Athens in Athens-Clarke County, Georgia — The American South (South Atlantic)

Church-Waddel-Brumby House

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, June 11, 2022

1. Church-Waddel-Brumby House Marker

Inscription. This property has been
placed on the
National Register
of Historic Places
by the United States
Department of the Interior

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Architecture. A significant historical year for this entry is 1820.

Location. 33° 57.739′ N, 83° 22.482′ W. Marker is in Athens, Georgia, in Athens-Clarke County. It is on East Dougherty Street east of North Jackson Street, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 280 E Dougherty St, Athens GA 30601, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Classic City Area

and in the Piedmont.

It is also in the American South

and specifically in the Deep South.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance

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of this marker: Ware-Lyndon House (about 700 feet away, measured in a direct line); Ware-Lyndon House Through the Years (about 700 feet away); The Life and Times of Two Athens Families (about 700 feet away); The Parterre Gardens of Athens (approx. 0.2 miles away); Ware-Lyndon House Garden Features (approx. 0.2 miles away); Origins of Formal Parterre Gardens/Gardens of the Antebellum South & Athens (approx. 0.2 miles away); Olympic Games in Athens (approx. 0.2 miles away); Clarke County (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Athens.

Regarding Church-Waddel-Brumby House. Excerpt from the National Register nomination (“University” refers to the University of Georgia):

Built by a professor and the home of an illustrious president of the University, the Church-Waddel-Brimby house is a rare symbol of the early days of Athens and the University, and a rare example of Federal architecture.

The house has been the subject of much misinformation, including a wrong date. In synopsis, its actual history, as discovered in research for this nomination, is that Alonzo Church, professor at the University and later
Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, June 11, 2022

2. Church-Waddel-Brumby House Marker
The house now is a museum and welcome center.
president, had the house built; never lived in it but sold it to Moses Waddel, who lived in it nine years while president of the University; and who sold it after his retirement to Mrs. Sarah H. Harris, whose descendants occupied it until the death of the Misses Brumby in the mid-1960's.

Also see . . .
1. Church-Waddel-Brumby House (PDF). National Register nomination for the house, which was listed in 1975. (National Archives) (Submitted on June 14, 2022, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

2. Historic Athens Welcome Center. Website home page:
Links to a 360-degree virtual tour and details about the rooms and furnishings in the house, believed to be the oldest one still standing in Athens. (Submitted on June 14, 2022, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

Credits. This page was last revised on March 19, 2023. It was originally submitted on June 14, 2022, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 489 times since then and 61 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 14, 2022, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.