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Historic Thomasville Georgia ~ A step back in time Linda S. Manning, Author and Photographer
Thomasville, Georgia takes pride
in the good life by way of clean air, thousands of Pine, Oak and
Dogwood trees and hundred’s of varieties of Rose bushes. With
low crime and an affordable cost of living, Thomasville is a
draw for the newly retired or trend setters of today. A
population in the region of 20,000 and a four season climate
with an average high of 78° and an average low of 55°,
Thomasville is located less than 3 hours from Jacksonville,
Florida, 45 miles W of I-75 at Valdosta, Georgia, 35 miles NE of
Tallahassee, Florida and in the center of what is referred to as
the Red Hills.
Downtown Thomasville
The drive from Jacksonville, Florida in January 2005
along Highway 10 for 132 miles was uneventful with little to see along
the way. As my husband and I drove out of the rain to blue skies with
few clouds and a temperature of 68°, our route took us to US19 through
the small town of Monticello. As we progressed on US19, the picture was
constantly changing. Since the land is known to have very fertile soil
and is surrounded by tall long-leaf pines you can smell the crispness of
the surroundings. We viewed the infamous red clay lining the perimeter
of the highway as we passed Meadow Lake Farms (catering to small
horses), Tree Farms, Orchards, and Wild Ridge Plantation.
As we passed the Thomasville Rose Garden we couldn’t
help but think how spectacular the gardens would look while in bloom.
Old stately Victorians stood tall and majestic as we traveled to our
overnight destination, The Dawson Street Inn, beautifully appointed with
period antiques and that special attention to detail.
The history of Thomasville is a captivating chronicle.
It was said that Major General Jet Thomas, a member of the State Militia
during the War of 1812 named the area Thomasville. At that time, it
became the center of educational, socio/economic, political and
religious activities.
The rich land permitted the formation of plantations
which had a rigid and static society based on cotton. Although never
totally dependent on cotton, during the Civil War it supplied men and
goods for the cause.
When the railroad evolved, Thomasville was then
accessible from the north. During the late 1800’s as a winter resort the
area offered such sports as hunting, fishing and an active social life.
Visitors came for health reasons and to inhale the pine scented air. In
addition, the area offered some of the most luxuriously appointed hotels
of America’s Gilded Age. Thomasville was noted as the ‘Original Winter
Resort of the South.’
Winter cottages such as The
Lapham-Patterson House, a State Historic Site built in 1885 is a
true example of Victorian engineering and craftsmanship with its
fish scale shingles and visible engineering and craftsmanship
throughout. Visit
www.gastateparks.org
Many who came
to Thomasville during that time built magnificent mansions and
plantations many of which are still owned today by the families
who built them.
Lapham-Patterson House
Of course you can’t depart Thomasville
without a tour of Pebble Hill Plantation just 5 miles from the
center of town and located on over 3,000 acres of land.
Pebble Hill Plantation
A romantic, historic and artistic
plantation,
www.pebblehill.com was the winter home to the Hanna family
from Cleveland. It is a testimony to the sporting life in the
beginning of the 20th century boasting hundreds of horse
paintings, prints and Audubon prints.
The main house has over 40 rooms, some
majestic and alluring.
The Visitors Center located on the grounds hosts a 15
minute video as an overview of the history of the plantation. The
plantation has several buildings including The Cow Barn, Stables,
Carriage House, Carpenter’s Shop, Gardens, a Fire Engine House and many
more.
Today, Thomasville is home to the famous Main Street
which is actually a collection of streets in the center of town. Visit
www.downtownthomasville.com as the town was chosen by the
National Main Street Center as one of the ‘Great American Main Street,’
as one of 5 towns in the nation. Stroll the brick paved streets to visit
an abundance of specialty shops, antiques stores and restaurants.
Located on US84 and billed as the
second largest Farmer’s Market, also offering The Market Diner
on the same grounds is a true testament of southern cooking.
A hearty buffet of okra, collard greens,
turnips, butter beans, black eyed peas, fried chicken, BBQ pork,
cornbread and the luscious Red Velvet cake are few of the items
that will tantalize your pallet.
Farmer’s Market
George and Louie’s, a fresh seafood restaurant on
Remington offer a casual atmosphere full to capacity with art deco metal
chairs and wood tables accented with white walls, ceiling fans and 30
pair of floor to ceiling windows with 15 panes each topped with an
ornamental transom. Ordering from the counter comes with the fresh aroma
of the seafood plates whether fried or grilled, paired with the Original
Louie’s Greek salad. Although the food was served on paper plates and
plastic ware, it was not a sacrifice for taste. The grilled combination
seafood platter should not be overlooked.
Liam’s
Our final culinary tour ends with Saturday
evening dinner at ‘The Best New Dining Discovery 2003’ recipient
of Georgia Trend Magazine for Liam’s Restaurant on E. Jackson. A
petite sized restaurant with eclectic flair, an ever changing
menu and service with a plus is open for lunch and diner with
Chef Scott Foster and Manager Rhonda Foster. Decorated with
local artists paintings Liam’s offers an atmosphere with
attention to detail.
I ordered the World Cheese Board as one of its
collections of cheeses from around the world. Tonight’s offering,
Farmstead Garroxta, a combination of goat and sheep's milk from
Catalonia, Spain had a creamy texture that went well with (BYOB) a glass
of Black Swan from Australia. An entrée of New Zealand Rack of Lamb was
perfectly prepared and served with Ratatouille, lavender gastrique. My
husband ordered the Grilled Beef Tenderloin which melted in your mouth
and was served with fresh asparagus and a red wine sauce. It was a
pleasant experience with the best service and personality, we highly
recommend Liam’s.
The following day we visited
Thomasville’s majestic ‘The Big Oak’ said have started from a
tiny acorn, born in 1685. The limb span spreads to 162’ and has
a trunk circumference of 24’, massive and intriguing.
Our visit to Thomasville although only a few days
were crowned with highlights of charm, character and history
neatly packed into a small town.
The Big Oak
Information and photos submitted
by:
Linda S. Manning Author and Photographer
The Kitt Shepley House
23 Division Street
Newport, Rhode Island 02840
877.362.8664
www.kittshepleyhouse.com
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