Friday May 5th, 2017
We decided to spend a bonus day with our friends at Lake
Sinclair. The weather was overcast and cool … so a boat tour of the lake was
out … a tour of Madison Georgia sounded like a great idea.
Madison has been voted the "#1 Small Town in
America" by Travel Holiday Magazine and one of the "Top 16 Most
Picturesque Villages in the World.” Madison is labeled as Georgia's
"authentic Southern town," with an array of local dining options,
more than 45 specialty shops and more than 160 antique dealers. Madison retains
its small-town character and remains the heart of the community. Downtown
Madison is punctuated by a central town square and anchored by historic
government facilities, such as City Hall, the Morgan County Courthouse, and
U.S. Post Office. The Chamber of Commerce, located on the square, has a great
vantage point to view the bustling retail, professional, and service
businesses.
We stopped at a consignment flea market in an old manufacturing
building on 441. We were hunting for bedroom night stands and salt and pepper
shakers. Our friend was looking for the nightstands … we have no room for them
in our motorhome! Our friends ended up with a sign for one of their sons! We
headed downtown into the heart of Madison to walk, talk, window shop and stop
into many of the antique shops and boutiques.
After a bit of shopping, we stopped into the Chop House
Grille, for a late lunch! My friend kept raving about the chicken salad … so, I
had to try it! Charlie had a BLT. Terry enjoyed a Magnolia salad!
On a day with sunshine and warmer weather, you can pick up a
brochure, and begin your self-guided walking tour of the more than 50
antebellum sites in the city's downtown historic district. Since it was still
misting after lunch, we drove around to see a few of the homes.
Friday was also the first day of the 2017 Spring Season in Grand
Style with the region’s most popular tour event: the Madison in May Spring Tour of Homes and
Gardens. A collection of the city’s
finest, architecturally significant homes (1810 – 1996) and intimate gardens,
including the largest private moss garden in America. Tour attendees allow visitors
to take a step back in time and experience the living Southern history of
Madison. These grand structures and
gardens tell the story of a genteel, gracious city – Madison, Georgia. This truly will be a tour to remember! The
tour tells the story of these grand structures that are still standing, some
more beautiful and sound than ever. Generations of owners have been dedicated
to preserving not only the house, but the gardens and outbuildings as
well. Owners of these historic homes
cherish and care for the property, sometimes adding, sometimes taking
away. While, other families have chosen
to build newer homes in authentic historic style. In either case, each home on this year’s tour
is a fascinating blend of the past and present, while reflecting their own
unique story.
The Rogers House and Rose Cottage, it was built in 1809, the
Rogers House is Madison's oldest home. Heritage Hall is an impressive
structure. It becomes even more striking when you learn that the building
didn't always occupy its present location. The 1811 Greek revival mansion sat
on a lot 200 feet away until it was dragged over logs to the current site in
1908. There is many historic homes for sale in Madison, but one caught our eye.
It is across from the Chop House Grill, where we ate lunch.
The "Dove-Cote
House", circa 1830. It is a 6,000 square foot home in the downtown
historic district of Madison. It is an original plantation plains home with
Victorian detail added in 1885. It can be purchased for only $899,000! Or if
you want more space, how about the completely restored historic Higginbotham house,
boasting 4 or 5 bedrooms on 7.2 acres. The price is right for only $1,195,000!
Established in 1809, Madison is the seat and the largest
town in Morgan County. The early town flourished as a stagecoach stop and an
in-town residence for planters' families. Streets were patriotically named for
presidents and the community prided itself on its schools, literary, and
philosophical societies. For the most part, Madison's antebellum architecture
survived because Mayor Joshua Hill, a strong Unionist who had resigned his
Congressional seat in 1861 to return to Georgia, developed a gentlemen’s
agreement with General Sherman's detachment. Which is why Madison is the town
General Sherman refused to burn.
We would have loved to tour longer, but the cool weather and
mist were not cooperating with us today.
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