Summerville Historic District

Infobox nrhp
name = Summerville Historic District


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location = Augusta, Georgia
USA
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architecture = Greek, Spanish, Italianate, Victorian, Colonial, Queen Anne, Gothic, Federal, and Romanesque Revival
built = 1780s
added = May 22, 1980 [http://www.nr.nps.gov/ National Register Information System]
governing_body = Augusta, Georgia

Summerville, (nicknamed by residents as The Hill), is a large, affluent community and a Historic District located north of Downtown Augusta, Georgia. The district is famous for the homes of John Milledge, George Walton, and Thomas Cumming.

History

18th Century

Summerville was built in the 1780s, and established as a separate village from the city of Augusta.

19th Century

During the mid to late 1810s, Downtown Augusta experienced a small epidemic of malaria, which caused little effect in Summerville. In 1820, a major outbreak of fever nearly wiped out the entire garrison at the U.S. Arsenal. After the recommendation from the officer, the U.S. Arsenal purchased land that would soon be the present-day site of Augusta State University.

By 1850, Summerville became a four-season community. More permanent buildings and year-round homes sprang up as the town prospered. In 1861, Summerville was officially incorporated as a city with the boundaries defined as a circle for one-mile. [ [http://www.nps.gov/history/nr/travel/augusta/summervillehd.html Summerville Historic District-Augusta: A Discover Our Shared Heritage Travel Itinerary ] ] Later on, Summerville became a fashionable luxury resort and golf capital with the construction of many hotels and later, the Augusta National Golf Club. This caused a large transformation from becoming a small summer resort for local residents, to a winter playground for wealthy northern industrialists and politicians. Two hotels, [http://www.partridgeinn.com/ The Partridge Inn] and the Bon Air Hotel, hosted captains of industry and former presidents of the United States. Some built winter homes in the area, while others stayed permanently, escaping the harsh winters of the North.

20th Century

When the city of Augusta annexed Summerville in 1912, it lost its status as a separate town. Four years later, a fire swept through Downtown Augusta, destroying much of the business district and neighborhoods along lower Broad Street. This caused a housing boom for Summerville.

Historic District

On May 22, 1980, Summerville was added to the National Register of Historic Places, bounding from Highland Ave., Heard Ave., Wrightsboro Rd., Milledge Rd., and Cumming Rd.

Historic sites

*Summerville Cemetery
*Appleby Library
*Partridge Inn— A historic luxurious resort that opened in 1860, with many northerners stayed to escape the winters of the North. Still open to this day.
*Stephen Vincent Benet House— Historical home that was the home of the President of Augusta College, now Augusta State University.
*College Hill— The home of George Walton from 1795 upon his death in 1804.

Architecture

tructures

The architecture of Summerville include examples of Greek, Italianate, Spanish, Gothic, and many other types.

References

External links

* [http://www.nps.gov/history/nr/travel/augusta/summervillehd.html Summerville Historic District]