620 North Wilkinson Street (House), Milledgeville

Source document Quoted word for word from HABS GA,5-MILG,11. Not written, edited or summarised by this site.

The house at 620 North Wilkinson Street is a representative example of early-to-mid-twentieth century worker's housing in an African-American Milledgeville neighborhood. The vicinity developed in response to both the coming of the railroad in the late-1800s and to turn-of-the-century business and industrial growth nearby. Description: The house at 620 North Wilkinson Street is a one-story, front-gable dwelling with a massed floor plan and a partial-facade, gabled front porch centrally positioned on the front facade. The original portion of the structure (not including the front porch) measures 25'-0"in depth by 30*-0"in width and consists of four rooms. Two shed additions, the smaller of which contains a bathroom, are located on the rear facade.

All original windows are six-over-six double-hung sash. The house rests on a concrete block foundation, which is not original, and the roof material is raised seam metal. The exterior of the dwelling is sided with weatherboard. The interior of the house contains two fireplaces, one in each of the right side (north) rooms; both have been closed in and are no longer functional. Interior doors appear original. History: The subject house was constructed circa by an unknown builder. The original occupant is likewise not known. Viola Davis Freeman acquired the house in and owned the property until when Ms. Freeman (Viola D. Caine in the tax records) willed the house to her four children: Robert Curtis Hawkins, Lillian Logans, Mary Louise Lucas and Mamie E. Stanley.

The present occupant is Elton Stanley, Jr. The subject property is located in a historically black working class neighborhood located just north of the Baldwin County Courthouse and Georgia College. The existence of this neighborhood can be attributed to several events, the first being 620 NORTH WILKINSON STREET (House) HABS No. GA-2248 (Page 2) the arrival of the Georgia Railroad in the late-nineteenth century. The railroad was constructed just two blocks north of the 600 block of North Wilkinson Street and the depot was located three blocks to the east. An industrial district developed in the vicinity of the railroad and provided employment opportunities for many blacks. From the to the post-Second World War era, the neighborhood experienced considerable growth as industry expanded.

Milledgeville ice Works, Milledgeville Cottonseed Oil Company and Mills, The Cook Lumber Company, Fowler-Flimister Coal Company, Oconee Clay Products Company, and the Georgia Railroad Power Company are just some of the businesses that developed near the railroad. Milledgeville's black business district, which, like the railroad and industrial area, provides nearby economic opportunities, is located to the east of the Baldwin County Courthouse.

Source document Quoted word for word from HABS GA,5-MILG,11. Not written, edited or summarised by this site.

African-American History File. Georgia College Library, Special Collections, Milledgeville, Georgia. Baldwin County Deed Records, Baldwin County Courthouse, Milledgeville, Georgia. Baldwin County Tax Records, Baldwin County Offices, Milledgeville, Georgia. Black Heritage Tourism File. Milledgeville/Baldwin County Tourism and Trade Department, 200 West Hancock Street, Milledgeville, Georgia. Campbell, Paul, telephone interview, 1 February Milledgeville, Georgia. Campbell, Paul. "City of Milledgeville Community Development Block Grant." Unpublished paper, Georgia College, Milledgeville, Georgia. Dexter, Pete. Paris Trout. New York: Random House, Milledgeville City Directory, and Located in Georgia College Library, Special Collections, Milledgeville, Georgia.

620 NORTH WILKINSON STREET (House) HABS No. GA-2248 (Page 3) Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps for Milledgeville, Georgia, Located in Georgia College Library, Special Collections, Milledgeville, Georgia. Watkins, Rodney, Georgia State Historic Preservation Office, telephone interview, 2 February Atlanta, Georgia.

Source document Quoted word for word from HABS GA,5-MILG,11. Not written, edited or summarised by this site.

Prepared by: John A. Kissane Leslie N. Sharp The Jaeger Company 119 Washington Street Gainesville, GA March HABS No. GA-2248 (Page 4) LS Z-V 4 February Steve Weinmann Jane Wall 620 NORTH WILKINSON STREET (House) HABS No. GA-2248 (Page 5) CITY OF M1LLEDGEVILLE PROGRAM CHARLTON/WILKINSON IMPACT AREA