THOMASVILLE- The hexagonal-shaped dining room of the historic Lapham- Patterson House has been decorated for Christmas by the John Lee of Nansemond Chapter, National Society Colonial Dames Seventeenth Century. The house museum is located at 626 North Dawson Street, Thomasville, Georgia. It is a National Historic Landmark property, owned by the State of Georgia and operated by the Thomasville History Center.
The house was built between 1884-1885 for Chicago shoe merchant, and Quaker Charles Willard Lapham and designed by Lapham and architect/builder Danish immigrant Jens Peter Theodore “Tudor” Rommerdall. The 6,000 square feet house is a Queen Anne style, late Victorian era “cottage.” Heart pine timber from the local area was used in the construction of the entire house, with the exception of the staircase spindles which were made of imported walnut. Original to the house are all the doors, windows, flooring, walls, fixtures and stained glass windows. All of the East Lake furniture in the dining room is original to the house. The unique house has forty-five doors and fifty-three windows in its nineteen rooms. Most of the windows are close to the floor and reach almost to the ceiling, opening from either top or bottom for easy entrance or exit through the porches. It is believed that these unusual features were a result of Mr. Lapham’s pyrophobia, triggered by the Great Chicago Fire in 1871, which burned for three days, destroying most of Chicago. Strangely enough, the heart pine used in the construction of the house is highly flammable.
The decorations in the dining room consist of a Christmas tree with Victorian style ornaments, mantle decorations and garlands, plaid ribbons and an apple tree as the centerpiece for the table. The pattern of the china bears the motif of wild game, indicative of the South Georgia hunting plantations. The table is laid for a dinner party for eight with fine china and crystal.
Those looking for a delightful adventure can step back in time with a visit to this truly Victorian resort-era home of Charles Willard Lapham and his wife, Emma Mary Conger Lapham, and might even experience a visit from the resident ghost!
The house may be rented for various events such as small to medium-sized banquets, wedding receptions, and family reunions. Guided tours of the home are available for a nominal fee on Fridays, 1:00, 2:00, 3.00 p.m. and Saturdays, 10:00 and 11:00 a.m. and 1:00, 2:00, and 3:00 p.m. Group tours may be arranged by calling 229-226-7664, emailing history@rose.net, or thomasvillehistory.org. There is also a three room guest suite available for rent by contacting the History Center or VRBO.