John C. Wood Homeplace, U.S. 441, Homer

Source document Quoted word for word from HABS GA,6-HOM.V,1-. Not written, edited or summarised by this site.

The John C. Wood Homeplace is historically significant in the areas of architecture and commerce. Architecturally, it represents a late nineteenth century Georgian house type. Together with the store, it represents a house/store complex, a typical commercial endeavor of the time. JOHN C. WOOD HOMEPLACE HABS No. GA-2246 (Page 2) PART I. HISTORICAL INFORMATION A. Physical History 1. Dates of erection: Georgian cottage constructed c. Store Building constructed c dates based upon interviews with John c Wood descendants 2. Architect/Builder: Not known 3. Original and subsequent ownerts: The original owner is not known. It has been owned by the wood family and descendants since Deed research did not reveal who owned the property prior to On December 2, Shore sold John C.

Wood 204 2/3 acres for [Deed book M, pp. On May 11, the Wood estate sold Coy Short parcels 4, 7, and 8 of the subdivided estate for [Deed book CC, p. Plat Book 1, page 21 notes that these three parcels totaled acres and that the house was located in parcel 4 and the store was located in parcel 8. On January 16, Coy Short sold Ladie Wood Short [John C. Wood's daughter] acres in parcels 4, 7 and 8 for and other considerations. [Deed book UU, p. On August 29, Ladie Wood Short sold Marlin Griffin, irma Payne and LaJane S. Ervine acres for and other considerations. [Deed book 50, p. 4. Original plans and construction: The house has a main square mass with four rooms, two on either side of a central hall. The store has a rectangular mass with one room.

The well house in front of the residence is a shed consisting of four vertical logs with a wood frame gable roof. Pressed tin covers this roof. 5. Alterations and additions: Alterations to the house include stairs in the central hall and windows in the gable. An addition to the rear was constructed to serve as a kitchen. The dates of the addition and alterations are not known. However,.a visual inspection suggests that they date from the early twentieth century. The rear porch on the north side of the kitchen ell is gone. The store originally had a full facade front porch. B. Historical Context JOHN C. WOOD HOMEPLACE HABS No.

GA-2246 (Page 3) The house located on the property was not built by- John Wood, but may have been known locally as the Old Knotts Place, Deed research verified that by John C. Wood resided on the property and operated a general store and a gin on the property* The property currently includes the residence,, the store and a well house. Outbuildings which are no longer extant include two barns, a smoke house, the gin and a. second well- . According to Wood's granddaughter, the store ceased operation in the The estate of John C- Wood, which totaled 204 2/3 acres of land, ""was subdivided after his widow's death in Since this subdivision, this area of Banks County, north of Homer, has begun to develop residentially and commercially, though it is still predominantly rural in character. PART II.

ARCHITECTURAL INFORMATION A. General Statement The John C. Wood house is a one and one-half story residence forty feet forty-four inches wide and thirty-three feet four inches long. The rear kitchen ell measures twenty-six feet eight inches long and eighteen feet two inches wide. The store is a one story building eighteen feet one inch wide and twenty-eight feet three inches long. 1. Architectural character: The house is a representative example of a Georgian cottage with a rear ell house type. The store is representative of early twentieth century rural general stores. 2. Condition of fabric: The house is in a state of deterioration, though the floor plan remains intact. The store also is deteriorating. B. Description of Exterior 1.

Overall dimensions: Beginning with the front and facade and moving to the south, the dimensions of the house are forty feet, four inches; sixty feet; eighteen feet, two inches; twenty-six feet, eight inches; twenty-two feet, two inches; thirty-three feet, four inches. Beginning with the front facade and moving to the south,,the dimensions of the store are eighteen feet, one inch, twenty-eight feet, three inches; eighteen feet, one inch; twenty-eight feet, three inches. 2. Foundations:. The house is supported by field stone piers which generally measure one foot. JOHN C. WOOD HOMEPLACE HABS No. GA.^2246 (Page 4} eight inches in height and one foot, three inches by nine inches under the front of the house. These front piers consist of between six and eight stones bonded with cement.

The rear of the house sits on the ground. The front of the store sits on the ground. The rear of the store is supported by field stone piers which generally measure five feet, three inches in height and two feet, three inches by one foot, four inches Recent cement block piers support the north side of the store. 3. Walls: The house is clad in wood clapboard siding and displays wood cornerboards. The store is clad in wood clapboard siding. A portion of its rear is covered in pressed tin. 4. Framing: Wood framing. 5. Porches: The house has a full facade front porch with a shed roof and plain square wooden supports. It measures forty feet four inches wide and eight feet five inches deep. The store has a front porch with a shed roof and plain wooden porch supports.

It measures eight feet eight inches wide and three feet nine inches deep. 6. Chimneys: The house has one stone interior and one stone end chimney. The store has an interior brick stove flue. 7. Openings: a. Doorways and doors: The house has central front door, a rear door off of the northwest room, and two doors on either side of the kitchen. The store has a central, double door entrance and a single door on north side. b. Windows: The house displays six over six double hung wooden sash windows: one on either side of the main entrance, two on the south side of the main square mass, an additional window on south side of kitchen, two on the west side of the kitchen, one on the west side of main mass, and three on the northside of the main mass (one on either side of the exterior chimney).

It also has three dormer windows (four over four double hung wooden sash windows), two in the front and one on the side. The store has two narrow six over six windows which flank the JOHN C. WOOD HOMEPLACE ^ HABS No. GA-2246 (Page 5) main entrance and one window on the rear- 8. Roof: a. Shape, covering:: The house has a main hip roof with front and rear gables covered in pressed tin. The store has a front gabled roof which is covered in pressed tin. b. Cornice: The open gable projections on the house display unadorned wooden bargeboards. The -blouse also' displays a wooden frieze board. c. Dormers: The house has two front gabled dormers and one side gabled dormer. Description of Interior [Access to the interior for a complete investigation was not available.] 1. Floor plans: a.

First floor: The house has a main square mass with four rooms, two on either side of a central hall; a fifth room is located in a rear extension on the southwest side of the house. The store has one room. b. The house has an unfinished one-half story. 2. Stairways: A stairway to the unfinished second story is located in the central hallway. 3. Flooring: Not known 4. Wall and ceiling finish: Not known 5. Openings: a. Doorways and doors: Not known b. Windows: Not known 6. Decorative features and trim: Not known 7. Hardware: Not known 8. Mechanical equipment: a. Heating, air conditioning, ventilation: Not known b. Lighting: Not known JOHN C* WOOD HOMEPLACE HABS No. GA-2246 (Page 6) c. Plumbing: Not known D. Site 1.

General setting and orientation: The house and store currently are vacant and are located opposite one another on a U.S. Route. The house is surrounded by a grass clearing, pecan trees and a well shed* The house is sited on a slight rise and faces the store and U.S. The store is located opposite, on the edge of the highway and faces the house. The topography behind the store drops approximately four to five feet and rises again to a wooded ridge. The surrounding area is largely rural residential. 2. Historical landscape design: None apparent. 3. Outbuildings: A well shed is located immediately in front of the house.

Source document Quoted word for word from HABS GA,6-HOM.V,1-. Not written, edited or summarised by this site.

SOURCES OF INFORMATION A. Interviews Telephone interview, Maureen Carroll with Virginia Martin (John C. Wood's granddaughter), June 12, Interview, Gail A. D'Avino with Irraa Payne (John C. Wood's granddaughter), November 19, . D. Bibliography 1. Primary and unpublished sources Banks County Tax and Deed Records 2. Secondary and published sources E. Likely Sources Not Yet Investigated Banks County Historical Society, Mr. Phil Brooks, president, PART IV. PROJECT INFORMATION Historic American Buildings Surveys documentation completed as a mitigation stipulation in the Memorandum of Agreement for Georgia Department of Transportation's Project Banks County (the proposed Homer Bypass).

Prepared by: Gail Anne D'Avino Title: Transportation Planner I Affiliation: Georgia Department of Transportation JOHN C- WOOD HOMEFLACE HABS No. GA-2246 (Page 7) Office of Environment and Location Aviation Circle Atlanta, Georgia Datei January