Thomas Briggs Converse was born on December 12, 1854 in Troupville, Georgia. His family moved to Valdosta when he was six. As an adult, he joined his father and his younger brothers in a clothing business called Converse Brothers. He married his wife, Minnie, in 1882 and they would eventually have 13 children together. Converse built the first family home in 1883. As his family grew, the need for a larger house became apparent and he built the current house in 1902. Interestingly, it was reported that the house did not have locks on doors since the boys of the family kept coming and going. In 1915, Converse decided to sell his interest in the business to take up farming, which he did until his death in 1923. He sold the house (in 1915) and moved to a new one, which later burned down, two miles northeast of the city.The next owner of the Converse–Dalton-Ferrell House was T.B. Varn, who operated it as a boarding house. In 1923, O.D. Dalton, bought it and lived here with his family but rented out rooms as well through the 1950s. He had one son and nine daughters. In 1955, one of his daughters, Emma, and another woman Valerie Ferrell purchased the home (it is unclear what Valerie's relation to Emma was). How long they lived here is unknown but, as noted above, the Valdosta Junior Service League acquired it in 1982. The League was established in 1936 and incorporated in 1966.

Built in 1902, the Converse–Dalton-Ferrel House is a fine example of Neoclassical architecture. 

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This elegant historic residence is the Converse-Dalton-Ferrel House, which is named after the families who lived here. It was built in 1902 by its first owner and prominent local figure, Thomas B. Converse (1854-1932), who was a successful businessman and farmer. In terms of design, the house is an excellent and interesting example of Neoclassical architecture. Notable features include a grand two-story portico with Ionic columns that wraps around the front corners of the home, two balustraded balconies on the second floor, and decorative elements such as laurel wreaths. Added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983, the house has been since 1982 the home of the Valdosta Junior Service League, an all-women community service organization. 


Converse-Dalton-Ferrell House

This walk starts at the Lowndes County Historical Museum and works its way to the Crescent, a stately Victorian-era mansion with stops at several historic homes and buildings. To learn more about the history of Valdosta, be sure to use Clio to see several other area landmarks including historical markers and the archives of Valdosta State University that include many artifacts and other items related to the history of Lowndes County. 

The Lowndes County Historical Society was founded in 1967, originally establishing a small museum in a historic home on Patterson Street in Valdosta, Georgia. The Society and Museum found its current home in downtown Valdosta in the former Carnegie Library at 305 West Central Avenue in 1977. The library had built in 1913 by local architect Lloyd Greer and the structure was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1984. The society's founders were a group of local residents who shared the goal of preserving the history of Valdosta and Lowndes County. The objectives of the organization are to promote an interest in local history, collect and preserve documents, pictures, and artifacts pertinent to our cultural heritage, and to encourage historical research and study of our community.


The museum has two floors of gallery space; the upstairs gallery contains many photographs, artifacts, and information on local events and offers displays rotated regularly.  Featured downstairs is an interpretive exhibit: Lowndes County: Past, Present, and Future which takes you through the local community's development from a small frontier town to a thriving and diverse city. Industry, business, military, agriculture, transportation and local history are all covered in this detailed display.


An extensive outdoor exhibit is also featured at the rear of the building. This space includes a caboose, belfry with historic school bell, cane grinding items, log transport cart, pioneer cabin, and original ecosystem and historical garden plants. In addition to the exhibits, the museum also houses an extensive archive including the Hugh Vallotton Genealogical Library. The museum's archives contain many documents, photographs, and artifacts pertaining to Lowndes County residents, businesses, societies and organizations that are invaluable to researchers.

Lowndes County Historical Museum

Several courthouses were built for the county. The first, a structure that cost $215 dollars, was erected in 1828 in the town of Franklinville three years after the county was established. In 1833, the second was built in the town of Lowndesville, which was later renamed Troupville and became the county seat around this time. The third courthouse was built in Troupville in 1837. City officials hoped the Atlantic and Gulf Railroad would build a line through the town but that did not happen. As a result, the town relocated and renamed the present city of Valdosta in 1860. County offices were located in what was apparently resembled a barn structure. In 1875, a brick courthouse (the county's sixth) was built. Efforts to build the current courthouse began in 1900. By then, the population had grown enough to justify the construction of a new courthouse. Work began in 1903 and was completed two years later. Interestingly, towards the end of the project, a carpenter mistakenly sealed himself inside the large dome and had to be freed. Over the years, the courthouse has undergone some alterations. In 1962, the adjoining annex was built and in 1970 the courthouse was renovated. It was then restored in 1985. In 1980, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. There are a number of monuments and memorials on the courthouse grounds.

The Lowndes County Courthouse is considered one of the most impressive courthouses in Georgia. Built in 1905, it is a striking example of Neoclassical architecture, combining the Greek and Moorish Revival styles. The three-story building features a grand main entrance with a large portico and four 25-foot-tall Corinthian columns; a central, two-stage tower with a lanterned dome, urns, Ionic columns, and balustrades; four smaller domes on the corners; and urns placed on the edge of the roof. When it completed, the courthouse symbolized the Valdosta's stature as an established city. 

Lowndes County Courthouse

Presbyterians arrived in Valdosta during the Civil War. They had arrived from Midway, Georgia, where they settled in the 1700s. The congregation was founded on December 3, 1864. The first church building was constructed the next year. It is unclear when the second church was built but construction of the third and current one began 1907.In addition to architecture, the church also has connections to the city's social history. Two members, James O. Varnedoe and Judge J.G. Cranford both served as mayor. Cranford's wife and a local African American educator in, Rev. James L. Lomax, established an integrated school called Daily Vacation Bible School at the church in 1927, which was integral in establishing stable race relations in Valdosta. Lomax was an elementary and high school principal. As a prominent local figure, he played an important role in the religious, civic, education, and fraternal life of the city's African American community.

Erected in 1910, First Presbyterian Church is historically significant in the areas of architecture, religion, and social history. In terms of design, it is the only Greek Revival-designed church in Valdosta. Like other Greek Revival buildings, the church incorporates typical elements of this style including a portico with Corinthian columns supporting a pediment, round-arched entries, and rectangle and arched windows (some of which have stained glass). The church is home to a congregation established in 1864 and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1987.

First Presbyterian Church

Information regarding where Eugene R. Barber (1870-1965) was born or spent his childhood is not readily available. As a young man, he worked for the Savannah-Americus Railroad Company as a fireman. During this time, he became interested in business and so, in the early 1890s, invested in the Helena Bottling Works. Then in 1896, he invested in the Valdosta Bottling Works with a partner, J.F. Holmes. The company bottled drinks with a number of flavors including lemon, strawberry, sarsaparilla, and ginger ale. Notably, it was one of the first bottlers of Coca-Cola. Barber managed the the company until 1924.In addition to bottling, Barber had other interests as well. He invented patents for improving the bottling process and cotton gins. For the community, he served on the city council for a year, invested in the Valdosta street railway, and founded a swimming pool.It is not clear how long Barber lived in the house, but it appears he lived here until he died in 1965, which is when his daughter, Ola Barber Pittman, acquired it. During this time, the house was threatened with demolition to make room for parking facilities for the nearby U.S. Post Office and Federal Office Building, which had recently been built. Pittman managed to save the house and even, according to story, called President Lyndon B. Johnson about the matter. She ultimately prevailed and lived in the home until she moved to a nursing home, two years before she passed away in 1977. Her will stated her intent to deed the house to "the citizens of Valdosta." It was restored and possibly served as a community center before becoming the location of the Valdosta Chamber of Commerce. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.

The Barber-Pittman House is a grand Neoclassical home located along Ashley Street. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, it is historically significant for its architecture and its association with the man who built it, Eugene R. Barber, who was a successful entrepreneur and prominent philanthropist. Barber built the house in 1915. Its most striking feature is the two-story portico with Ionic columns supporting a gable. The house is now the location of the Valdosta Chamber of Commerce. 



Barber-Pittman House

This stately Victorian-era mansion utilized the classic style of architecture seen in many antebellum estates but was built in 1898. The home was built for Senator William Stanley West. The house gets its name from the circular veranda with 13 massive columnns, each representing 13 original American colonies. The grounds feature beautiful gardens maintained by the Valdosta Garden Club. The grounds also feature a schoolhouse and a small chapel. The home suffered neglect and was scheduled for demolition shortly after World War II. However, community members launched an effort to preserve the historic home in 1951. Visitors are welcome to take self-guided tours of the gardens and grounds. 

Valdosta Georgia Walking Tour

Converse-Dalton-Ferrell House

Introduction

Images

Backstory and Context

Sources

Additional Information