Barrington Hall (Roswell, Georgia) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Barrington Hall |
|
|---|---|
Barrington Hall in Roswell, Georgia
|
|
| General information | |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival architecture |
|
Barrington Hall
|
|
|
U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
|
 Location in Georgia (U.S. state)
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | 60 Marietta St., Roswell, Georgia |
| Area | 6 acres (2.4 ha) |
| Built | 1839 |
| Architect | Willis Ball |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Part of | Roswell Historic District (ID74000682) |
| NRHP reference No. | 71000275 |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | December 9, 1971 |
| Designated CP | May 2, 1974 |
| Location | 535 Barrington Dr. Roswell, GA 30075 United States |
| Construction started | 1830s |
Barrington Hall is a beautiful historic home built in 1842. It is designed in the Greek Revival style, which was popular at the time. This grand house was the home of Barrington King. He, along with his father Roswell King, helped start the town of Roswell in northern Fulton County, Georgia.
The house was designed by an architect named Willis Ball. The King family owned Barrington Hall until 1995. Today, it is recognized as an important historical site and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Atlanta magazine has even called Barrington Hall one of the "50 Most Beautiful Homes in Metro Atlanta." The house has been carefully restored to look just as it did long ago. Many of the furniture pieces and items inside belonged to the King family. The City of Roswell now owns and manages Barrington Hall as a house museum. You can visit for daily tours and enjoy special family events held there throughout the year.
Contents
History of Barrington Hall
How Roswell Began
Roswell King was born in Connecticut. He later moved to Darien, Georgia. He worked for a bank and was asked to manage the bank's interests in the gold fields of north Georgia.
In the late 1820s, he explored this area. He was very impressed by its natural beauty. He also saw that Vickery Creek had strong water power. This power could be used to run textile mills.
In 1836, Roswell King returned to the area with his son, Barrington. They started planning a mill and a new town.
Building the King Family Home
Barrington King moved his family to this area in 1838. In 1839, the Roswell Manufacturing Company was officially started. The Kings invited their friends to move to their new town. They called it the "Colony." These friends invested in the Roswell Manufacturing Company.
Some of these families included the Smiths, the Bullochs, and the Dunwodys. In 1854, the "Colony" was named Roswell. This was in honor of Barrington King's father, Roswell King.
Barrington King chose the highest spot in Roswell for his home. This became Barrington Hall. It was built by Willis Ball in the Greek Revival style. The house was finished in 1842. Barrington lived there with his wife, Catherine, until he passed away in 1866.
The Kings had nine children who grew up. They had eight sons and one daughter. In 1883, their only daughter, Eva, and her husband, Rev. William Baker, moved back to Barrington Hall. They came to care for the elderly Catherine King.
Keeping the Home in the Family
The Baker family lived at Barrington Hall for many years. Eva passed away in 1923. William Baker had passed away earlier in 1906. After Eva's death, the house and property were left to Evelyn Simpson. She was Eva Baker's favorite granddaughter. The house was also left to Eva's seven children.
The other heirs wanted to sell the house. But Evelyn was determined to keep it in the family. With help from her mother, Kate Baker Simpson, and other family members, Evelyn raised enough money. She bought the house from the other Baker siblings. Evelyn Simpson, with limited money and help from her sister Katharine, preserved Barrington Hall. She lived there until her death in 1960.
After Evelyn passed away, her sister Katharine Simpson became the owner. Katharine left her teaching job in Atlanta. She moved to Barrington Hall to manage it full-time. In 1970, Katharine met Lois Carson. They became good friends. Katharine adopted Lois so that Lois would inherit Barrington Hall after Katharine's death. Katharine passed away in 1995, just before her 100th birthday. Lois Carson continued to live at Barrington Hall until she passed away in 2003. Before Carson died, she trusted Barrington Hall to her friend Sarah Winner.
Restoration and Public Access
The new owner, Sarah Winner, spent two years restoring the property. She had all the original furniture and paintings carefully repaired. Skilled craftspeople also worked hard to restore the walls, ceilings, and floors. Her efforts earned her an award for outstanding restoration.
In 2005, Sarah Winner sold the property to the City of Roswell. There were legal agreements to make sure the home would always be protected. It would also be open to the public for history, education, and cultural events.
Barrington Hall Today
Visiting the Historic Home
Today, Barrington Hall is owned and run by the City of Roswell. It is a house museum. You can find it in the Historic Roswell Square on Barrington Drive. The house is open for tours. From Monday to Saturday, the first tour starts at 10 am. The last tour begins at 3 pm. On Sundays, tours start at 1 pm, with the last tour at 3 pm.
The home has been fully restored. It is filled with many original items that belonged to the King family. The seven acres of land around the house are also special. They feature the only public garden from the antebellum period in the greater Atlanta area.
Recognized for its Beauty
Barrington Hall is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is recognized on its own and as part of the Roswell Historic District. As mentioned, Atlanta magazine included it in its list of the "50 Most Beautiful Homes in Metro Atlanta."
