Benjamin Gachet House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Benjamin Gachet House
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Gachet House
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 Location in Georgia (U.S. state)
Location in the United States
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| Nearest city | Barnesville, Georgia |
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| Area | 65 acres (26 ha) |
| Built | 1821 |
| Architectural style | plantation plan |
| NRHP reference No. | 97000301 |
| Added to NRHP | April 17, 1997 |
The Benjamin Gachet House is a really old and important home located about three miles west of Barnesville, Georgia. It was built way back in 1821. This house is so special that it was added to the National Register of Historic Places on April 17, 1997. This means it's officially recognized as a place that's important to American history.
You can find the house where Five Points Road and Piedmont Road meet. This spot is now called the Milner Cross Roads. Long ago, these roads were actually trails used by Native American tribes.
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Who Was Benjamin Gachet?
Benjamin Gachet was a French nobleman, which means he came from an important family in France. He had to leave his home in San Domingo (now called Hispaniola) because of a revolution there. He then settled in what is now Lamar County, Georgia.
A Famous Visitor: General LaFayette
One of the most exciting stories about the Gachet House is its connection to General Marquis de LaFayette. He was a very famous French general who helped America win its independence during the Revolutionary War.
A special historical marker at the house says that General LaFayette actually stayed there! This visit happened on March 19, 1825, when he was on an official trip to Georgia. Historians believe he visited Gachet because their families had a connection.
About the Historic Gachet House
The Benjamin Gachet House is a fantastic example of a "plantation plan" style home. This means it has a specific design that was common for large homes in the South during that time. Many parts of the house, like the chimneys and much of the outer wooden siding (called clapboards), are still the originals from when it was built!
The kitchen, which is at the back of the house off the porch, has been rebuilt. Interestingly, the two front bedrooms used to have their own separate doors. These rooms were sometimes called "traveler's rooms" or "stranger's rooms."
A Stagecoach Stop
The Gachet House was once known as a stagecoach stop. Imagine horse-drawn stagecoaches stopping here for travelers to rest! Benjamin Gachet passed away when he was only 36 years old, leaving behind his wife and several young children. It's thought that Mrs. Gachet likely ran the stagecoach stop to earn money and support her family.
Caroline M. Gachet
After some time, Mrs. Gachet, whose full name was Caroline M. Gachet, sold the property to her son-in-law, Benjamin M. Milner. She then moved to Alabama.
Caroline M. Gachet was born on November 12, 1792, in the USA. She passed away on December 24, 1876. It is believed that she is buried at the Enon Cemetery in Bullock County, Alabama.
