of red and pops of blue. The rug was one that the homeowners brought from their previous home. It leads directly to the fire pit area and looks out into the 20-acre property.
(Photo/Olivia Wilson)
The kitchen features white shiplap from baseboards to ceiling. The blue plates on the backdrop add a pop of color to the room. Above the countertop, the reclaimed wood makes for a stunning range hood. (Photo/Olivia Wilson)
antique ADORATION
Written
and photographed by
Holly Kate O’Brien
Inviting, comfortable and beautiful.
Kristina Turner uses those words to describe the feel of her Lexington home.
“I strive for a mix of things that are beautiful, but comfortable and functional for us,” Turner said.
Her parents, Dennis O’Kain and Patsy Maxwell moved the home on a transfer truck in 1988 from Elberton to Lexington’s South Gilmer Street and transformed the structure into a stately, Southern residence.
The home still retains special touches, like the original hardwood flooring from the 1840s. Now, in Turner and her husband’s care, Turner’s growing love of decorating — and what she learned from her father’s artistic sensibilities and mother’s natural eye for design — has shaped it into a dream home that’s uniquely hers.
Turner’s approach is all about following the heart. If something catches her eye, she instinctively evaluates whether it will work in her space, she said, focusing on whether it brings her joy each time she looks at it. “I love pine and oak pieces because I think they’ve stood the test of time and will always be beautiful,” Turner said.
Her love for certain materials plays a big part in her choices when shopping. One of her favorite excursions is to Atlanta’s Scott Antique Markets. When she was a girl, her mother and grandmother always had the most recent issue of Southern Living lying around their home.
“For fun, I would pore over Southern Living and Veranda magazines, cutting out things I liked and hoped to one day decorate my future home with,” Turner said. “In my world, those were the ‘gold standard’ of home decor ideas.”
One of Turner’s favorite pieces is her pie safe, a Southern staple. Now, it sits between the kitchen and dining room, repurposed for storage but still exuding its original charm.
Pottery is displayed around the house; she’s on the lookout for pottery when she steps into any antique store. Pieces by W. J. Gordy and Rebecca Wood are her favorites.
Turner treasures her grandmother’s Wedgwood white china, displayed with pride in a cupboard. It’s a reminder of cherished meals and memories of shared moments at her grandmother’s table.
“I love old things, but I think it’s just because that’s what I grew up with, and that’s the aesthetic that my mom and my parents enjoyed, and so it came to me naturally,” she said.
When you step inside, the home has a historic but comfortable feel.
Kristina Turner has a passion for antiquing and collecting pottery by Georgia-based artists in her historic house in Lexington.
By Kendall Kelly and Lily Aldrich
Natural light pours through the tall windows and ceilings in the central hallways of the Gillen House Bed and Breakfast, illuminating Cynzia Sanchez’s oil portraits. Edward Toledano’s found-object sculptures are displayed throughout the halls and most notably the back porch.
The 100-year-old home’s new identity is a culmination of love, community and creativity.
Sanchez’s children brought the pair from Atlanta to Maxeys. Her daughter moved into the home next to the Gillen House, which was vacant at the time. Their zest for adventure led Sanchez and Toledano to purchase the property in 2018.
“Let’s reinvent ourselves,” Sanchez said. “There is not a time, specific age when you can do that that. You can do that any time.”
Both artists relied on their creativity and innovation to drive the renovation process. Preserving the integrity and character of the historic home was of utmost importance.
The Gillen family has been an integral part of life and business in Maxeys since its formation. Andrew Gillen, the father, was a prominent merchant. The Gillen Department store was directly next to the now-bed and breakfast.
“We are a historic district, so nothing on the outside has been changed at all,” said Sanchez, who has a master of fine arts from Savannah College of Art and Design and architectural degree from Georgia Tech. “We actually made changes to make it look more like the beginning.”
The house, built in 1920, started with only two bathrooms. Now, it has five bedrooms and seven bathrooms to accommodate guests. The pair are the fourth inhabitants over the past 104 years, and they opened the bed and breakfast in 2019.
A white picket fence tucks away the home from Union Point Road. A concrete pathway was added, leading guests to a wrap-
Warm Welcome
A look inside the Gillen House’s historic, artsy charm
Left: Collecting furniture from all over, Cynzia Sanchez designed the style for the Gillen House. The couple bought new elements for the rooms, but incorporated their own touches. Top: After opening to the public as an event space, the couple remodeled their barn to become a rustic bar. Parties can use the space to cater to their guests’s drinking needs. (Photos/Lily Aldrich)
around porch. Four guest bedrooms are upstairs, while Toledano and Sanchez live downstairs, adjacent to her home art studio.
Popular events like University of Georgia football games and the Masters Tournament in Augusta attract guests from around the state. But, special reasons bring guests from around the world to rural Oglethorpe County. Visitors from China, Japan, Australia, Cuba and more have spent the night at the property, whose official slogan is “Come take a ride in the slow lane.”
“Many of nights, we just sit at the dinner table with our guests and chat, so I love it,” Sanchez said. “We love to hear their stories.”
Edward Toledano and Cynzia Sanchez are co-owners of the Gillen House in Maxeys. (Photo/Lily Aldrich)
Sanchez’s art served as the centerpiece of each room when assembling the eclectic mix of furniture. Each bedroom is named after a color in Spanish: azul, rojo, amarillo and verde — a nod to her Puerto Rican culture.
The goals for their property are ever-changing. With a 5,600-square-foot home on 2.25 acres, the partners express their creativity with constant improvement projects. They renovated a barn into a classic bar and added a fire pit to the backyard. They also host weddings and other events.
“We just come out, grab a beer, we sit, we walk around,” Sanchez said. “We decompress from the day, I love it.”
Restoring an 1800s House in Crawford
Retired professor Jim Wright found passion project in historic home
Written and photographed by Jacqueline GaNun
Jim Wright has had his eye on 215 North Woodlawn Drive in Crawford for the past 10 years. Every Sunday morning, he rode by the sprawling, off-white house with his cycling group. When it went up for sale in 2020, he decided to take a tour. In the spur of the moment, he put an offer on the house.
Wright knew he had bought a lot of work along with the more than 4,000-square-foot house, which was built sometime in the 1840s or ’50s. Though it was inhabited for more than 100 years, the house was vacant from around 1975 to 2015, Wright said, undergoing little to no maintenance during that time. Just a few of the projects he would have to do: plaster cracked walls, reconstruct the rotted back porch and paint.
Luckily, he had time to spare along with previous remodeling experience. Wright, a retired geology professor at the University of Georgia, previously restored a house in the Boulevard neighborhood of Athens. In both cases, he lived in the house while doing repairs, which can pose a logistical challenge.
While replastering the walls upstairs in the Crawford house, Wright and his partner, Patrice Manning, had to move their belongings out of whatever room Wright was working on. After that room was done, they moved their items back in a frustrating game reminiscent of musical chairs. “We had no idea where anything was,” Wright said.
Most of the walls have now been plastered, fixing cracks and other signs of aging. Wright has also shored up the foundation with steel, rebuilt the back porch, restored the ceiling over the corner of the wraparound front porch and installed a new bathroom upstairs. His current projects include blocking off the crawl space and painting the exterior its original white.
As the exterior projects creep along, Wright is also working on the inside. In one of the downstairs rooms, he is removing calcimine paint, which was used as a finish on walls and ceilings in older homes but tends to flake. He is also stripping the mantel around the fireplace and removing the many nails and studs left in the room’s two closets.
Eventually, he wants to knock down a wall to install a bathroom downstairs, and the back door needs fixing. All told, Wright has spent about $100,000 on the passion project, on top of the purchase price. He said it’s given him something to do in retirement. Besides, he just likes living in older homes.
“If you want to live in an old house like this, you have to realize,” he said, “it’s not a modern house, and you can’t treat it that way.”
1. The entire north side was added to the original structure. The tower and cupola represent Queen Anne style, Wright said. One of his next projects is repainting the dormers and gables to stop their deterioration. “I’m thinking about protecting the house,” he said.
2. The main staircase, part of the 1890s addition, has ornate Ionic capitals on its columns. It was built in the Colonial Revival style.
3. The porch ceiling is a more saturated version of haint blue, which Southern tradition says will ward off evil spirits. The turn on the wraparound porch was rotted and had to be rebuilt.
4. The sunroom served as a conservatory for treating tuberculosis, Wright said. Sunlight, fresh air and rest were common prescriptions for the disease in the 19th and early 20th centuries. In the winter, sun comes into the south-facing windows. These days, Wright and Manning’s elderly cat, Rose, likes to lounge among the plants.
The History
The home is known as the Maxwell-Stokely House after two of the families that lived there. Walter Maxwell bought the house likely in the 1870s. It was originally just two rooms and an attic, and a major Victorian-style addition was built in the 1890s. Rooms were added and renovations were made based on materials and plans the owners had at the time, Wright said.
“It’s a combination of Plantation Plain, Greek Revival, Victorian, and Gothic and Colonial Revival,” Wright said. “It’s a Frankenstein house.”
PAST Giving NEW to Life the
These homeowners transformed a depot, 1800s farmhouse and 24.7acre property into a place of their dreams
Written and photographed by Ella Kroll
On a homestead that’s serene, yet full of life about half a mile off Wesley Chapel Road, Jim and Cathy Willis have reimagined what it means to build your own home.
The Willises, both retired from careers in education, have a residence that’s custom made. But unlike most custom homes, theirs had already lived full lives — the two main features of the property are an old railroad depot, which functions as the Willises’ home, and an 1800s farmhouse that provides a space for family to visit and spend quality time.
Repurposing the railroad depot
The pair stumbled upon the railroad depot while fixated on a different house they originally wanted to buy. After being told
the residents of Sharon — in nearby Taliaferro County — didn’t have enough money to support the depot, and that the Willises could purchase it as long as its historic integrity was preserved, the pair took a chance on the atypical approach to building their new home.
“I had been thinking this would kind of be a neat house, but I never dreamed we would do that,” Cathy said.
Jim grew up on a farm near Macon, and was ready to make the move from Athens to Oglethorpe County after becoming the school system superintendent, a role in which he served from 1998-2002. Cathy, on the other hand, grew up in Atlanta and was apprehensive about moving to the more rural, quiet area.
Nevertheless, the Willises purchased their 24.7-acre property in 1996, and bought the 2,500-square-foot depot a couple months afterward. The depot had to be split into three parts to be moved to the Willises’ land.
The depot had to be completely reimagined to incorporate all the usual elements of a house. Jim Willis, who said he “always liked old buildings,” planned and drew out his ideas for where to put bedrooms, bathrooms and common areas.
The building also had to be reimagined to incorporate all the usual elements of a home. Jim, who said he “always liked old buildings,” planned and drew out his ideas for where to put bedrooms, bathrooms and common areas.
“Jim had the vision … I just didn’t even know where to begin, but he would draw it up and show it to me,” Cathy said. “Finally, we got it where we both agreed it’d be good.”
The pair designed and decorated each room in the depot while keeping in mind the historic integrity. In the expansive living and dining area, the Willises preserved features such as original sliding doors that led out to the trains, shelves where paperwork was filed and graffiti on original wood planks dating to the depot’s time in Sharon. Old photographs framed on the walls serve as reminders of the building’s previous life.
The large, stacked-stone fireplace they installed as the focal point of the living room is made from Oglethorpe County granite. The depot is also complete with original heart pine floors.
Jim described their decorating style as eclectic and industrial, with many pieces of furniture being antiques sourced throughout their travels. Elements such as farmers’ seed cabinets and a vintage post office mail sorter accentuate the depot, bringing even more history into a space that has become home.
Farmhouse for family
Stepping outside the depot, a series of mid-sized bridges connect the Willises to the second house on their property: an 1800s farmhouse originally located about 12 miles away in Vesta. The farmhouse was moved onto their land in two separate pieces around the same time as they did the depot.
Jim and Cathy Willis look through old photos of the process of building and restoring their home. The Willises keep a box of photos that document each step of their journey.
The Willises have a large family, hosting an average of 30-35 people for Thanksgiving each year. These family members stay in the quaint farmhouse, which is equipped to sleep a sizable number of people, especially after adding on an upstairs to create what Cathy refers to as “basically a bunk house.”
The house, while preserving many of the elements that characterize its age, also contains glimpses of modern living. A pool table sits in the center of the main room, and a chalkboard with children’s handwriting on the wall gives young life to the historic home.“My favorite part is just having our family here,” Cathy said. “We love that.”
The exterior remains the original shade of white it has been for over 120 years, and has for the most part, retains its original structure, save for adding one-and-a-half bathrooms and an upstairs. One of the bathrooms features floors hand-painted a white and maroon triangular pattern by Cathy’s nephew, Myles.
The Willises had to scrub and pressure wash the interior walls due to extensive soot buildup from the original wood-burning stove. They also worked to install plumbing and electrical wiring into both the farmhouse and the depot, an undertaking they regard as both a challenge and a blessing.
“We had a great time,” Cathy said. “I don’t remember any time where we were real discouraged.”
The Willises’ expansive property doesn’t stop at the depot and the farmhouse. The pair added a screened-in area between the two that serves as a “center of activity” for their family, with a large, open air porch overlooking the pond and walking trails, and bridges connecting all three areas.
Art and atmosphere
Jim painted most of the art throughout the depot and the
farmhouse. He creates in his studio on the second floor of the detached garage the couple added to their property, which they matched to the outdoor appearance of the depot through building materials, style and its muted yellow color.
The studio space offers a calming environment with no shortage of natural light coming from the large windows and skylights. A view of the property’s trees brings an earthy quality to the bright, airy space.
“I was so pleased with (the studio) when it turned out,” Jim said.
Two of Jim’s favorite parts about the property are that the Milky Way can be seen at night and its quiet, for the most part.
Despite the hard work and dedication it took to transport and repurpose existing buildings and shape a blank canvas of land, Jim and Cathy never lost sight of their vision for their land.
“The thing about saving old houses, it keeps history alive a little bit,” Jim said.
Jim Willis’ art studio space offers a calming environment, complete with plenty of natural light coming from the large windows and skylights. Through the windows, a view of the property’s trees bring an earthy quality to the bright, airy space.
Top: The 1800s farmhouse features a bathroom with floors hand-painted a white and maroon triangular pattern by Cathy Willis’ nephew. Bottom: Seed cabinets in the kitchen and living area of their home are inspired by ones they saw in a small grocery store on a road trip. The Willises use them for storage and recycling.
The Gillen House Bed & Breakfast offers luxurious accommoda�ons featuring four guest rooms with en-suite bathrooms and gourmet breakfast.
Weddings and Events can be held for up to 100 guests, with indoor and outdoor sea�ng op�ons available.
The spectacular se�ng allows for an in�mate gathering to celebrate a life commitment or a special event.
Reach out to us to schedule a tour or come to “Enjoy the Slow Lane” with us for a quiet getaway or a memorable event.
www.thegillenhouse.com 706.740.7323 - info@thegillenhouse.com 435 S. Main Street, Maxeys GA 30667
Jean and Richard Westmacott discovered the early 19th-century home in 1976 and have been restoring, renovating and decorating their Stephens home ever since. (Photo/Bridget Goodman)
A Labor of Love
By Bridget Goodman and Katie Guenthner
Jean and Richard Westmacott have spent nearly five decades making their Stephens farmhouse a home.
They visited Athens on their honeymoon in 1976. The couple bought a 19th-century farmhouse — along with 100 acres — in Oglethorpe County the following year.
“All I could see was what could be done with it, what could happen,” Jean said.
They spent the next six months camping on the property while
How one couple restored a 19th century farmhouse TIMELINE
1810s until 1950s:
According to their research, the land was settled by Henry Young around 1810. Not long after, the front portion of the house was built. His son likely built the back wing. The home stayed in the Young family until the mid 20th century, when Naomi Young, often called Aunt Sugar,
was one of the last family members to live on the property. The Young family had a hardware store in Stephens and a mill on the property and raised goats, cows and crops.“That kind of diversity really made it possible for them to hang on to the place during the Depression,” Jean said.
working on the farmhouse.
“For my birthday, (Richard) went out and bought two books: one was ‘The Time-Life Book of Basic House Wiring’ — which he gave to me — and he kept ‘The Time-Life Book of Plumbing,’” Jean said. “I should have known something was up when we were still living in London and his Christmas present to me was ‘The Complete Book of Self Sufficiency.’”
Richard, a retired landscape architecture professor at the University of Georgia, and Jean, a sculptor and former gallery director and professor at Brenau University, have devoted four decades to restoring the once-dilapidated property.
1945:
“Aunt Sugar” died, the house was used as a hunting cabin, nicknamed “The Po’ Boys Hunt Club,” until the Westmacotts bought the property in the 1970s.
“It was full of sacks of soybeans, bales of hay, mattresses and apples on strings — a really peculiar mix,” Jean said.
1976 and 1977: Jean and Richard give a $500 down payment for the house to Billy Slaughter, the former owner, while they waited on Richard’s teaching contract to come through.
“I kept saying to my attorney in London, 'We bought this, we put down a deposit,’” Richard
What it takes to find (and restore) your dream home
Know your must-haves
Jean and Richard Westmacott knew they wanted an old house with two stories and water somewhere on the property. After seeing a house that didn’t have all their must-haves, the man who had shown them the house — who was part of the “Po’ Boys Hunt Club” and knew Billy Slaughter wanted to sell — directed them to the property.
Don’t let a challenge — or naysayers — scare you off
When the Westmacotts purchased the property, the home had no electricity or running water. The upstairs windows were broken and water pooled on the floorboards, making them unsafe.
“People were fascinated that we even wanted this place,” Jean said. “Some people would come by with a box of matches and say, ‘Here, you need this. Just burn it down.’”
Be persistent
(Photo/Katie Guenthner)
Near the end of their visit to Athens, Jean decided to try and find the house. After missing the house, she found the drive to the house blocked by a chain with a no trespassing sign.
“I thought, ‘I’m going to hop over and have a look at it, right?’” said Jean. “And just down there, I see a guy with a sort of flat hat and a beard and a dog and a rifle under his arm. I thought, ‘I’m in real trouble now’ — and he turned out to be the sweetest guy. He said, ‘Oh, you want me to show you around? I live in the house on the corner.’”
Rely on community
Restoring an old house is a team effort. Jean and Richard have relied not just on each other, but on the help and knowledge of friends. Even before they moved in, one of Richard’s students came to help figure out which floorboards were safe to walk on.
said. “She said, ‘Oh, you’ll never see that again.’ Then, I called Billy Slaughter. He said, ‘Don’t worry about it, I’ve got your $500 safe and sound, and we’ll all get together and sit on the porch and talk about it.’”
Jean and Richard get the deed for the house. They spent two weeks living in the Athens Motel, then moved into a shed on the
property — formerly the home's outdoor kitchen — where they lived until November of that year.
The couple finally moves in. Four rooms are sheetrocked and the couple invites family to stay for Thanksgiving. “We thought we thought we would be ready — not quite,” Jean said. That year, Thanksgiving dinner was served on a pile of Sheetrock.
All loans and lines of credit are subject to approval. Synovus Bank, Member FDIC.
One of the doors to the central hall opens into the dining room.
Art is All Around
Framed fabric
A christening gown made by Naomi Young — which Jean stumbled across in an Athens antique store — hangs in a frame by the main staircase. Richard made the frame and Jean’s mother made the backing. “It was a really nice group effort,” Jean said. A lace doily crocheted by Jean’s grandmother and baby garments knitted by Jean’s mother are on display alongside it.
Lantern clock
A 17th century lantern clock — a predecessor of the grandfather clock — adorns the staircase. Each morning, Richard winds the clock. Clocks are one of the many English antiques found throughout the house passed down by Richard’s family.
the university,” Richard said. “And so I decided I was going to make little cutout figures of all the old people in the cartoons.”
Bone & equipment art
The couple built a barn out of cedar trees from the property. Once completed, friends who helped build it, kept horses there. On the barn walls, an old mattress spring displays bones and another wall bares various farming equipment — all found on the prop erty. “We can see all our accumulated bits and pieces,” Jean said.
Summer of 1983:
The Westmacotts move a historic home from Lexington — built in 1810 — onto their property.
“We wanted a neighbor,” Richard said.
Porch seating
One of the women who helped Richard with his research on African American gardens in the South built the chair that now sits on the Westmacotts’ porch. The design is both reminiscent of African influences and a contem porary touch.
Tudor headboard
One of the many English antiques is an ornate headboard in the guest bedroom. According to Richard’s mother, the piece dates to the Tudor era. “She would tell the most outrageous stories,” Richard said.
Figurative art
The sculpture “Self as Beuys” by William King, a friend of Jean’s from graduate school, sits in the living room. They have art made by Jean (including this piece to the right) and by friends, family and artists she met as gallery director throughout their home. “I kind of look at what we have as really connections with our life and friends we’ve known, artists we’ve known, history of the place,” Jean said.
2004:
The couple adds a wing to the house for Jean’s mother to live in. She lived there for six years.
“She had horror of the idea of going to a nursing home, and she lived 800 miles from us in New Jersey,” Jean said. “I thought, ‘There’s no way I can do anything other than have her live with us.”
GIVING THE ECHO BACK ITS VOICE
When The Oglethorpe Echo, a 150-year-old newspaper, faced closure, students at UGA’s Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication came to the rescue.
Through an innovative partnership with publisher Dink Nesmith, a UGA alumnus, our students gain invaluable hands-on experience as reporters, while the residents of Oglethorpe County retain a vital voice in their community.
This unique effort has earned 18 GA Press Awards and garnered national acclaim through The Chronicle of Higher Education.
The University of Georgia salutes the Grady College, Dink Nesmith and The Oglethorpe Echo for this outstanding display of instruction and outreach!
Generational Pull
A century-old house in Crawford brings a family home
By Mary Catherine Dodys
My mother runs her fingertips along the wood cover of an organ, recalling fond childhood memories of its reverberating sounds. She stands for a moment with a softened look on her face, remembering the music that once filled the now-quiet room.
The organ, which dates back to 1930 and originally belonged to Crawford Baptist Church, is the only remaining belonging from my great grandmother in the home where she once lived.
“It never moved,” Sandra Sheridan, co-owner of 229 North Woodlawn Drive, tells me and my mother. I didn't expect to visit this home. Only a week earlier, I realized I had a connection to the house I saw on the screen in my home and garden class. The house, listed on the market, seemed oddly familiar. As our guest speaker, Go Fetch Realty’s Julie Allen, showed photos and talked about its backstory, I had a gut feeling and texted my grandmother, Barbara Cullison. I asked her to confirm her mother’s old address. She replied within seconds, typing, “229 North Woodlawn Drive.”
That was the house on the screen. I felt overwhelmed with both catharsis and nostalgia for a place I had never visited, but somehow still knew by heart. The wood paneling, the chandeliers, the rocking chairs — those were my family’s signature touches.
Our plan to visit the home came together quickly, and within four days, we were on our way. On the drive from Athens to Crawford, she gave me a family history lesson.
“Everybody's intertwined,” my grandmother explained, in her matter of fact Northern tone.
I continue to press her, hungry for answers about our past. She explained how her older relatives built the house and some of the other ones in the neighborhood, with many of them living in the area for
multiple generations.
Though she never lived in the house or Crawford, she eventually lived in Athens with her husband David, who also had deep roots tying his family to the university and nearby areas, and there, she would have my mother, Cathy Dodys.
As I listened to her stories, I began to think how strange this all feels. Each day, I walk the halls of buildings filled with the echoes of my relatives. It’s already an extremely emotional experience, attending a school where five generations of my family have attended and taught.
In my final semester of journalism courses at the University of Georgia, I enrolled in a home and garden writing class and the senior capstone course that produces The Oglethorpe Echo. I continuously passed through Crawford on my way to interviews, unknowingly surrounded by my family’s past.
As we approach her mother’s old neighborhood, my grandmother grows quiet, leaving me with one last thought. “When you get old, you get this feeling in your body like, ‘I want to go home,’” my grandmother says.
She drives down the shady, canopy road and parks in front of a house that I only know about because of family stories and online real estate listings. The Victorian house is shaded by swooping tree branches and lush holly bushes that cast shadows on the lavender wood, which was once a multitude of jewel tones.
The residence was built at the turn of the 20th century by Jack Roland and designed by the famed architect George F. Barber. The home is essentially a time capsule with its painted lady exterior, steep roof, covered porch and multiple fireplaces.
My grandmother’s aunt, Ruby Roland, moved in as a child and was our family’s first generation to live there. She later married George Rice and moved to a different house on the same road, giving the home to my great grandmother, Lois Klein.
Ruby died in 1976. As a child, I found postcards with her name signed at the bottom, along with her photographs and letters. Now,
Barbara Cullison returns to the home that was owned by her mother, Lois Klein. The house was in Cullison’s family for four generations, after being built around 1900, and was purchased by current owners in the mid1990s. (Photo/Mary Catherine Dodys)
my grandmother and mom keep her memory alive, telling me stories about visits to Crawford, Ruby’s travels with her husband and her homemade biscuit baking lessons.
My mother spent many hours there as a student at the University of Georgia in the early 1990s, often visiting my great-grandmother. The current owners, Sandra and her husband Thomas, ask my mother about her connection to the home. My mother begins to faintly recall her childhood, split between Athens and Crawford.
“I remember it from some of my earliest memories,” my mother says, looking at my grandmother for confirmation. In our family, we often like to tell stories together.
They explain together how, even though they spent a majority of the time visiting my grandfather’s parents who lived in the Beechwood neighborhood in Athens, they would still often visit Ruby and George until their deaths in the 1970s, and then Lois after she moved in. The home’s original pine hardwood, which lines the walls, ceilings and floors, adds depth and timeless character that contrast with the modern updates. Most of the light fixtures and all of the fireplaces remain true to their original form.
The wood paneling resembles the walls of my grandmother’s house in Thomasville. I ask her if this house inspired her love for the
design choice, and she explained that it was the reason behind the use of wood paneling in the family room and then a dark, rustic sitting area once deemed the “gun room.”
As we continue through the house, we make our way to the kitchen, which was in poor shape when my great-grandmother moved out. She recalls the visible age of the old kitchen and its dreary wood, which has since been replaced. It’s now white, sleek and filled with professional-grade appliances.
My mother immediately looks to my grandmother, whose mouth falls open as she takes in the new surroundings. “It was all so dark,” she remarks. “What a difference.”
As the tour comes to an end, my grandmother returns to the porch and attempts to process the changes to her mother’s house and the events that brought her here.
“It was meant to be, it really was,” my grandmother says.
I’m not exactly a believer in destiny, but there’s no denying a greater force drew me to this moment. I started this semester as a mere bystander in Oglethorpe County, but now, I realize I’m an extension of its history.
My grandmother continues, saying, “It's funny how the younger generation — they don't want to hear about family history — they don't want to know about it, right?”
“It’s kind of ironic,” says Julie Allen, who walks us out. “Now you’re standing in it.”
The second she says it, I feel a pang of grief, realizing I might not ever step into this home again, as it remains in an uncertain state between families, listed on the market. It’s bittersweet, feeling sad to leave it, but grateful to have seen it. Then I realize how my grandmother must feel, knowing this could be the last time she visits a place she once called home.
My grandmother looks around the covered porch, which has remained the same over the years — white, furnished with rocking chairs, tranquil. She stares at the front door and the wood paneling, which look new despite their age. With two generations by her side and after nearly three decades of absence, my grandmother returns to a place she once called home.
Cathy Dodys pauses at the organ in her family’s former home. (Photo/Mary Catherine Dodys)
Lights and Ribbons
Take a look at Bill and Lucille Endriss’ holiday decor
By Kayda Hammock
Bill and Lucille Endriss bring holiday happiness to Lexington’s historic district during the season.
Their 124-year-old Church Street home stands out, adorned with festive lights, cheerful ribbons and a glowing manger scene — touches that add a special charm to the street’s holiday spirit.
“They slow down right in front of the house to look,” Lucille said. “People at church always tell us, ‘We saw your Christmas lights.’ ”
The couple describes their abundance of outdoor lights as a “Griswold” style, referencing the movie “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation.”
“We’ve been married 52 years, and he’s been decorating for 52 years,” Lucille said. “It just gets bigger and bigger.”
The timing of the holidays also coincides with their December birthdays. Bill admitted that creating the light display makes him happy, and he delights in seeing how people respond to the scene.
“I enjoy making people happy, and I think we do make people laugh, and people stop and say hello,” Bill said.
Vintage Victorian
The late 19th century cottage, located on 2 acres, served as a senior living facility before the Endrisses bought it in 2014. The holiday decor makes use of the Queen Anne architecture, as the Victorian-style turned porch posts serve as a perfect spot for string lights.
Along with the lights, the couple replaces ferns with holly greenery that brings the Christmas spirit with a pop of red.
“That would be the old-fashioned touch,” Bill said.
Lucille delights in the crisp scent of fresh holly, appreciating its seasonal fragrance and the sense of nostalgia.
“When you read old stuff from 150 years
Bill and Lucille Endriss’ Church Street home is well lit during the holidays, thanks to the amount of lights the Bill hangs every year. “We’ve been married 52 years, and he’s been decorating for 52 years,” Lucille said. “It just gets bigger and bigger.” (Photo/Ty Johnston)
ago, they mainly decorated with greens,” Lucille said.
Teamwork and tradition
The Lexington couple splits their decorating jobs: Bill decorates outside and Lucille inside.
The couple has added decorations from their parents over the years. Lucille’s parents gifted Bill with C9 lights that have big bulbs after noticing that Bill liked to decorate, she said. Every strand of lights used to decorate the home is checked to ensure they work before putting them up.
Each post is wrapped in strands of lights, creating a festive and inviting atmosphere that adds a glow to the exterior and enhances the year-round charm from elements such as ornamental shingles and gables.
Lucille also contributes to the outdoor decor with reusable ribbons on the porch posts.
“I have big ribbons that I've made into bows — wide ribbon — and I put a fancy bow on each one,” said Lucille.
Preserving the past
Lucille decorates her home with the history in mind. Five of the six original mantels were taken out of the home.
“All of the mantels had been taken out of this house,” Lucille said. “But then we had to go to restoration places and salvage yards, and so on, to find mantles to replace them.”
The replacement mantels are from different antique stores and salvage yards. Her favorite is favorite and the dearest to her is
the marble one located in her library.
Special items on the mantel include the vintage manger scene her husband gifted her in 1972. The couple attends Lexington Baptist Church, and Lucille said she cherishes the scene because it serves as a heartfelt reminder of the humble birthplace of Jesus.
“I love Christmas,” Bill said. “Christmas is a time of rejoicing.”
Bill and Lucille Endriss decorate their Lexington home, inside and out during the holidays, including this mantel in the library room. Every mantel except one is from the historical society. (Photo/Kayda Hammock)
Lexington Revival
How a couple preserves a historic home with over a century of stories within its walls
By Emily Slepsky
When Rosa and Roger NeeSmith moved to Lexington in 1981 after living in Macon for years, it was a homecoming for Rosa.
Though it took 13 years and two children before Roger agreed, the move marked the beginning of their journey to restore and call home a piece of local history stretching over more than 18 acres.
“I would pray and pray and said, ‘Lord, please let me move back to Lexington,’” said Rosa, who grew up in the town.
Changes over the years
The home, built over a century ago by Walter Faust, showcases Colonial Revival elements in its architectural design. The Faust family was one of the oldest in Oglethorpe County, according to Florrie Carter Smith’s book, “The History of Oglethorpe County, Georgia.” Faust,
also known as “Dr. W. Z. Faust,” was both a prominent farmer and the family’s practicing physician. Alongside his home, Faust owned about 2,500 acres of land, which once featured a store and several barns, one of which still stands behind the NeeSmiths’ home today, Roger said.
The couple’s commitment to honoring the home’s historical roots shaped their renovation choices. They retained most of its original architecture, aside from replacing the plaster walls with Sheetrock. Guests are greeted by French doors that lead to the front living room. The NeeSmiths chose to restore after being removed by Faust’s second wife, who converted the space into one large entertainment room.
“We went to see (Faust’s second wife) in the nursing home, and when I told her that we were living in her house, she got really excited, and she said, ‘Whatever you do, don’t put that wall back,’” Rosa said.
A wooden desk sits in the NeeSmiths’ daughter’s room upstairs on Monday, Oct. 21 in Lexington, Georgia. The desk is the only piece of furniture original to the home. The room originally had one small closet, shared with the other adjacent room. “So when we Sheetrocked this room and did the ceiling, we put some built-in closets,” Roger NeeSmith said. (Photo/Emily Slepsky)
Rosa and Roger NeeSmith’s Lexington home had a wraparound porch that was altered to accommodate a dining nook in the kitchen, a laundry room and a carport. The house was built by Walter Faust more than a century ago. (Photo/Emily Slepsky)
But the NeeSmiths felt strongly about maintaining the original design.
“We knew we just didn't want this great big living room,” Rosa said. This is plenty big.”
Love for all things antique
Heirlooms and antiques fill the NeeSmiths’ home. The living room holds a pedal organ that Rosa bought at an antique auction, a dream she had since childhood. Other treasures include a display cabinet filled with artifacts discovered beneath the house and around the yard when the NeeSmiths moved in. Paper dolls, a puzzle, an old roller skate and a piece of blue floral wallpaper offer a glimpse into the original decor.
To the left of the entrance lies the study, painted a deep brown as a nod to Roger’s favorite color, while the rest of the home showcases shades of green, reflecting Rosa’s personal favorite.
“I just can’t help it, I love green,” Rosa said.
The study is filled with personal mementos that capture the couple’s story, from a safe once belonging to Rosa’s father’s finance office to a framed certificate commemorating her “Teacher of the Year” award, earned over her 33-year career at the school across the street. As a second-grade teacher, Rosa would invite her entire class for an overnight gathering, turning the evening before the last day into a memorable sleepover.
Historic home, modern touches
While the home maintains most of its original architecture, it now features modern comforts, including insulation, central heating, air and other updates to make it livable.
The NeeSmiths closed off the original breezeway, once designed to let cool air flow through the house and provide a path for dogs in the dogtrot architectural style, to improve heating efficiency, Rosa said.
The kitchen, set at the back of the home, has undergone a significant transformation. Once a dark space with high ceilings
and a lone white metal cabinet, it’s now a cozy spot where the NeeSmiths spend most of their time.
“We live in the kitchen,” Roger said.
Roger converted part of the former wraparound porch into a dining nook, adding new windows that flood the space with natural light. Despite modern additions like updated cabinets and paneling, the kitchen still has traces of its past. An insert marks where the original 7-foot fireplace once stood, a hearth so massive that you could lie down inside it for warmth, Roger said.
“I just loved (the fireplace) because it’s like something you see in a magazine,” Rosa said.
The original butler’s pantry now functions as a half-bath and laundry room, occupying part of the area where the wraparound porch once curved.
Upstairs, a guest room continues the green color scheme and features hardwood flooring. It originally had only a small closet, but to address the lack of an upstairs bathroom, Roger created a pass-through to the adjacent guest room, providing direct bathroom access without using the hallway. The pass-through doubles as an extra closet with built-in shelving.
Honoring the past
Since moving in around four decades ago, the NeeSmiths have been busy crafting their own stories, each one a tribute to the heritage of their ancestors. During the pandemic, Rosa completed her mother’s autobiography, “Down the Trail of the Years,” while Roger authored a genealogy cookbook that connects family recipes with ancestral roots dating back to the 1600s.
“When my mother finished (the autobiography), she said, ‘OK, now I want you to take up where I left off and write it,’” Rosa said. “Well, life got in the way, and when COVID hit, I thought, what if I die and go to heaven, and my mom is going to be sitting there tapping her foot because I hadn’t written this book?”
With Roger’s help, she got to work. “And that was really it,” Rosa said.
Rosa NeeSmith looks at a vintage adding machine that sits in the upstairs area between the four bedrooms. She used the machine when she was a teenager (Photo/Emily Slepsky)
