H I S T O R I C   D R I V I N G   T O U R

Macon County is home to a variety of historic home, churches, and other structures of historic significance.  The Driving Tour is an excellent way to see the many of these in a short amount of time.  You may print this page as your guide along the tour or stop by the Chamber office for a printed version of the tour.

The Historic Driving Tour is divided into three segments.  The first portion of the tour covers the city of Oglethorpe. The second Montezuma and the third portion of the tour is in Marshallville.   Enjoy your tour!

Oglethorpe
1	Oglethorpe Cemetery Set amid magnolias and moss draped cedar trees, this cemetery has a definite "Old South" flavor.  The murderer of Judge Fish, Tom Lloyd, is buried here.   Though his stone is not labeled, it is easy to find because of its North-South orientation (all the other graves are laid out East-West).  He stated that since he had always lived crossways with the world he might as well be buried that way.  Look for it in the central portion of the cemetery beneath a cedar tree and next to a magnolia.
2	Stockton House A fine example of a coastal style cottage built during the flush antebellum years.  The house has a raised brick basement and a frame upper story.   During the summer months, the family resided in the upper story to escape the harmful "vapors" though to cause fever.  The double stairway leading to the second level is particularly attractive.  Much of the hardware and lumber used to build this house came from England.
3	Mt. Zion - St. Luke Lutheran Church Built about 1910, this handsome structure has two main entrances, twin steeples, and large stained glass windows.
4	Oglethorpe United Methodist Church Organized in the 1850's, this church is rich in history.  The present church building was erected in 1892.  The structure is clapboard with a recessed front door, and fish scale shingles for decoration around the tower and across the front.   The square tower is capped with a pyramid roof supported by small brackets.   Pretty stained glass windows grace the front and sides.  The bell, which is from the original church built in the 1850's, was called in by the Confederate government to be melted down for armament but was returned, unharmed, when the conflict ended.
5	Keen House This home lends a plantation flavor to Oglethorpe.  The Greek Revival house was constructed in 1853 and is notable for its gigantic boxed columns and large windows.
6	Slaton House All along Randolph Street are exhibited a nice collection of late 19th and early 20th century houses.  Some display balustraded porches, gingerbread, and original tin roofs.  The Slaton House is an excellent example of one of these delightful houses.
7	Jehovah Baptist Church This large white structure was originally the old Eagle & Phoenix Hotel.  As a hotel, this building had four stories, however, the upper three stories were removed leaving an altered, but still impressive, one-story building.
8	Greek Revival Cottage Architecturally one of the finest buildings in Macon County, this building sports a hip roof, dentil work, and four boxed columns.
9	Jon Coogle Attorney Office One of the earliest buildings found in Oglethorpe, this antebellum structure served as the county's courthouse for a short period of time.  It was also the scene of a sensational murder in 1871.  Judge Fish, a prominent local attorney, was murdered by an assailant hiding in one of the building's recessed doors.  The culprit and his accomplice were caught, tried, and hanged in tow.  It is a long, two-story structure with a tin hip roof, large windows, and engaged pilasters across the front.   The building was built of brick and subsequently covered with plaster.
10	Macon County Courthouse Seat of the county's government, the courthouse was constructed in 1894.   Its handsome cupola with its clock make it a prominent landmark.

There are many lovely structures along Baker and Sumter Streets in Oglethorpe and we encourage visitors to take a moment to explore.   As you drive, you will become aware of a very special "feeling" in Oglethorpe, one that reflects a community of commitment and pride.

Montezuma
11	House on Literary Hill Built in 1885 by Capt. J.E. DeVaughn for his new bride "Mollie" Porter, this is a fine two-story neoclassical style home.  The porch has four Corinthian columns and two Corinthian monumental pilasters, all of which are fluted.   Modillions and a large fanlight window can be found in the pedimented top of the porch.  There is a nice balustraded balcony on the second floor entrance.
12	Carl Savage Home A fine turn of the century residence.  Note the wraparound veranda with rounded corner porches.  The porch roof is supported by slender Corinthian columns with dentil work along the eaves.  The second story eave sports brackets.   The house still retains its original slate roof.  Note the dormer and chimneys with their paneled shafts and corbeled caps.
	Downtown South Dooly and Cherry Streets exhibit a fine collection of late 19th century and early 20th century commercial architecture.  Montezuma Depot - Macon County Historical Museum This building reflects the importance of the railroad in marketing agricultural goods.  Note the paired brackets along the eaves.  The museum houses a model railroad display, artifacts, and historical items from Macon County. Macon County Chamber of Commerce / Welcome Center Built in 1906 with money from the Andrew Carnegie Foundation, this building is one of Macon County's finest.  Take a moment to visit the Chamber of Commerce.  It is even more impressive on the interior with its massive wooden doors and columns.
13	Blue House This quaint Victorian structure has a Tudor feel about it with is overhang and multi-paned windows in the dormer.  The back porch is screened with latticework.
14	Montezuma United Methodist Church Built in 1916, this church is an outstanding landmark with its large Doric columns and pediment.  In the recessed doorway is a pressed tin ceiling.
15	First Baptist Church Constructed in 1899, this red brick building sits prominently on North Dooly Street.  Note the interesting belfry and the dentil work along the eaves.   The church's doors are accented by fan lights.
16	McKenzie Home This elaborate turn-of-the-century Classical Revival structure is one of the finer homes in town.  Large Corinthian columns with elaborately decorated entablature grace the front of the house.  Note the decorated pediments over the first floor windows and the balustraded balcony over the second floor entrance.
17	Windham Home An early 1900's neo-classical home that reflects the prosperity of those years.  A brick structure with accurate use of classical entablature of Doric columns.  Note the side carports.
18	South Mirror Image House The reverse of the house to the north.  Note the paired brackets along the eave, stained glass and the original tin roof, pressed to resemble shingles.
19	North Mirror Image House This home is the reverse of the house to the south.    Note the spindles, gingerbread trim, and other decorations on the porch and screen door.
20	Traveler's Rest Bed and Breakfast A beautiful 1890's home with wraparound porch.  Note the letter "M" on the front gable.
21	Watson-Mathews Funeral Home An unusual building with large conical porch roof and oval entrance hall.   The structure sports fine dentil work and fluted columns.

There are many other lovely homes for the visitor to see all along Engram Street and the streets between North Dooly Street and Engram Street.  We encourage you to take the opportunity to see some of these beautiful structures.

Marshallville
22	Frederick-Minnich House A charming one-story Greek Revival cottage constructed during the Civil War.  This home is one of a number that were built close to town because of the fear of a slave uprising.
23	Slappey-Liipfert House Built by the Slappey family of Marshallville, this two-story Greek Revival mansion recalls most peoples' impressions of plantation houses.  Built by slaves, note the fluted Doric columns.
24	Goodwin-Bickley Home A good example of early 20th century architecture, the house originally had a tile roof such as you see on the porches.  Built about 1924, this house was one of the last large homes constructed in Marshallville.
25	John Donald Wade Home In 1845, Daniel Frederick built this home as the center of his plantation.   In 1928, Dr. Wade (Frederick's nephew) moved the Greek Revival home to its present location with teams of mules.  It is said that the noted poet Robert Frost spent the night here as the guest of Dr. Wade.
26	Ware-Ramsey House This is a "New South" structure built in 1884 by Marshallville's first banker.  Note the fine decorative wooden trim along the porch and the unusual roof.
27	Marhallville United Methodist Church This church adds a gothic air to West Main Street.  It was built in 1910, replacing wooden structures that predated the Civil War.  Note the square towers and stained glass windows.  A cemetery behind the church contains a number of very old graves.
28	Sperry-Hughes Home This home, built in 1870, has a unique design, not fitting into any one "style".  The structure was built by Marcus Sperry.  Legend tells that Sperry's wife, an artist, designed the house, hence its unorthodox style.
29	Rumph-Meyers Home This home reflects the riches to be had in the fruit industry.  Built in 1904 by Samuel Henry Rumph, the home features intricately cut glass windows and door moldings.  The 17 rooms display plaster medallions, stained glass, endless mirrors, and 10 classical fireplace mantels.  The light fixtures are equipped with gas jets as well as electricity.  The gas was produced in a brick carbide building behind the carriage house.  A stone and wrought iron fence front the property.
	Downtown Downtown exhibits many of the buildings constructed during the 1870-1914 period.  Of particular note are Garrett's Pharmacy (1906) which was originally a bank, and the Elberta Hotel (1912) which housed fruit buyers from the North.  The commercial district is bisected by the railroad tracks. Central of Georgia Depot This depot, constructed in 1912 after a wooden one burned, exhibits earlier Victorian characteristics such as brackets and a bay.
30	Marshallville Baptist Church An impressive structure along East Main Street, this church was built in 1911.  This stone and brick Gothic building is impressive with its two towers, central raised roof, and lovely stained glass.
31	Lee-Nixon House A number of modest Victorian homes line this section of East Main Street.   This dwelling, built in 1890, had its second story added in 1916.  It is a good example of a more modest neo-classical style home.