Lapham–Patterson House facts for kids
|
Lapham–Patterson House
|
|
 |
|
 Location in Georgia (U.S. state)
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | Thomasville, Georgia |
|---|---|
| Built | 1885 |
| Architect | Rommerdal, Tudor |
| Architectural style | Queen Ann Whimsey |
| NRHP reference No. | 70000868 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
|
| Added to NRHP | August 12, 1970 |
| Designated NHL | November 7, 1973 |
The Lapham–Patterson House is a very old and special house in Thomasville, Georgia. It was built a long time ago, between 1884 and 1885. A businessman named C.W. Lapham from Chicago had it built as a winter home.
This house is a great example of Victorian architecture, which was popular back then. It has many cool details. You can see special "fishscale" shingles on the roof. The porch has a fancy design. Inside, the floors are made of beautiful long-leaf pine wood. There's also a unique double chimney.
The house was very modern for its time. It had gas lights and even hot and cold running water! It also had indoor toilets and closets. One of the most interesting things about the house is that it's not perfectly even. None of the windows, doors, or closets are square. This was done on purpose! The house is now a National Historic Landmark because of its amazing design.
About the Lapham–Patterson House
This three-story house is a soft yellow color. It has a brick-red roof and chimneys. Right in the middle of the house is a room shaped like a hexagon.
Why So Many Exits?
You might be surprised to learn that the house has at least 50 exits! Mr. Lapham had a good reason for this. He had lived through the terrible Great Chicago Fire. After that, he was very worried about being stuck in a burning building. So, he made sure his new house had many ways to get out quickly.
Built for the Sun
The house was also built a little bit crooked. This was done on purpose to catch the sunlight. During the Spring and Fall Equinoxes, the sun shines perfectly into the third floor. An equinox is when day and night are about the same length.
Inside the house, there's a special room called the gentlemen's parlor. It has a small stage. On the stage, there's a beautiful stained-glass window. Outside this room, above the balcony, there are wooden cutouts. These cutouts show animals and other shapes. In the very center, there's a cutout that looks like the head of Mrs. O'Leary's cow.
When the sun shines through the stained-glass window during the equinox, it creates colorful patterns on the floor. And right in the middle of these colors, you can see the shadow of the cow's head! It's a very clever and artistic design.
Mr. Lapham, the man who built this unique house, was a Quaker. Quakers are part of a Christian religious group known for their simple lifestyle and peaceful beliefs.
Images for kids
-
The dining room
-
Formal parlor
-
Detail of windows
-
Guest bedroom
-
Sitting rooms
-
Gentlemen's parlor
