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Myrtle Grove Plantation, Georgia facts for kids

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Myrtle Grove Plantation
Former names Folly Farm
General information
Architectural style Antebellum architecture
Location Richmond Hill, Georgia, U.S.
Address Old Hardwick Road
Coordinates 31°53′04″N 81°14′44″W / 31.8843427°N 81.2454178°W / 31.8843427; -81.2454178
Completed 1849 (176 years ago) (1849) (plantation house only)
Owner Buck Meeks
John Meeks
Technical details
Floor count 2

Myrtle Grove is an old, important house in Richmond Hill, Georgia. It's located in Bryan County, Georgia, in the United States. This historic property was once a large farm with a main house.

History of Myrtle Grove

Myrtle Grove has a long and interesting past. It has been owned by different families and even changed its name for a while.

Early Beginnings

A famous hero from the American Revolutionary War, Nathanael Greene, was given a piece of land called Myrtle Grove. The people of Georgia gave it to him. This was a thank-you gift for his brave service as a top general in the American army.

Building the House

The main house at Myrtle Grove was built in 1849. It was designed in a style called antebellum architecture. This style was popular in the Southern United States before the American Civil War. A general named Richard Arnold built the house. He gave it as a wedding gift to his daughter.

Changing Owners and Names

  • In the 1920s and 1930s, a man named Samuel Pennington Rotan owned the house. He was a lawyer from Pennsylvania.
  • After he passed away in 1930, his wife, Allethaire Chase Rotan, continued to live there.
  • The Rotans decided to rename the house Folly Farm. They named it after their previous home in Abington, Pennsylvania.
  • However, the house later got its original name, Myrtle Grove, back. This name comes from the land where the house stands.

Modern Ownership

Since 1964, two brothers, Walter (Buck) and John Meeks, have owned Myrtle Grove. They have kept the property well-maintained.

Myrtle Grove in Movies

Myrtle Grove has become a popular spot for filming movies and TV shows. Its classic look makes it perfect for historical stories.

Filming Location

The house has been used in more than ten different movie and television productions. Some of these include:

  • Glory (1989)
  • The Underground Railroad (2021)
  • Emperor (2020)
  • The Crickets Dance (2020)

Rise to Fame

Myrtle Grove became even more famous after it appeared in the 2016 movie Birth of a Nation. This movie helped more people discover the beautiful and historic property.

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