Thursday Doors: May 5, 2016
Antebellum Trail, Madison, GA
Today, for our look at DOORS, we’re visiting Madison, Georgia, population 3,636. The Historic District in Madison is one of the largest in the state with almost 100 antebellum homes (homes built prior to the American Civil War) that to this day are still lovingly cared for and lived in. Most have never been sold, but passed along in the family. Madison is featured on Georgia’s Antebellum Trail (The Antebellum Trail is a 100 mile trek through seven historic communities that escaped Sherman’s burning march through Georgia, during the Civil War) Madison has been voted “The Prettiest Small Town in America.”
Location of Georgia Antebellum Trail
Towns on Georgia Antebellum Trail
First we have to get there! Just follow the country road and go through the covered bridge. There are not too many of these left either!
Covered Bridge near Madison, Georgia
Covered Bridge near Madison, Georgia
Entering Madison, first there is the business district, so well preserved on a town square.
Madison, Georgia County Courthouse and Town Hall
Chamber of Commerce, Madison, Georgia
The Pink Petit Jardin, Madison, Georgia
The SchoolHouse, Madison, Georgia
In Madison, they make it easy to look at some of the homes, just follow the Wellness Trail!
Wellness Trail, Madison, Georgia
No, I didn’t take a photo of every house, but I should have. And I photographed the entire site so you could get an idea of the architecture and size of the dwelling. I don’t have the correct southern drawl to just walk up to the front of the house like I’m a long lost relative! Most of the homes also sit on lovely lots of many acres, that were former plantations. In 1890, the population was 2,131, and the town boasted of an oil mill, a soap factory, a fertilizer factory, four steam ginneries, two carriage factories, a furniture factory, a grist and flour mill, bottling works, a distillery with a capacity of 120 gallons a day, an ice factory, a canning factory, a bank with a capital of $75,000 and a number of individual businesses! They were very well off I’d say! AND the homes reveal just how wealthy they were!
The Big House, Madison, Georgia
The Cottage Next to the Big House, Madison, Georgia
Madison was founded in 1807 and was named for President James Madison. It was described as “the most cultured and aristocratic town on the stagecoach route from Charleston to New Orleans.” Many believe that General William Tecumseh Sherman spared the town because it was too beautiful to burn down during his March to the Sea, but in truth Madison was home to pro-Union Senator Joshua Hill, who had ties with Sherman’s brother at West Point. It’s not what you know, but who you know, that counted here!
The Pale Blue Home, Madison, Georgia
Madison, Georgia
This one is getting an Up-Do!
Madison, Georgia
I hope you enjoyed our stroll through town. I am dividing this post into two sections, because there were so many great doors! Next week the Cottages of Madison, those for the regular folk! See you there!
This is just one of many photos in the Thursday Door Collection featured by Norm2.0! Won’t you join in or take a peak at all the doors?
The Travel Lady In Her Shoes 
26 Responses to “Thursday Doors: May 5, 2016”
This was a lovely post to read, first thing this morning! What a fabulous place. Is this the same Madison as in the film ‘Bridges of Madison County?” The buildings are wonderful and very well kept.
Good morning Georgie! I don’t remember where exactly they filmed that movie. So often they don’t use the actual place though!
Nice place but I don’t see any closeups of doors.
Yes, I know, like I said in my post these weren’t homes you could march up to and take a close up. Most had iron fences or picket fences to keep one out! I thought the size of the mansions would’ve been lost too! But, I will pick only close ups in future, I thought these would be interesting to show.
Be nice to see both house and door. A longer lens would do it 🙂
Very impressive buildings
Thanks for the tour – some absolutely wonderful and well-preserved buildings in that area.
Thanks there were a lot to walk around and see. We were also invited into a neighborhood church and small museum that has a docent to explain the town’s history.
Lovely, charming place!
Thanks Joey!
You live in such a beautiful place. I love those covered bridges.
Thanks Jean, the bridges are going by the wayside!
Such a pity. 😦
So lovely!
Thanks!
I’m glad the was a Sherman buddy there! What gorgeous homes!
janet
Thanks! Yes that was another way of life altogether!
Oh my! What lovely homes. I am a huge fan of historic architecture – hope to get to Madison one day!
Deb I like the antebellum architecture too!
I loved this tour! I’m so, so sorry I didn’t know about it when I was on my Epic tour of the US in 1984! I went through southern GA. I would have added this and planned my route around it like I did everywhere else I visited on that trip.
I have to go back!!
You sound like a planner when traveling, like I am !
These houses are beautiful. We drove through briefly once many years ago. I’d love to go back do the walking tour at some point!
Yes I want to do the Christmas tour they offer every year the first week in December!
The little cottage is just beautiful.
Such a fun gallery of photos!
It has been fun joining the #iPhriday .
Yes the IPhriday is one of my favorite Challenges! I am glad gray days and coffee hosts it because otherwise I always think my little spot in the world is so boring!
Ha, ha! Not too boring.