Aaron and Margaret Parker Jr. House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Aaron and Margaret Parker Jr. House
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 Location in Georgia (U.S. state)
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| Location | 4835 Flat Bridge Road, Stockbridge, Georgia |
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| Area | less than 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | c.1830 |
| Architectural style | Plantation plain |
| NRHP reference No. | 09000271 |
| Added to NRHP | May 6, 2009 |
The Aaron and Margaret Parker Jr. House is a very old farm house built around 1830. It is one of the oldest homes in Rockdale County, Georgia, United States. You can find it at 4835 Flat Bridge Road, inside the Panola Mountain State Park. This house is one and a half stories tall and built in a style called Plantation Plain.
Contents
A Look at the Historic House
The Parker house is built in the Plantation Plain style. It has one and a half stories. The house is three sections wide and one room deep. There is also a special "traveler's room" next to the front porch. Two chimneys stand tall, one at each end of the house.
The Parker Family Story
Aaron Parker Jr. was born in North Carolina on November 12, 1788. His parents were Aaron and Charity Shuffield Parker, Sr. His family moved to Clarke County, Georgia the next year. Aaron grew up there.
In 1806, he married Margaret Browning. She was born on June 30, 1789, and also came from North Carolina. Aaron and Margaret were married for 55 years. They had 14 children together.
Building a New Home
In the spring of 1822, Aaron Parker Jr. bought land. He moved his family from Clarke County to this new area. Around 1830, he built the house we see today. At that time, this land was part of Henry County, Georgia. Later, in 1870, it became part of Rockdale County.
Aaron Parker Jr. was a busy farmer. He also helped his community. He served as a local judge, called a justice of the peace. He was also the postmaster general, in charge of mail. By 1850, he owned a very large farm, almost 3,000 acres (1,200 ha) of land. He also owned 15 enslaved people who worked on his farm. By 1860, he owned 24 enslaved people, though his land was about 1,000 acres (400 ha).
Aaron Parker Jr. passed away on January 5, 1881. His wife, Margaret, had died 10 years before him. Both are buried in a cemetery in Rockdale County. Their children inherited the property, including 606 acres (245 ha) of land. Over the years, the house and land were sold many times. Sometimes, families rented the house to live in.
Saving the Historic House
In 1991, the land around the house was going to be used for a golf club. The plan was to tear down the old house. But people in the community worked hard to save it. Because of their efforts, the house was kept. The golf course used the first floor of the house as an office.
A paved road was built around the house. Other golf club buildings were built nearby. The back of the house was very close to the pavement. But the other sides had a small yard with a low rock wall. When it was part of the golf club, some changes were made. These included new wood on the outside, a rebuilt back porch, and new doors and windows. The chimneys also got new brick.
The golf course eventually closed down. In 2004, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources bought the 110 acres (45 ha) property. They paid $790,000 for it. Since then, the state has removed the old golf club buildings. They have worked to make the area look more like a natural, rural landscape.
The Rockdale County Historical Society worked with the state. They checked the house's structure. Then, they helped to fix up the house. It was in very bad shape before they started.
Today, the house is not usually open for visitors. However, the park sometimes holds special events there. These events might include "living history" demonstrations.
Photos
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This picture shows the house from across the street. You can also see the entrance to Panola Mountain State Park.
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Here you can see the front yard, a stone wall, and a historical plaque placed by the state.
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Another view of the front of the house, showing the old stone wall.
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This photo shows the back of the house.
