Sunday, May 7, 2017

Day 3 of Traveling North via the Blue Ridge Parkway 2017

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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