Vance Farmstead, State Route 88, Hephzibah

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The Vance Farmstead is comprised of a main house, two extant tenant houses, one extant barn and the associated agricultural fields. The main house was constructed c. The barn and the two tenant houses appear to date from the The main house is a two-story Georgian house type with Gothic Revival details. Both tenant houses are Hall-Parlor house type dwellings. Corn and cotton were the crops that were grown in the associated fields. The Vance Farmstead is significant in the area of architecture as a representative example of an early Twentieth Century farmstead containing two types of vernacular architecture; the Georgian house type and the Hall-Parlor house type. The resource also is significant for its association with the agricultural history of Hephzibah. VANCE FARMSTEAD HABS No.

GA-2305 (Page 2) PART I. PHYSICAL AND HISTORICAL CONTEXT OF THE VANCE FARMSTEAD IN RELATION TO THE HISTORIC AND EXISTING ENVIRONMENT The Vance Farmstead is an early Twentieth Century farmstead located along State Route 88 in the conununity of Hephzibah, Georgia. Hephzibah was founded in the early Nineteenth Century, and was originally known as "Brothersville," having been named in honor of the three Anderson brothers, who were the original settlers. The conununity was sited within a thickly forested area of pines, and quickly gained a reputation for its beauty and .healthy climate. Wealthy plantation owners from neighboring Burke County seeking to escape an epidemic of malaria, were among the early settlers in Brothersville.

Given the wealth of these early settlers, they built large homes and tended to their business of academic, religious and leisure pursuits. By the more than one church had been organized, a swinuning hole and bathing house was constructed and a prestigious school, known as the Brothersville Academy, was established. The Brothersville Academy and its successor, the Hephzibah Baptist High School, established in were for many years the focal point of the conununity, providing instruction in the basic skills of reading, spelling and granunar, as well as more classical training in Latin and Philosophy. The conununity's reputation for academic excellence continually drew more inhabitants to the conununity.

The conununity finally incorporated as "Hephzibah" in October and was described as being "one mile in every direction from the school building as its center" (Clark, p. By the early Twentieth Century, Hephzibah had grown from a small village of fifteen residences to a bustling town containing eight general stores, several professional offices, a gin and saw mill, a hotel and a post office. The conununity also boasted daily rail service to Augusta and Tennille, Georgia. While not as much is written about the agrarian history of Hephzibah and its relationship to the development of the conununity, there are several references throughout the literature on Richmond County and Hephzibah that discuss the economic importance of tobacco and cotton farming throughout the county.

Small family operated farms such as the Vance Farmstead were a conunon part of the landscape surrounding the town center, and contributed significantly to the growth and prosperity of Hephzibah. The Vance's Farmstead, containing approximately 132 VANCE FARMSTEAD HABS No. GA-2305 (Page 3) acres, was considered among the larger family farms, and the Vance's themselves, were highly regarded members of the community. Today, Hephzibah is considered a growing bedroom community of nearby Augusta, Georgia, which is the county seat of Richmond County. Although the community maintains a sense of its rural beginnings, new commercial and residential development is occurring, and the once sprawling acres of farmland are quickly disappearing. PART II.

HISTORY OF THE VANCE FARMSTEAD The Vance Farmstead is comprised of a main house, two extant tenant houses, one extant barn and the associated agricultural fields. The land on which the resource is located was originally the property of an early settler to the community of Hephzibah, Mr. A.H. Holmes. Mr. Holmes owned approximately 77 acres of land, which he deeded to Julia Bostock in November Included in the transaction was a two room house, a barn and a stable. Bostock sold the entire 77 acre parcel to Mr. William F. Vance in December One year later, Mr. Vance purchased an additional 60 acres of land contiguous to his 77 acre parcel from Louisa J. Eubanks. This land also had once been the property of Mr. A.H. Holmes.

It is believed that the main house associated with the Vance Farmstead originally was constructed for Mr. A.H. Holmes c. Mr. William F. Vance acquired the house c. and resided there until his death. Following William F. Vance's death, his son, George Vance, assumed the ownership and responsibility for the maintenance of the property. The Vance's reportedly were farmers who grew cotton and corn on their property. They reportedly had three tenant houses, which were occupied by field laborers. Mr. George Vance also reportedly was a well digger, which appears to have been his primary vocation. George Vance resided in the family home until his death in April Upon George Vance's death, his property was deeded to his heirs. One of these heirs was his nephew, A.

Frank Williams, who bought out the interests in the property from the other heirs. Mr. Williams has been the owner of the approximately 132 acre parcel since The house was used as rental property for a period of time following George Vance's death, but has been vacant for many years. The agricultural fields are presently overgrown, and VANCE FARMSTEAD HABS No. GA-2305 (Page 4) have not been cultivated for many years. The extant tenant houses and barn are the only remnants of the former agricultural use of the resource. PART III. PHYSICAL

Description of the Vance Farmstead

The Vance Farmstead consists of a c. Georgian house type with Gothic Revival details, two c. Hall-Parlor house type tenant houses, one historic barn, three non-historic sheds and the associated agricultural fields. The main house is a two-story Georgian house type residence with Gothic Revival details. It possesses an intact floor plan that is two rooms deep separated by a central hall. It is of frame construction with clapboard siding, and rests on a foundation of fieldstone piers with both brick and concrete block infill. The building possesses a steeply pitched standing-seam metal gable roof. Later additions of unknown date include a side porch on the east side of the house, a front porch, and a rear ell and a rear shed addition. Windows are six-over-six double-hung sash type.

Other architectural details include two interior corbelled chimneys, four intact fireplace mantels, plaster and lathe walls, lancet arched gable vents and a trabeated doorway. The tenant houses are located southeast of the Georgian house along a dirt access road, known as George Vance Road. Tenant House A is located directly north of Tenant House B. Tenant House A is a c. Hall-Parlor house type with a front shed porch and a rear shed addition. The house is of frame construction with both vertical board and clapboard siding, and rests on a foundation of concrete block piers. It possesses a standing-seam metal gable roof, except over the rear addition, which possesses a shed roof. Evidence of one end chimney is noted, however it appears to have been removed many years ago.

Window openings are intact, however no windows remain. The interior possesses an intact floor plan. No other interior features of architectural significance are noted. Tenant House B is a c. Hall-Parlor house type with a front shed porch and a rear shed addition. The house is of frame construction with clapboard siding, and rests on a foundation of concrete block piers. It possesses a standing-seam metal gable roof, except over the rear addition, which possesses a shed roof. Evidence of one end chimney is noted, however it appears to have been removed many years ago. Windows are generally six-over-six VANCE FARMSTEAD HABS No. GA-2305 (Page 5) double-hung sash type, however most lights and muntins are missing. The interior possesses an intact floor plan.

No other interior features of architectural significance are noted. The one extant historic barn is located directly southwest of the main house. It is of frame construction with a standing-seam metal gable roof. References: Deed Book 7B Pages Deed Book 7G Pages Deed Book 7M Pages Deed Book 100 Page Richmond County Courthouse, Augusta, Georgia. A. Frank Williams, Interview by Lauren A. Cotton, August 2, Hephzibah, Georgia. Walden, Ada Ramp. History of Richmond County. pp. Clark, Walter A. A Lost Arcadia: The Story of My Old Community. Augusta, Georgia: Chronicle Job Print, pp. 35, Ann M. Conn, "Happiness is Hephzibah," Augusta Magazine, Fall pp. \fMCE FAAllSTEAD HASS NO. GA-2305 (MGE 8) SITE PLAN MOUY I I I I I I li'OST QUl "" " "" ..ra OoUt " etmlln''-. 04NtA -y " 0 100 200 SCALE IN FEET