Hickory Hill (Thomson, Georgia) facts for kids
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Thomas E. Watson House
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 Location in Georgia (U.S. state)
Location in the United States
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| Location | 502 Hickory Hill Drive, Thomson, Georgia |
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| Area | 70 acres (28 ha) |
| Built | 1864 |
| Architect | Wilson, John; Thomas E. Watson |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 76002144 and 79003110 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | May 11, 1976 |
| Designated NHL | May 11, 1976 |
Hickory Hill, also known as the Thomas E. Watson House, is a special historic house in Thomson, Georgia. It's like a museum where you can learn about the past. This house was once the home of Thomas E. Watson (1856-1922). He was a very important politician from Georgia who helped start the Populist Party.
Hickory Hill is so important that it's been named a National Historic Landmark. This means it's a place that tells a big part of America's story. The main house was first added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976. Later, the entire property was added in 1979.
What is Hickory Hill?
Hickory Hill sits on a large, wooded area of about 70 acres (28 hectares). This land is surrounded by different streets and the city line of Thomson. The most important part of the property is a beautiful two-story house made of wood. It has a classic design with a sloped roof and wooden siding.
At the front of the house, there's a grand porch with a triangular top, called a pediment. This porch is held up by four tall, two-story columns. These columns have fancy tops, which are part of the Ionic style.
The History of the House
The main part of the house was built around 1864 by Captain John Wilson. It had an Italianate style, which was popular at the time.
In 1900, Thomas E. Watson bought the house. He was born in Thomson and was already a powerful voice in Georgia's politics. Watson spent several years making the house bigger and more modern. He changed its style to Neoclassical Revival, making it look very grand. He also added new features like running water, central heating, and electric lights. Hickory Hill was the very first place in Thomson to have electric lights!
Watson lived in this house until he passed away in 1922. Later, in 1954, his grandson, Walter Brown, took ownership. Today, the house is owned by the Watson-Brown Foundation. This is a group that works to preserve history.
Other Watson Homes
Hickory Hill is just one of three homes in Thomson that belonged to Thomas E. Watson. All three are now owned by the same foundation and are open as museums.
One of these is his birthplace, which was a simple log cabin. This cabin was moved from the farm where he was born to its current spot. It has been fixed up so people can see what it looked like. His home before Hickory Hill is also nearby.
The Watson-Brown Foundation also takes care of other historic houses in Georgia. These include the T. R. R. Cobb House in Athens and the May Patterson Goodrum House in Atlanta.
Images for kids
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The beautiful Thomas E. Watson House.
