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Spring Hill Historic Home

Ohio & erie canal towpath trail.

A current day Spring Hill Historic Home.

Photo courtesy Spring Hill Historic Home & Underground Railroad Site

Spring Hill Historic Home, built in 1821, found its place in history as a station on the Underground Railroad. The house was built by and home to the Quaker family of Thomas and Charity Rotch. After being built, the house was used to assist freedom seekers looking to head north. A network of families and safe houses, much like the Rotches’, offered shelter and aid to those fleeing from the South starting in the late 18th century. [1] Spring Hill Historic Home is open to the public and available for guided and audio tours that tell the story of the Rotch family, explore the history of the Underground Railroad and describe daily life in early Ohio.

Spring Hill Historic Home in Massillon, OH circa 1910.

Photo courtesy  Spring Hill Historic Home & Underground Railroad Site

• [1] “History of Spring Hill,” Spring Hill Historic Home, accessed July 30, 2021, https://www.springhillhistorichome.org/history/

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Underground Railroad Experience, tours, concerts set at Spring Hill Historic Home

MASSILLON – Spring Hill Historic Home is ready for the summer months.

The centuries-old home is open for tours and a number of events. Renovations also are underway throughout the property. 

One of the highlights involves the annual Underground Railroad Experience on June 25 when historic characters, including Thomas and Charity Rotch, welcome freedom seekers to Spring Hill farm, 1401 Springhill Lane NE.

More: Historic Spring Hill home turning 200, undergoes improvements before public reopening

Attendees will take on the role of a freedom seeker and travel through the grounds with the reenactors learning about the realities of escaping slavery and the role Massillon and the Spring Hill Farm played in their road to freedom.

The Spring Hill property is part of the National Park Service's Underground Railroad Network to Freedom. 

Eric Myers, who will direct the show and portray the homestead's patriarch Thomas Rotch, said the bulk of the cast is returning to the show.

"They really know how to tell the experience," he said, adding that a few new members are joining the cast of about 12.

While the bulk of the show remains the same, Myers said new elements have been added to keep the storytelling fresh for the audience, many of whom come back year after year.

There will be five shows this year. During four of the shows, guests will walk along a trail on the property for an interactive experience. The fifth show will be a seated presentation for those unable to traverse the property.

Myers pointed out a new trail is being used this year. Guests will still enter the wooded area around the property but there will be less of a steep incline to climb.

More: Spring Hill launches capital campaign to preserve historic site, expand programming

More: At least $14M of state funding set aside for community projects in Stark, Summit counties

The walk won't be challenging as in previous years but it will still be a great experience," he added. Tickets are required for the shows and can be purchased online. If tickets remain for any of the performances, they will be available at the door. 

Kayla Metzger, site manager, said the Underground Railroad Experience will be held rain or shine. 

This year's ticket includes a tour of the home and guests can pre-purchase a discounted meal deal for $5 that includes a choice of sandwich, two sides, dessert and drink. Guests can purchase food on the day of the event, she said. 

The 16-acre property offers historical perspective on life in Massillon 200 years ago

Thomas and Charity Rotch created Spring Hill Farm around 1820. The 16-acre property has a main home as well as several outbuildings, including the 1903 milk house and wool house.

The home and its property are open for tours Saturdays and Sundays through Labor Day.

Visitors can tour the home that was occupied by the Rotches and then three generations of the Wales family. The home is filled with original furnishings and historical artifacts.

In addition to the tours, the home will host a concert series this summer.

Concerts on the Hill will feature various bluegrass, folk and blues artists.

The first concert is 6:30 p.m. June 21 and will feature the Front Porch Band of Berea. The group performs old-time, mountain fiddle tunes, folk, bluegrass, country and traditional blues.

Two additional concerts will take place mid-July and mid-August and will be announced at a later date.

Star gazing returns this summer. Guests are invited to gaze upon the stars from the lawn of Spring Hill and learn how freedom seekers used the stars to guide them north to safety.

Star gazing begins at dusk on July 8 and Sept. 1 on the front lawn of the home.

Later this year, plans call for adding an outdoor self-guided tour throughout the property, Metzger said. Guests will use QR codes to learn more about the property.

"If it (the house) gets crowded and you have to wait, you can learn more about the buildings and other sites," she said. 

Preserving Spring Hill's impact on Massillon, slaves

Preservation work has been ongoing throughout the property.

Last year, renovations of the grain barn, the first phase of a revitalization project for the property's buildings, was completed.

The grain barn was constructed between 1903 and 1913 and held feed for the livestock when the Wales family owned and operated Spring Hill Dairy. Metzger said it is believed that later on Horatio Wales used the barn to house his horses.

It features a laminated rib gothic arch and metal roof. 

Officials plan to use the barn for educational space and as a venue for parties and other gatherings, including small weddings, Metzger said. 

The space also will allow for the display of farming tools. Metzger said limited space hasn't allowed for the items to be put on display.

The next stage in the restoration and revitalization campaign is to make structural repairs to the adjacent milk house built in 1903. The Wales family switched from raising merino sheep to dairy farming around 1880 and operated the dairy farm for at least 50 years. 

The milk house was used to store items that needed to be kept cold, including milk, cream and butter. A natural spring flows through the concrete-block structure aiding in keeping the contents of the milk house cool. Two large garage doors allowed access for deliver wagons to be loaded, Metzger said.

The north wall is being rebuilt to ensure the structural integrity of the milk house. A retaining wall also is being repaired. The hillside pushed into it and water was seeping through it, she said. 

A preservation report from the 1970s indicated the need for these repairs, but the work was put off, Metzger said. 

"We finally got it done this year," she said. "We are pushing to do things that were pushed off. For the most part, the building is structurally sound."

Repair work to the slate roof is also planned for the fall. 

Metzger hopes to have the milk house ready for tours by next fall. 

It will be used as an educational tool for visitors but especially for children to learn about the dairy industry, she explained. They may offer some behind the scene restoration tours, she said. 

To fund the preservation projects throughout the property, Spring Hill launched a $75,000 capital campaign. The buildings have been inaccessible to the public since the late 1960s.

Besides capital campaign dollars, the nonprofit received a $16,368 Recovery and Destination Development Grant from Visit Canton to aid with the cost of installing electrical service to the barn, milk house and dog kennel. 

The funding will cover 50% of the cost to trench and install electrical service to buildings. 

Spring Hill will supply the remaining funding for the matching grant for the project, estimated to be more than $10,000.

The historical property also will receive $50,000 from the state capital budget to allow for a new heating system to be installed in the main home.

Myers explained the home has a relatively newer boiler but the plumbing is more than 100 years old, raising concerns that if one of the pipes carrying the heated water breaks, it could cause significant damage to the home and its contents.

Plans call for installing a blower system, he said. The work will not change the look of the home as the duct work will be hidden in the walls.

The new system also will reduce the cost of heating the home, Myers said. It costs about $600 per month to heat the home now. The project would include the installation of insulation.

"We look to be more energy-efficient as well as more cost effective with our budget," he said. 

If funds allow, officials want to install air conditioning in the home. Not only will it make it more comfortable for visitors, it will also help with preserving the antiques.

It's unclear if the state funding and local contribution will cover the cost of the entire scope of the project, but Myers said they will be able to change the heating system, remove the asbestos-lined pipes and insulate the home. 

"We are hoping the funds for the AC are there but it could be done later if need be," he said.

It's unclear when the project will start. Myers said they are waiting for the state funding to be released.

"My goal right now with all the structures here is to stabilize them," he said. "We need to make sure that everything is stable and now with the state grant it will be more energy-efficient and ensure that we are using funds in a more prudent and financially-wise way."

Reach Amy at 330-775-1135 or [email protected]

On Twitter: @aknappINDE

Underground Railroad Experience

The interactive experience will be held at 10 a.m., 11:15 a.m., 12:45 p.m., 2 p.m. and 3:15 p.m. June 25 at Spring Hill Historic Home, 1401 Springhill Lane NE.

The 12:45 p.m. show is an accessible show taking place on the farmhouse porch for seated guests. All other show times are interactive performances where guests will be asked to take on the role of a freedom seeker and travel through the grounds with the reenactors.

Food and drink will be available for purchase at the concessions stand.

Tickets are $13 for adults; $10 for seniors 60 and older, veterans & students. Children 6 and younger are free. For tickets, visit www.springhillhistorichome.org/ugrre or leave a message at 330-737-1845. Meal Deal tickets are available for $5 and include a sandwich option (sloppy joe or coney/dog), baked beans, chips, a dessert, and water.

Tour Spring Hill

Tours are offered from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays through Labor Day. Admission is $5 for adults, $4 for seniors and veterans, and $3 for students. Children 6 and younger are free. Spring Hill is a registered Blue Star Museum, offering free admission to active-duty military personnel and four family members. Free admission is also offered to those who show their SNAP/EBT card as part of the Museums for All program. 

Spring Hill Historic Home

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Spring Hill Historic Home - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

• Sat - Mon 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
• (7.43 mi) Hambleton House
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• (5.38 mi) SpringHill Suites by Marriott Canton
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Spring Hill Historic Home

Top ways to experience nearby attractions

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

SPRING HILL HISTORIC HOME: All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

• Sat - Mon 13:00 - 16:00
• (7.43 mi) Hambleton House
• (1.48 mi) Hampton Inn Massillon
• (5.38 mi) SpringHill Suites by Marriott Canton
• (5.36 mi) Courtyard by Marriott Canton
• (8.76 mi) The Villas & Casa at Gervasi Vineyard
• (0.63 mi) Joey's Kendal Tavern
• (1.39 mi) Liebermann's Bakery
• (0.57 mi) Twistee Treat
• (0.66 mi) Irish Pub & Grill
• (0.70 mi) Kraus' Pizza

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Stark11: 11 Historic Homes in Massillon

Jan 18, 2021

These 11 historic homes in Massillon, tell the story of architecture and a community through pictures and history! Want to learn more? Visit Spring Hill Historic Home, take a Fourth Street Tour, or go on a walking tour or the Massillon Cemetery.

Historic Fourth Street in Northeast Massillon is lined with residences respresenting architectural styles spanning an entire century, 1830 to 1938. The seven listed below join many others along the brick street that formed Massillon’s most prestigious homes in decades past. Downtown walking tours will be scheduled later this summer.

1. Five Oaks (210 Fourth Street, N.E.)

Located on historic Fourth Street, the gem of Massillon’s architecture -- Five Oaks -- was designed by Cleveland architect Charles F. Schweinfurth, for industrialist J. Walter McClymonds and his wife Flora. Completed in 1894, it took master craftsmen two years and more than $200,000 to construct. The stone Richardson Romanesque mansion features Tiffany windows and lighting fixtures, intricately carved woodwork, a billiards room of Moroccan leather, and lovely exterior Corinthian columns and stone sculptures. In 1924, it became the home of Massillon Woman’s Club. Five Oaks is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Check five-oaks.org for a summer tour schedule or massillonwomansclub.weebly.com for a holiday schedule of public events.

2. Thomas H. Russell House (107 Fourth Street, N.E.)

Built in 1882, this large Eastlake residence on historic Fourth Street has undergone minimal aesthetic alterations since it was built for steam engine manufacturer Thomas H. Russell and his wife Ellen. The carriage house is enchanting as the mansion.

3. The Nahum and Esther Russell House (120 Fourth Street, N.E.)

Better known as the Library Apartments, the Italianate home of the first president of Russell & Co.—Massillon’s most important factory in the late 1800s—was built about 1860. After the death of their parents, Annie Russell McClymonds and Flora Russell McClymonds gave their family home to become Massillon’s first public library. It opened in 1899 and remained in this residence until 1937, when the library moved to the James Duncan home downtown. The Russell home is now an apartment building.

4. The Lillian Gish House (315 Fourth Street, N.E.)

The tiniest house on historic Fourth Street dates to the 1840s. Its most famous owners were the Gish sisters, actresses who sometimes summered in Massillon. The girls and their mother were all stage actresses in the early 19th century. When one of the little girls did not have a gig, she would be sent to Massillon to stay with their Aunt Emily, for whom Dorothy purchased the house in the mid-1950s. She and Lillian visited there occasionally. Dorothy’s will passed the house on to Lillian in 1968. It continues to be a private residence.

5. The Hiram Wellman Home (414 Fourth Street, N.E.)

One of the earliest houses on historic Fourth Street, the Hiram Wellman residence was started about 1830, intended to reflect the architecture of Mount Vernon, but the financial panic of 1837 caused it to be completed more modestly. Wellman, with his brother Marshall, built a warehouse along the Ohio and Erie Canal in the late 1820s, offering cash for wheat. Because of their entrepreneurship, Massillon was known as “The Wheat City” until the arrival of the railroad in 1852. The next resident, David K. Cartter, is remembered as the orator who turned the tide toward Abraham Lincoln during the 1860 Republican convention. Presidents McKinley and Garfield both visited this home, which remains a single-family private residence.

6. The Atwater House (220/222 Fourth Street, N.E.)

Also one of the oldest homes in Massillon’s National Register District, the Atwater house, is actually two side-by-side homes divided by a brick wall. Twins, Joshua and David Atwater, purchased and operated the Wellman warehouse when those brothers left town. Henry Yesler, one of the pioneer industrialists and politicians of Seattle in the mid-1850s, designed and built the Atwater edifice. Both sides of this massive building have been divided into apartments.

7. The James and Amelia Pocock House (308 Fourth Street, N.E.)

Both sides of the Pococks’ family were Massillon coal mine moguls. They built their Fourth Street home by 1875, but during the last decade of the century, they hired architect Charles F. Schweinfurth to enhance it. Abundant cherubs and Biblical inscriptions appeared in the stunning woodwork; four bay windows, a three-story corner tower, a double front portico, and a port-cochere were added. President and Mrs. McKinley danced in the cherry-paneled third-floor ballroom. The home remains in private hands.

8. Massillon Cemetery Superintendent’s Residence

Massillon Cemetery, founded in 1846, is the final resting place of nearly 25,000 souls. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Massillon Cemetery superintendent’s residence was constructed in 1879 of locally quarried stone. It served for a century as both the sexton’s family residence and the cemetery office; now only the office.

9. James Duncan Home (208 Lincoln Way East)

Massillon Public LIbrary’s local history (south) wing was originally the 1835 home of Massillon’s founder James Duncan, who faced his Federal style brick home to the west so he could overlook his town and the canal that made it blossom. A century later, the center Neoclassical rotunda and the reflecting wing were added and the building opened with the Massillon Museum in the Duncan House and Massillon Public Library in the new sections. The Museum moved to its current location, 121 Lincoln Way East, in 1995/1996, and the Library now occupies the entire edifice.

10. The Bahney House (316 Lincoln Way East)

The Second Empire style residence best remembered as the home of the E.F. Bahney family is now a destination antiques and collectibles emporium: Becky’s Obsession Antiques. In the interim, the building housed the Massillon Automobile Club and the Ohio Society of Military Society. Mr. Bahney operated a bookstore in downtown Massillon from 1894 to 1926. Find the antique shop at facebook.com/beckycasperlincolnway .

11. Spring Hill Historic Home (1401 Spring Hill Lane, N.E.)

Spring Hill Historic Home, constructed in 1821, was the home of Thomas and Charity Rotch, founders of the village of Kendal, which is now part of Northeast Massillon. The rural home was a stop on the Underground Railroad, reflecting the Quaker beliefs of its residents. Three generations of the Wales family succeeded the Rotches until 1973, when the residence opened to the public as a historic site. It was Massillon’s first National Register site and has been named to the National Park Service Underground Railroad Network to Freedom. Find more information at springhillhistorichome.org or call 330.833.6749.

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Historic Homes of Columbia & Maury County

Wednesday, June 13, 2018 12:00 PM by Andrew Kyle Saucier

Columbia and Maury County are a treasure trove of restored, maintained and protected antebellum mansions. Here are just five of the historic properties that bring the story of Tennessee alive - from a progressive all girl’s school and daring Civil War exploits all the way to the President of the United States.

The Athenaeum

Named for Athena, the Greek goddess of wisdom, the Athenaeum was built for a progressive purpose. Reverend Franklin G. Smith took a rare position for a headmaster of an educational institute in the South’s antebellum era - that women ought to be educated like men. And that’s precisely what he did. First at the Columbia Female Institute, which no longer stands, and then at his own school, the Athenaeum, Reverend Smith presided over an institution that instructed female pupils in foreign language, mathematics, music and natural sciences.

Completed in 1837, the Athenaeum continued to operate as a school until 1904. Today, all that remains is the Athenaeum Rectory, the building with iconic Moorish arches that Reverend Smith and his family called home. The Athenaeum is located at 808 Athenaeum Street, Columbia, Tennessee 38401. The home is available for tours Thursday - Saturday, 10am - 4pm. Visit them online at  Athenaeum for more information.

Rippavilla Plantation

The story of how Rippavilla Plantation came to be is like something out of a novel. A young man named Nathaniel Cheairs IV wished to marry a young woman named Susan. Nathaniel Cheairs III objected on the grounds that in the family tradition, Cheairs sons named Nathaniel married women named Sarah. So committed was Nathaniel III that he offered a $5,000 gift if his son would call off the engagement. But young Susan’s father interceded. As a prominent local businessman with a brickyard and a labor force of enslaved persons, he offered a gift of greater value: a plantation and a home.

Needless to say, Nathaniel III withdrew his objections, and his son married Susan and Rippa Villa was built. Rippa Villa Plantation is located just north of Columbia proper and is part of the Battle of Spring Hill battlefield. It is located at 5700 Main Street, Spring Hill, Tennessee 37174 and open Monday - Saturday, 10m - 4pm and Sunday, 1pm - 4pm. Visit them online at  Rippa Villa  for more information.

Historic Elm Springs

Many of Columbia’s magnificent antebellum plantation homes did not survive the American Civil War. It is thanks to one man that Elm Springs did. In November of 1864, during the Confederate Army of Tennessee’s invasion of Middle Tennessee, Elm Springs was set on fire. Federal soldiers had been ordered to clear the area of the homes considered obstructions for a battle everyone expected, but which never fully materialized. A Confederate Brigadier General named Frank C. Armstrong sent mounted infantry to extinguish the growing blaze, and thus Elm Springs survives to this day.

This hilltop mansion is owned by the Sons of Confederate Veterans, who are currently building a museum behind the home. Located at 740 Mooresville Pike, Columbia, Tennessee 38401, it is open for tours Monday - Friday, 9am - 5pm. Visit them online at  Historic Elm Springs  for more information.

Rattle and Snap Plantation

The land on which this peculiarly named home is built on was won in a game of chance. William Polk challenged the governor of North Carolina to a round of an old fashioned gentleman’s betting game. What was at stake? Over 5,500 acres of land in what was at the time still part of North Carolina, but would later become Tennessee. Although the specific rules of the game are lost, we know it involved the tossing of beans, similar perhaps to today’s dice. North Carolina’s governor lost the game, and therefore the land. William Polk divided his new holdings amongst his four sons, who each built fine plantation homes - including George, who named his new home after the game of chance his father had won the property on. The game was called “rattle and snap.”

Designated a National Historic Landmark in 1971, the home is privately owned and available for tour on appointment only. Please call 931-379-1700 to schedule a tour. It is located at 1522 North Main Street, Mount Pleasant, TN 38401. Visit them online at  Rattle and Snap Plantation for more information.

President James K. Polk Home & Museum

Columbia, Tennessee was once home to a young man whose political career eventually propelled him to the highest office in the nation. James Knox Polk graduated from the University of North Carolina, and, as many recent college graduates do, moved in with his parents. Here, in Columbia, he began practicing law and entered into politics. Built in 1816, when Maury County, Tennessee was still on the western frontier, it is the only surviving home Polk ever lived in - not counting the White House, of course.

This impressive Federal style home is available for tours Monday - Saturday, 9am - 5pm and Sunday, 1pm - 5pm (April - October) and Monday - Saturday, 9am - 4pm and Sunday 1pm - 5pm (November - March). It is located at 301 West 7th Street, Columbia, Tennessee 38401. Visit them online at  James K. Polk Home & Museum for more information.

Author: Andrew Kyle Saucier

Andrew Kyle Saucier is a freelance writer and photographer and author of "Ultimate Smoky Mountains: Discovering the Great National Park.” He specializes in the music, culture and outdoor spaces of the American Southeast. Andrew lives with his wife in nearby Chapel Hill, Tennessee.

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Eat, Shop, Play & Stay in Spring Hill

From lush and scenic farmland with picturesque silos to a Civil War battlefield and gorgeous historic homes, Spring Hill, Tennessee offers visitors a relaxed experience full of heart and history—a perfect day trip from Nashville and minutes from historic Franklin and Columbia.

With its roots in agricultural innovation, it is no wonder Spring Hill is now home to cutting-edge technology and amenities. When you drive through Spring Hill, you will surely see the expansive University of Tennessee's Middle Tennessee AgResearch and Education Center; the largest General Motors (GM) plant in North America; the new Ultium Cells facility (a joint venture between GM and LG Energy Solution that manufactures battery cells for electric vehicles); and World Wide Stages, a state-of-the-art production campus for the worldwide entertainment industry. Only 30 miles south of Nashville, Spring Hill is also where Groove Life, a company named by Inc. magazine as one of the fastest growing companies in the United States, produces its patented and famous breathable silicone rings, watchbands, and other products. It is safe to say that innovation lives in Spring Hill. Except that is not all the area boasts.  

Like most cities in Middle Tennessee, Spring Hill’s local dining options include BBQ and Southern-style comfort food. However, you can also feast on delicious international cuisine and gourmet dishes, sip coffee at charming cafes, or wind down at a taproom featuring locally brewed beer. Shoppers can browse Spring Hill’s local boutiques, famous retail stores, and antique and furniture shops. Outdoor activities in Spring Hill include playing a round of golf, strolling up and down Cannon Hill, and spending time at one of the city’s beautiful parks. Nearby, hop on an off-road vehicle and tour wooded trails with gorgeous streams or canoe the Duck River. Spring Hill is waiting for you to experience it. 

Come eat, shop, play, and stay a while. Behind these wonderful experiences is a group of the most welcoming people with the best smiles in Tennessee!

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Historic Home Tours, Columbus Mississippi

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Historic home sites offer a great way to explore our past while engaging our senses. Each home offers a feel that can only be encountered during an in person visit. Enjoy a mind stimulating experience that is rewarding for all ages.

When you visit these historic home sites, you're guaranteed to get a rush of excitement. You'll be able to explore each site in depth and learn about the fascinating history behind them.

Book a tour with  Historic Home Tours, Columbus Mississippi where you can have an amazing and interactive experience. Our guided tours will show you the historically preserved homes, inform you about their period-specific operation, while gaining an appreciation of how far we've come as a community. Plus, everyone is welcome - men, women, and children alike! 

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"Magnificent!!!"

This historic home is one of the oldest brick homes in Northeast Mississippi and its architecture is stunning. It is currently under restoration to bring it back to its 1850 glory! Magnificent free standing stairway in the entrance hall and pull down walls in library!

 Southern Standard of November 12, 1852, carried a lengthy description of the mansion and of a "great festive entertainment" which had occurred during the previous week. An architectural evaluation headed the article: . . . Our townsman. Colonel Charles McLaran, recently had erected on one of the most eligible and beautiful situations within the limits of our city, a splendid and costly brick mansion, the crowning architectural structure among the many stately edifices, private and public, that adorn our city, and delight the eye of the stranger en passant, - and which, in dimensions and external grandeur - internal arrangements, style and exquisit [sic] finish is, probably, superior to anything of the kind to be found in the Southern States."

Our guided tours will show you the historically preserved homes and how far we've come as a community.

Our guided tours will show you historically preserved homes and how far we've come as a community.

Join our mission to build a united community and preserve the unique history of Columbus Mississippi.

Are you looking to make a real impact in the Columbus Mississippi community? By supporting  Historic Home Tours, you'll not only be able to engage in learning about the vibrant history around you, but you'll also be helping to preserve it for generations to come. 

Our partnership with local nonprofits ensures that the needs of the community are at the forefront of our preservation efforts. 

News & Articles

Spring Pilgrimage: Ensuring a Smooth Ticket Pickup Process

Columbus Pilgrimage: Our Start

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Historic Action is all about preserving key parts of our  history while enriching our shared community. Consider subscribing to keep up to date on events, fundraisers, and community initiatives supported by Historic Home Tours, Columbus Mississippi.

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Washington Spring Homes & Gardens Tour

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Evening Pick 3 Pick 4 and Cash 5

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Historic Druid Hills Home & Garden Tour returns April 26-28

T he Historic Druid Hills Home & Garden Tour is back April 26-28, and this year our eleven featured properties tell the tale of a community that has fought to keep Frederick Law Olmsted’s vision for the neighborhood intact. Even as the population of intown Atlanta grew, shrank, and then really took off, the spirit of Druid Hills continued to shine and is now brighter than ever.

Olmsted’s Vision

Olmsted, renowned landscape architect and designer of some of the country’s most famous parks and estates (think Central Park and The Biltmore), believed in the importance of open spaces for the health and well-being of urban residents. He incorporated this philosophy into his design for Druid Hills and aimed to seamlessly integrate natural landscapes with residential development. His plan called for winding roads and pathways that followed the contours of the land, rather than imposing a rigid grid pattern. Generous lot sizes were very intentional, to create a sense of openness and privacy for residents, while featuring gracefully landscaped views. The majestic tree canopy Druid Hills enjoys today is thanks to Mr. Olmsted. Once the neighborhood was established and gaining momentum, Druid Hills Civic Association (DHCA) was founded in 1938 to preserve it for residential use and to protect the unique heritage of the area.

The Fight for Druid Hills

Over the years, Druid Hills, like other intown Atlanta neighborhoods, shifted and adapted as housing needs and lifestyles changed. And, as with so many other cities across the United States during the mid-20th century, Druid Hills faced the threat of being divided by highway construction. The proposed I-485 would have cut right across the Olmsted Linear Parks and right through the heart of the idyllic neighborhood that Olmsted so carefully planned. That threat, along with economic changes, racial tensions, aging infrastructure, and governmental policies, led many of the residents to leave the neighborhood for newer suburbs. Some of the large homes they left behind were split up into apartments or became boarding houses, and others were simply abandoned. 

But, we all know the happy ending for Druid Hills. Lots of enthusiastic residents stayed or found their way to historic homes they lovingly cared for. Many of them banded together, along with the DHCA, to fight the long fight against the highway. Thankfully, the “Roadbusters” prevailed, and the neighborhood remained intact.

More and more, prospective homeowners are drawn to the community, and aren’t afraid to tackle big projects that return the blighted homes back to their former glory – even if they’re used a little differently than they once were. Houses that are featured on this 56th year of the Historic Druid Hills Home & Garden Tour showcase what we call “true Druid Hills stewardship”. 

Protected by Preservation

Thankfully, in 1966 the National Historic Preservation Act was passed by Congress. Starting in 1975 with the “Ponce de Leon Parks and Parkway” listing, almost all of Druid Hills is recognized on the National Register of Historic Places. From that jumping-off point, the City of Atlanta instituted historic preservation protection for the Druid Hills Landmark District in 1989. DeKalb County created the protected Druid Hills Local Historic District in 1994. Our preservation guidelines foster Druid Hills’ continued eclectic but cohesive appeal and respect the important role of green spaces. 

Come see for yourself why people are drawn to Olmsted’s Druid Hills. The Tour runs Friday, April 26 through Sunday, April 28. Learn more at druidhillstour.org .

The post Historic Druid Hills Home & Garden Tour returns April 26-28 appeared first on Rough Draft Atlanta .

Privy Dig: Archaeology at Spring Hill

Spring Hill’s Privy

Spring Hill Historic Home board and staff discovered a description in the tour notes from the 1970s:

“Southwest of the garage was a deluxe four-holer, three large holes and one small at a lower level. Also, in this vicinity was a specimen house where rocks and artifacts collected by the Wales men were stored and it later became Nell’s playhouse.”

In 2022, a fox dug its home into the side of the hill most likely to contain the outhouse described above. Pursuing the fox was Pippin Myers, a dog who really wanted to meet that fox. In his pursuit, he kicked out this brooch.

With this evidence, Site Manager Kayla Metzger and Board Secretary and Collections Committee Chair Mandy Altimus Stahl met with Assistant Lecturer Maeve Marino at the University of Akron to discuss the best route to test the ground and investigate further.

Support Spring Hill’s efforts to preserve artifacts and host free archaeology days!

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Stay tuned for additional dig dates in 2024!

University of Akron student survey

Summer 2023

Archaeology Days at Spring Hill

September 2023

Thanks to our partners University of Akron, Stark Parks, Massillon Museum, and our sponsor Friends of Donovan Stahl

Archaeology Artifacts @ Spring Hill

Privy Dig Day 2023 map

Click for a larger image of map.

Why Outhouses and Privies?

Pit latrines, privies, and outhouses were once a necessary part of historic properties prior to indoor plumbing. Archaeological digs at significant places like George Washington’s Mount Vernon, Paul Revere’s home, and Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello have yielded insight into life on these properties hundreds of years ago. According to VirginiaPlaces.org, “Archeologists find old privy sites to be rich treasure troves of historic artifacts.”

Evidence of Spring Hill’s Privy

“ Southwest of the garage was a deluxe four-holer, three large holes and one small at a lower level .”

Based on historic photographs, there are two likely buildings that could be the outhouse. Wales descendant Steve McLain remembers the outhouse location in the 1950s as the white building at left. Using these photographs and printed descriptions, there are just two possible locations at this time.

Stahl believes the foundation of today’s dog kennel was the foundation of the former outhouse/artifact shed, as the hand-hewn stone predates the 1910s dog kennel that was moved to this location in the 1930s (see photos below). The sandstone could have come from the Warthorst Quarry north of Massillon, but more likely was quarried on Spring Hill farm property in the mid-1800s.

The red building was a dog kennel and dog run for Horatio Wales’s hunting dogs. Horatio and his new bride Irene moved into Spring Hill in 1910. When Horatio’s health made it difficult to visit his dog kennel up the hill, they moved it to this location, down the hill from the main farm house. The age of the hand-hewn markings does not match the age of the kennel.

Other Archeology

Many outbuildings have been built and razed over the 200+ years that the Spring Hill farm has existed. While much of this land is now developed as the Paquelet Funeral Home, First Christian Church, and Pebble Chase condos, there are still 16 acres owned by Spring Hill Historic Home & Underground Railroad Site to be surveyed. Many photos, notes, and hand-drawn maps can help to guide researchers in this endeavor.

We only have a few photographs of the full farm, several notes from residents and researchers, as well as an oral history interview with one family of tenant farmers. One of the buildings that historians have tried to locate for decades is Thomas Rotch’s original 1811 cabin.

Spring Hill grounds map showing the location of artifacts discovered.

This early 1900s view of Spring Hill Farm was taken from the corner of Wales Rd NE and Hankins Rd NE, looking northest. It is unclear who wrote the notes on the back of the photograph.

(above) This small building appears in the corner of an early 1900s Spring Hill Dairy brochure photograph of Spring Hill Farm. It is unclear if this is a small spring house or a cabin. Sadly, newly constructed houses have been built on this location. Displaced dirt, however, remains, which amateur archeologists will be invited to sift through.

1960s auction survey of the Spring Hill Property. Wales descendants wanted to split and settle the estate after the passing of Edna McClymonds Wales.

1967 view with remains of the “big barn” and the milking parlor. The white building is the wool house. The angled building is the milk house, which was restored in 2023.

Milking parlor promotional photo (c.1910)

Milking parlor remains in 2023

Milking parlor promotional photo (below, c.1955)