Cedar Hill, Lamar County, Georgia

From: Barbara Winge <barwinge@bellsouth.net>

The Atlanta Constitution
Sunday, August 31, 1930, p. 11
by Tallu J. Fish

A Feature of the history of Lamar county, which is being compiled
by the Willie Hunt Smith chapter of the U. D. C. of Barnesville,
will be the evolution of architecture throughout the years of
progress. 
It is believed by the historians that old-time southern
architecture is fast becoming extinct, and to save for future
generations records of these true southern homes, it is thought
best to include the different types in the history.  There is
something to the atmosphere of an old home that is unexcelled in
sentiment.  The evidence that "it has been lived in" is sacred
and to perpetuate these memories, some of these homes will be
recorded.
It is well known that the typical pioneer home was made of sturdy
logs, one room, made by the hands of the man of the house, with
the able assistance of friends and neighbors at an old-fashioned
log rolling.  The example show on this page (unable to scan
pictures) is no exception.  It was built by one of Lamar county's
largest land owners, John Wellmaker, but like its companions all
through Georgia and the south, it has been relegated to the
family darkies, home in the servant quarters.  Hundreds of these
relicts of former days are in the backyards of farm houses.
   A typical house of the prosperous early planter is the Gachet
home, near Barnesville.  Numbers of similar ones are found
scattered through rural Georgia.  A rumor - quite authentic - is
given of this home with its hospitable spaciousness, that the
Marquis De Lafayette on his second visit to America spent the
night here.  The logical Lamar Lafayette chapter of the D.A.R. is
planning to mark this historic spot in honor of the visit of this
hero of two continents.  The house is still in the original
family's ownership, Mr. J. B. Milner being the present owner.
   "Cedar Hill" is also a county landmark.  It is the Head home
and it, too, is still in the original family's possession.  It
has 13 rooms, historic rooms every one.  In the same room five
different generations have been born, three of their birthdays
occurring on January 31.
   The late Mr. Zach Head used to love to tell the story of the
time the northern soldiers came to burn and pillage the house,
"But," said Mr. Head, "when my mother begged them not to go up
the steps for fear it would kill my sister, who was ill with
typhoid fever, the young officer told his men to pass on and not
touch a single thing in our house.  And so it was left standing."
   "But why was the Gachet home left?" several people have asked.
"Well, because the northern officers made their headquarters
there and inside the Widow Gachet, who was known far and wide for
her hospitality cooked for them."
   Mrs. C. H. Willis is president of the Willie Hunt Smith
chapter, U. D. C. which is compiling the history of Lamar county,
Georgia.  Mrs. J. M. Anderson and Mrs. A. Peacock are past
presidents.  The chapter was organized by Mrs. Loula Kendall
Rogers, one of Georgia's well-known women.  Incidentally she is
the oldest living graduate of Wesleyan.  Mrs. Rogers was
president of the U. D. C. for 14 years and was succeeded by the
late Mrs. W. B. Smith, for whom the chapter was named.
   The compilation comes as a response to a request from the
legislature  urging each county to have an official history by
1933.  The grand jury selected the local U. D. C. to sponsor it,
with Mrs. Augusta Lambdin as historian.  The book will embrace
all items of historical interest and importance.
   The historians have made a special study and exercised unusual
research on the the military records to be placed in the
history.  Many heretofore unpublished rosters, documents, etc.,
will be included, and it is the desire of the sponsors that this
publication be of unlimited historical value.
   Of the 161 (sic) counties in Georgia, 60 have already selected
their historians.  At a recent meeting of all the historians held
in Atlanta, Miss Ruth Blair, state historian, was elected as
president and Victor Davidson as secretary.  Miss Blair is
planning to have other meetings of the historians from time to
time.


This was copied verbatim from the article now in the possession
of Barbara Walker Winge.

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