Hickory Hill Marker

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Thomson in McDuffie County, Georgia — The American South (South Atlantic)

Hickory Hill

By David Seibert, May 14, 2011

1. Hickory Hill Marker

Inscription. Populist presidential candidate and Georgia political leader Thomas E. Watson purchased this house from Captain James Wilson in 1900. Watson extensively renovated both the house and grounds, installing telephones and even constructing a power plant to provide the house with lighting and water for the indoor plumbing. In 1910 Watson constructed a printing plant, known as the Jeffersonian, at Hickory Hill. The plant employed thirty workers and produced his periodicals and books. After the death of Watson and his wife, their granddaughter Georgia Watson Craven owned Hickory Hill until 1947 when Walter J. Brown purchased the house to preserve it in memory of Thomas Watson. Today the house is owned and operated by the Watson-Brown Foundation.

Erected 2007 by Georgia Historical Society and the Watson-Brown Foundation. (Marker Number 97-2.)

Location. 33° 28.15′ N, 82° 30.717′ W. Marker is in Thomson, Georgia, in McDuffie County. Marker is on Hickory Hill Drive 0.1 miles west of North Lee Street, on the right when traveling west. Click for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 502 Hickory Hill Drive, Thomson GA 30824, United States of America.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, as the crow flies

By David Seibert, May 14, 2011

2. Hickory Hill Marker

. Home of Thomas E. Watson (approx. ¼ mile away); Sen. Thomas E. Watson (approx. 0.4 miles away); McDuffie County (approx. 0.4 miles away); Thomas Edward Watson (approx. 0.4 miles away); Rear Admiral Richard Ellington Hawes (approx. 0.4 miles away); Usry House (approx. half a mile away); Blind Willie McTell (approx. 0.6 miles away); The Rock House (approx. 2.8 miles away). Click for a list of all markers in Thomson.

More about this marker. The marker is erroneously numbered 97-2; it should be 94-2.

Also see . . .
1. The New Georgia Encyclopedia. A profile of Senator Watson (Submitted on May 27, 2011.)

2. The Watson-Brown Foundation. This website offers links to history, additional information and photos. (Submitted on May 27, 2011.)

By David Seibert, May 14, 2011

3. Hickory Hill Marker

The entrance to the home, which is open for special tours.

Sen. Thomas Edward Watson Photo, Click for full size

Courtesy of the Watson-Brown Foundation, Inc. and the New Georgia Encyclopedia

4. Sen. Thomas Edward Watson

Credits. This page originally submitted on May 25, 2011, by David Seibert of Sandy Springs, Georgia. This page has been viewed 177 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on May 25, 2011, by David Seibert of Sandy Springs, Georgia. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.