Welcome to Brick House Events at lamarwood.com
The "Langston-Daniel" house, built circa 1820 by David Langston,
is located in Oglethorpe County, 12 miles east of Athens, Georgia.
It is one of the oldest standing brick house in Oglethorpe county
and surrounding counties.
Prior to 1773 mostly the Cherokee and Creek Indian tribes inhabited the land which now surrounds the Brick House. As European settlers encroached on the native american lands, the "Indians' became debtors to the white traders to such an extent that the Cherokee and Creek found theselves ceding more and more land in order to clear their debts. In 1773, while negotiating a new treaty involving several days of expanded surveying, it is said than an old Cherokee chief stuck his tomahawk into a large oak tree saying, "Here we stop. indians go no further." This the the site of Cherokee Corner, a famous council ground for the Cherokee before the treaty. The inscription on today's historic marker, less than a mile from the Brick house states:
Memorial to perpetuate the memory of Cherokee Corner.
The boundary line as determined by the treaty of 1773, between the Cherokee Indians
on the north, Creeke Indians on the west, and Georgia on the south and east.
Erected by the Elijah Clarke Chapter D.A.R. of Athens, Georgia, October 12, 1925
It is unclear when David Langston arrived in Georgia. Langston, buried in Cherokee Corner Cemetery, was born in Virginia in 1758, and by 1816 was living in Columbia County Georgia. At this time he purchased 172 acres in Oglethorpe County on the headwaters of Big Creek, less than a mile from Cherokee Corner. By 1829 Langston, as we find in his Will, left to his wife a portion of a house which by its description is clearly the Brick House, thus dating its construction between 1816 and 1829. Pat Cooper, whose efforts helped place the house on the National Historic Register in 1978, dates the construction closer to 1829 due to interior architectural details which generally appeared after 1820. The structure, constructed from bricks likely made on location, is one of only three surviving brick houses from before 1830 in the area comprising Oglethorpe and all the surrounding counties, having a period of settlement from the 1770’s to the 1820’s. The house presents a very late Federal interior, while the parapet gable ends recall a style of much earlier times. This is not surprising, since David Langston, born in the 1750’s, built a house incorporating elements from his time. The twelve over twelve pane window sashes on the north side of the house are one such detail. The rare use of parapet end walls at the gable ends and between the double chimneys give the home a monumental character. This style, popular in England in the 17th century, was already old-fashioed in the early 18th century, making its use in the 19th century highly archaic.
Other points of interest:
- While appearing symmetrical, the west rooms of the house are larger
with thicker walls than those on the east side.
- The house originally had four enclosed stairwells - main stairs, back stairs to
upstairs east bedrooms, enclosed attic stairway, and stairs to the basement.
- There are three full rooms in the basement including an English kitchen
with a full hearth.
- The unusual brick arches in the basement (existing under hearths above) contain
vents to improve draft in each of four chimneys serving nine fireplaces.
According to Carlton M. Dillard's book "Fielding Dillard and Descendants" (found in the Oglethorpe Co. library), O.C. Land Records show that following Langston's death and the administration of his estate, the property came into possession of Henderson Willingham who in 1855 sold the house and 401 acres to Joseph B. Dillard. There are other records (source?) indicating the house was passed to Langston's daughter-in-law, Urania Langston who married George Smythe (Smith?).
That Smythe (Smith) did indeed own the property is supported by an "Eligible Property" advertisement posted July 16, 1853 in the Augusta Chronicle:
A Handsome and highly improved country RESIDENCE and FARM for sale, in Oglethorpe county, on the road leading from Lexington to Athens, near Cherokee corner,
and commonly known as the Brick Tract, consisting of 400 acres lying level, and the one-fourth in roads. A large two story substantial brick Building, with elegant
green house and handsome flower yard: orchards and garden, with an abundant variety of choice and rare fruits: excellent well and spring of water, good cellars, convenient
negro houses and all necessary out-buildings for farming purposes. The locality for health and good society, with easy access to Athens and Lexington, is one of the most
desirable in the up-country. A ready sale for the produce of the farm can be always obtained on the premises. The Railroad lies within a few hundred yards of the house. Land
enough can be bought in the neighborhood to make out a farm of 1900 acres. All can be obtained at moderate prices and on easy terms. The place could suit a good
Physician. Persons wishing to purchase could do well to apply early, for if not sold privately, before the first Tuesday in October, it will then be put up to the highest bidder at
the Court- house door in Lexington, as the present owners are determined to retire from the planting interest. Letters will receive attention, prepaid, and addressed to
G.M. SMITH
Lexington, Oglethorpe co., Ga.
Records indicate that in 1855 (either Willingham or) Smythe (Smith) sold the “Brick tract” to Joseph B. Dillard who in 1878 passed the property to his daughter Elizabeth Daniel, married to Amaziah Daniel. Interestingly, the first brick house built in the area was built by James Daniel (Amaziah's father) near the Kettle Creek Battlefield in Wilkes County, Georgia. The two houses are similar in architecture, so through his marriage to Mary Elizabeth Dillard, Amaziah came to own and live in a structure very similar to his childhood home. It remained the Daniel house until 1917 when with 200 acres it passed by bequest to Mrs. Daniel’s nephew, S.H. Dillard, who sold it to Mrs. Katie Mae Hardin in 1925.
The present owner, Lamar Wood purchased the house from the Hardin family in 1993. Mr. Wood is in the process of restoring and preserving the house. (Photos below are from the Historic American Buildings Survey conducted between 1935 and 1940.)
