The Lapham–Patterson House is a historic site at 626 North Dawson Street in
Thomasville, Georgia. The house, built between 1884-85 as a winter cottage for businessman C.W. Lapham of
Chicago, is a significant example of
Victorian architecture. It has a number of architectural details, such as fishscale shingles, an intricately designed porch, long-leaf pine inlaid floors, and a double-flue chimney. Inside, the house was well-appointed with a gas lighting system, hot and cold running water, indoor plumbing, and modern closets. Its most significant feature is its completely intentional lack of symmetry. None of the windows, doors, or closets are square. The house is a Georgia Historic Site and is also a
National Historic Landmark, designated in 1973 for its architecture.
It is also a
contributing building in the National Register-listed
Dawson Street Residential Historic District
The Dawson Street Residential Historic District, in Thomasville, Georgia, is a historic district which was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1984. It then included 380 contributing buildings and three contributing sites.
...
.
The three-story structure has a mellow-yellow exterior with brick-red roof and chimneys. At the core of the house is a hexagonal-shaped room. There are at least 50 exits; Mr. Lapham had been in the
Great Chicago Fire and subsequently became paranoid about being trapped in a burning building.
The house was deliberately constructed slightly askew to take advantage of sunlight entering the third floor during the Spring and Fall
Equinoxes. Within is a gentlemen's parlor with a small stage featuring a
stained-glass window in the center. In the fretwork outside the room over the balcony are animal and amorphous shapes cut into the wood. In the center is a cutout of what is presumably the head of
Mrs. O'Leary's cow.
During the Spring and Fall Equinoxes the patterns are projected by sunlight onto the floor through the glass. The total effect is that, in the center of the stained glass window's colorful pattern on the floor, the shadow of the cow's head can be seen.
Mr. Lapham was a Quaker.
Images
Image:18-08-020-lapham-patterson.jpg, The dining room
Image:18-08-048-lapham-patterson.jpg, Formal parlor
Image:18-08-068-lapham-patterson.jpg, Detail of windows
Image:18-08-087-lapham-patterson.jpg, Guest bedroom
Image:18-08-109-lapham-patterson.jpg, Sitting rooms
Image:18-08-118-lapham-patterson.jpg, Gentlemen's parlor
File:Lapham-Patterson House, Thomasville, GA, US (02).jpg
File:Lapham-Patterson House, Thomasville, GA, US (09).jpg
File:Lapham-Patterson House, Thomasville, GA, US (14).jpg
File:Lapham-Patterson House, Thomasville, GA, US (29).jpg
See also
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List of Georgia state parks
This is a list of state parks in Georgia. The park system of the US state of Georgia was founded in 1931 with Indian Springs State Park and Vogel State Park. Indian Springs has been operated by the state as a public park since 1825, making it p ...
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List of National Historic Landmarks in Georgia (U.S. state)
This is a List of National Historic Landmarks in Georgia. The United States National Historic Landmark program is operated under the auspices of the National Park Service, and recognizes structures, districts, objects, and similar resources acco ...
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References
External links
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Lapham–Patterson House Historic Site
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lapham-Patterson House
Houses completed in 1885
National Historic Landmarks in Georgia (U.S. state)
State parks of Georgia (U.S. state)
Historic house museums in Georgia (U.S. state)
Museums in Thomas County, Georgia
Protected areas established in 1970
Houses in Thomas County, Georgia
National Register of Historic Places in Thomas County, Georgia