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 is a special historic house in Thomson, Georgia. It is located at 502 Hickory Hill Drive. This beautiful house is now a museum. It was once the home of Thomas E. Watson (1856-1922). He was a very important politician from Georgia. He helped create the Populist Party in the state.
Hickory Hill is so important that it is a National Historic Landmark. The main house was first added to the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) in 1976. Later, the entire property was added to the NRHP in 1979.
Exploring Hickory Hill
Hickory Hill sits on a large, wooded area of about 70 acres. This land is surrounded by different streets and the Thomson city line. The most important part of the property is the main house. It is a lovely two-story house made of wood. It has a sloped roof and wooden siding.
A big, fancy front porch sticks out from the house. This porch has four tall, two-story columns. It also has decorative trim and a triangular top section.
The Story of the House
The main part of the house was built around 1864. It was first built by Captain John Wilson. In 1900, Thomas E. Watson bought the house. He was born in Thomson and was already a very important person in Georgia politics.
Watson spent several years changing and updating the house. He turned it into a grand home with a classic, elegant style. He also added all the newest features of the time. This included running water, central heating, and electric lights. It was the first place in Thomson to have electric lights!
The house remained his home until he passed away in 1922. In 1954, his grandson, Walter Brown, took ownership. Today, a group called the Watson-Brown Foundation owns it. They operate it as a museum.
Other Watson Homes
Hickory Hill is one of three homes in Thomson connected to Thomas E. Watson. All three are now owned by the same foundation. They are all open as museum properties.
Watson's birthplace was a simple log cabin. It was moved from the farm where he was born to its current spot. This is at Tom Watson Way and Bethany Drive. His home before Hickory Hill is right next to this cabin. It is located at 310 Tom Watson Way. The foundation also manages other historic house museums in Georgia. These include the T. R. R. Cobb House in Athens and the May Patterson Goodrum House in Atlanta.
See also
