Couey-Owings-Knowles House, U.S. Route 27 (State Route 1), Summerville

Source document Quoted word for word from HABS GA,28-SUM.V,1-. Not written, edited or summarised by this site.

The Couey-Owings-Knowles House is located on the west side of U.S. 27 north of 326 between the access road (Old U.S. 27) and the current alignment in Chattooga County, Georgia. The resource is oriented to the west facing Old U.S. 27.

Source document Quoted word for word from HABS GA,28-SUM.V,1-. Not written, edited or summarised by this site.

The Couey-Owings-Knowles House is a c. single pen house of log construction. It is significant for its architecture as a representative example of a single pen house type. The resource is also significant for its contribution to the understanding of the use of logs as a building material and how they were utilized in building construction in this region of North Georgia during the early part of the Nineteenth Century. Description: The Couey-Owings-Knowles House is a c. 1 1/2 story residence of partial log construction. The original building measures 27 feet wide by 18 feet deep, and appears to be a single pen log house with an exterior end stone chimney. Later additions of unknown date have been made to the rear and front porch, all of which are of frame construction.

The house at one time possessed a second exterior end chimney that has been removed. The presence of log construction in the staircase suggests that the upper level is original to the house. Although presently, a plaster and wood lathe wall divides the lower level of the original house into a hall parlor configuration, it is believed that the wall was a later addition, rather than a replacement of an original log wall. The house is covered with both weatherboard and clapboard siding, and rests on stone piers. It possesses a gable roof, except over the hindmost addition which possesses a shed roof. Six-over-six windows are noted in portions of the house, however, most of the window casings are missing. Windows in the upper story are fixed with nine lights.

History: The Couey-Owings-Knowles House was constructed c. by Andrew S. Couey. Mr. Couey was a farmer who settled in Chattooga County in the late Mr. Couey owned approximately 300 acres of land, 100 of which was used for farming purposes. The COUEY-OWINGS-KNOWLES HOUSE HABS No. GA-2297 (Page 2) Couey's primary crop was corn, however, they also raised hogs, sheep, cows and chickens. The Couey7 s farm was rather substantial, and encompassed several outbuildings; including barns, stables, chicken coops and a smokehouse. Upon Andrew Couey's death in his heirs sold some of the land associated with the original parcel. However, the Couey family retained ownership of the farm until In the parcel containing the farm was acquired by William H.

Owings, who had married Andrew Couey's grand-daughter, Flora Couey. The parcel now contained 70 acres. Upon William H. Owings death in his heirs sold the entire parcel. Over the next twenty five years, the parcel was subdivided several times, and became the property of several different owners. The current owner, Billy Knowles, acquired the property in which presently contains 1.5 acres, and includes the house and an early twentieth century barn.

Source document Quoted word for word from HABS GA,28-SUM.V,1-. Not written, edited or summarised by this site.

Telephone Interview with Robert S. Baker (great-grandson of Andrew Couey), conducted by Lauren A. Cotton, February 18, Atlanta, Georgia. Robert S. Baker, "Chattooga County: The Story of a County and its People", Wolfe Associates, pp. Deed Book A Pages 64, Deed Book G Page Deed Book I Page Deed Book J Page Deed Book U Page Deed Book 2 Page Deed Book 10 Page 83; Deed Book 17 Page Deed Book 42 Page Deed Book 47 Page Deed Book 48 Pages Deed Book 49 Page Deed Book 51 Page 8; Deed Book 66 Page Deed Book 70 Pages 391 and Deed Book 76 Pages 300 and Deed Book 122 Page Deed Book 134 Page 29; Deed Book 145 Page Deed Book 191 Page Deed Book 210 Page Chattooga County Courthouse, Summerville, Georgia.

Source document Quoted word for word from HABS GA,28-SUM.V,1-. Not written, edited or summarised by this site.

Lauren A. Cotton Georgia Department of Transportation Aviation Circle Atlanta, Georgia COUEY-OWINGS-KNOWLES HOUSE HABS No. GA-2297 (Page 3) FLOOR PLAN NO SCALE z- LOWER LEVEL 29 FEET 5 FEET 3 FEET a tim i" C I I hi] (0 STAIRS IBI 111 27 FEET M H ORIGINAL LOO CONSTRUCTION COUEY-OWINGS-KNOWLES HOUSE HABS No. GA-2297 (Page 4) FLOOR PLAN NO SCALE UPPER LEVEL 27 FEET r i. 1 I 3 STAIRS fi ^ ORIGINAL LOG CONSTRUCTION