Mid-November we went on vacation, or as Hubby nicknamed it "the babymoon". We spent a few days with family down in South Georgia and took the opportunity to visit Valdosta's Historic Home: The Crescent House. Built in 1898 by Senator William Stanley West; the house is named after its circular veranda. There is a total of 13 columns representing the first 13 colonies.
Nowadays the house is maintained by the city's gardening club and volunteers offer a guided for in exchange for donation.
Of course after visiting Biltmore Estate, which is from the same time period, it seems a little small. But it's not from the same family fortune either... There were some interesting rooms non the less, such as the kitchen with its original refrigerator. To activate it the owners had ice blocks delivered that were placed directly in the refrigerator. Not all that practical nowadays but it's still far more decorative than the one in my kitchen.
The dining room had beautiful wood pannels. The senator had put aside oak pannels, but unfortunately the sawmill and the stored wood almost entirely burned in a fire right before construction started. As a result this is the only room with wood pannels.
Upstairs there are numerous bedrooms. Nowadays they are often used by brides getting ready prior to having their ceremony downstairs.
On the third floor there is a ballroom (which I forgot to photograph). It can only welcome 15 people at a time due to the current fire code and lack of emergency exit. To be honest it's amazing to think they had ladies climbing up the narrow stairs with their 19th century dresses.. There are two parlors adjacent to it, one for the ladiesk, one for the men. I loved their fireplaces.
So not bad for a few dollars, there are also some written information in each room if one wanted to find out more about it. The house is mostly empty but the architecture itself is enough to make it interesting.
The Cresent House 904 N. Patterson St.
Valdosta, GA 31604 Guided tours Mon.-Fri. 2-5 p.m