John crawled underneath, and it's an incredible crawlspace under the entire house. We can do anything now. Electricity, plumbing, heating and cooling.
Sunday, October 28, 2012
Foundation Complete!
John and I went to the house several weeks ago, and to our amazement, the foundation looks beautiful! It's solid, straight, and strong. They're not ugly blocks; they're the bones, the support, the plinth for the house to rest.
John crawled underneath, and it's an incredible crawlspace under the entire house. We can do anything now. Electricity, plumbing, heating and cooling.
John crawled underneath, and it's an incredible crawlspace under the entire house. We can do anything now. Electricity, plumbing, heating and cooling.
Sunday, September 2, 2012
Blocks.
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
More Foundation Moments . . .
Blocks will be laid and the house will rest on a new foundation. Perhaps 150 years old, it lasted until this moment. A huge, massive edifice, a home, is floating on temporary wooden pillars. The ground is removed and leveled. Cement footers are poured. The house gets ready for another century.
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
History Mystery and the house gets a new name!
We are researching the history of this house. The front part of the house is MUCH older than the back extension.
We bought the house in 2011 from the estate of Mildred Colley Moore. She owned the house, along with her brother, Eugene Parks Colley, Jr. Eugene and his sister Mildred purchased the house in 1993 from the estate of their mother, Lula Belle Colley.
In the records at the White County courthouse, we found a 1947 Warranty Deed for Lot 108 in the 2nd district. A transaction from the estate of Mrs. G. N. (Lenora) Colley to her son, Eugene Parks (Sr), who was married to Lula Belle.
In this deed, are 2 notable statements; Lot no. 107 is mentioned, "Also part of lot of land No. 107 in the second district . . . ." But more importantly, a previous owner's name is listed, "The above lands known as the J.F. Ledford old home place, and the place on which the grantor now lives. This is now known as the G.N. Colley old home place."
Detail: 1947 Deed Record, Book FF, page 247.
"Old home place" is a term used to denote a dwelling or home. So we know there was a house involved in the property transactions. Now we're looking for a property transaction between a Ledford and Colley.
We found it. A 1913 record of an 1896 transaction. It records the 1896 property transaction between J.F. Ledford and G.N.Colley for Lots 108 and 80 in the 2nd District, with the note "the above lands known as the J.F. Ledford homeplace.' This 1913 entry records the earlier transaction with witnesses, I.L Oakes and G.S Kytle N.P. So, George Newton Colley bought the house from John F Ledford in 1896.
Detail: 1913 record of 1896 transaction, Book O, page 478-479
So who was J. F. Ledford? Here's what we have from US census records from 1850 to 1900.
John Fletcher Ledford born 1828 Habersham Co. Georgia (son of Curtis Aaron Ledford, a farmer and carpenter, who came to the area around 1822)
Married Rosa Bramblett Ledford born 1829.
1850 Census Habersham Co., Georgia (White County was est. in 1857)
J. F. Ledford 22
Rosa 21 F
W. R. 11/12 M
1860 Census White Co., GA
John F. Ledford 32 M farmer
Rosa 32 F
Wesley 10 M
Nancy Ann 8 F
Louvenia 6 F
Enoch 3 M
Sarah 1 F
1870 Census White Co., Ga Subd 135
John Ledford 44 M farming
Rose 42 F keeping house
Wesly 20 M farm hand
Nancy 17 F
Lurena 15 F
Sarah 11 F
Jefferson 9 M
John 4 M
Ruth 1 F
Louvena LEDFORD Dau 22 F At Home
Sarah LEDFORD Dau 19 F At Home
Jefferson LEDFORD Son 17 M At Home
John LEDFORD Son 13 M At Home
Rutha LEDFORD Dau 11 F At Home
There is no 1890 census. (burned in a courthouse fire)
1900 Census White Co. Ga Blue Creek District (JF Ledford family no longer listed)
George N. Colley Head b. 1858 Farmer
We bought the house in 2011 from the estate of Mildred Colley Moore. She owned the house, along with her brother, Eugene Parks Colley, Jr. Eugene and his sister Mildred purchased the house in 1993 from the estate of their mother, Lula Belle Colley.
In the records at the White County courthouse, we found a 1947 Warranty Deed for Lot 108 in the 2nd district. A transaction from the estate of Mrs. G. N. (Lenora) Colley to her son, Eugene Parks (Sr), who was married to Lula Belle.
In this deed, are 2 notable statements; Lot no. 107 is mentioned, "Also part of lot of land No. 107 in the second district . . . ." But more importantly, a previous owner's name is listed, "The above lands known as the J.F. Ledford old home place, and the place on which the grantor now lives. This is now known as the G.N. Colley old home place."
Detail: 1947 Deed Record, Book FF, page 247.
"Old home place" is a term used to denote a dwelling or home. So we know there was a house involved in the property transactions. Now we're looking for a property transaction between a Ledford and Colley.
We found it. A 1913 record of an 1896 transaction. It records the 1896 property transaction between J.F. Ledford and G.N.Colley for Lots 108 and 80 in the 2nd District, with the note "the above lands known as the J.F. Ledford homeplace.' This 1913 entry records the earlier transaction with witnesses, I.L Oakes and G.S Kytle N.P. So, George Newton Colley bought the house from John F Ledford in 1896.
So who was J. F. Ledford? Here's what we have from US census records from 1850 to 1900.
John Fletcher Ledford born 1828 Habersham Co. Georgia (son of Curtis Aaron Ledford, a farmer and carpenter, who came to the area around 1822)
Married Rosa Bramblett Ledford born 1829.
1850 Census Habersham Co., Georgia (White County was est. in 1857)
J. F. Ledford 22
Rosa 21 F
W. R. 11/12 M
1860 Census White Co., GA
John F. Ledford 32 M farmer
Rosa 32 F
Wesley 10 M
Nancy Ann 8 F
Louvenia 6 F
Enoch 3 M
Sarah 1 F
1870 Census White Co., Ga Subd 135
John Ledford 44 M farming
Rose 42 F keeping house
Wesly 20 M farm hand
Nancy 17 F
Lurena 15 F
Sarah 11 F
Jefferson 9 M
John 4 M
Ruth 1 F
1880 Census White Co. Ga Blue Creek
John F. LEDFORD Head 54 M Farmer
Rosey LEDFORD Wife 54 F Keeping HouseJohn F. LEDFORD Head 54 M Farmer
Louvena LEDFORD Dau 22 F At Home
Sarah LEDFORD Dau 19 F At Home
Jefferson LEDFORD Son 17 M At Home
John LEDFORD Son 13 M At Home
Rutha LEDFORD Dau 11 F At Home
In 1860, John Fletcher Ledford, 32, is listed as a farmer with real estate valued at $850, personal value of $400. We will continue to research the history of both the Ledford and Colley families, original owners of this house.
Saturday, June 30, 2012
Saturday, June 23, 2012
Removing the front porch . . .
The front porch was added some time in mid 20th century. There is dirt under and up-against the house. Porch gone, cement pad next . . .
Saving the house: Foundation
Foundation work has begun. After discussing with our contractors, we elected to dig out. The front sill needs to be replaced along with some joists.
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