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Montrose

Introduction

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Erected around 1858 by Robert and Margaret McGowan, Montrose is one of the more striking historic homes in Holly Springs. An excellent example of Greek Revival architecture, the house features a grand two-story portico with Corinthian columns, a lunette window in the pediment, a spiral staircase, marble mantel pieces, parquet flooring, and ornate ceiling medallions. There is also an arboretum on the property. Today, the house is maintained by the Holly Springs Garden Club and is available to rent for weddings and other events.

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One of the grand historic homes in Holly Springs, Montrose was built around 1858 by Robert and Margaret McGowan. It is now home to the Holly Springs Garden Club.

Plant, Window, Property, House

Backstory and Context

Text-to-speech Audio

Local architect Spires Bolling, who built the house that is now the Ida B. Wells-Barnett Museum, designed Montrose. Not much information is readily available about Robert McGowan (1832-1894), but Margaret (1828-1871) was the daughter of a prosperous landowner, Alfred Brooks, who, apparently, saved the house from going into foreclosure on two occasions. Sadly, she died during childbirth after the Civil War. Robert sold Montrose in 1878 to a local judge who lived in the house until he died in 1895.

After a series of owners, including surgeon Dr. Robert H. Peel (1832-1903) who operated on Union and Confederate soldiers during the war, the city acquired Montrose in 1962. The Garden Club has occupied and maintained the house and grounds ever since. In 1983, Montrose was added to the National Register of Historic Places as a contributing property of the East Holly Springs Historic District.

Sources

"Montrose (1861)." Hill Country History. Accessed December 30, 2020. https://hillcountryhistory.org/2015/03/28/holly-springs-montrose-1858-b.

"Montrose Historic Home: Built in 1858." Holly Springs Garden Club. Accessed December 30, 2020. https://www.hollyspringsmsgardenclub.com/home.html.

Image Sources(Click to expand)

Jerrye & Roy Klotz, MD, via Wikimedia Commons: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:EAST_HOLLY_SPRINGS_HISTORIC_DISTRICT,_MARSHALL_COUNTY,_MS.jpg

Additional Information