Sparta in Hancock County, Georgia — The American South (South Atlantic)

"Old Dominion"

Photographed By Judith Barber, May 20, 2012

1. "Old Dominion" Marker

Inscription. At “Old Dominion”, then the home of John Lucas, in late December 1806, the first meeting of the Methodist North Georgia Conference was held. Although Sparta then was the extreme western appointment in the conference, preachers came from as far away as the North Carolina seaboard to the session. Earlier that year John Lucas with other Methodists in this section had been instrumental in the founding of Sparta’s first Methodist Church and the Sparta Circuit.

Erected 1995 by Georgia Historical Commission. (Marker Number 070-5.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Churches & Religion. In addition, it is included in the Georgia Historical Society series list. A significant historical month for this entry is December 1806.

Location. 33° 16.767′ N, 82° 58.619′ W. Marker is in Sparta, Georgia, in Hancock County. Marker is on Jones Street, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 822 Jones Street, Sparta GA 31087, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 6 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Sparta Cemetery (approx. ¼ mile away); Pierce Memorial Methodist Church (approx. 0.3 miles away); Old Eagle Tavern (approx. 0.3 miles away); Hancock County (approx.

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0.3 miles away); Sparta (approx. 0.4 miles away); Rockby (approx. 2.4 miles away); Nathan S.S. Beman at Mt. Zion (approx. 5.6 miles away); Mt. Zion Church (approx. 5.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Sparta.

Additional commentary.
1. "Old Dominion" Marker
Old Dominion was one of the architecturally most important houses in Sparta.* The house had been deteriorating since the 1920s, and finally collapsed in the early 1980s. The site became an industrial park.

The original marker was removed shortly after the house vanished, and as of 2011 it had never been replaced. Apparently now, 30 or so years after the house collapsed, it has.

(* Both John Rozier's book on "The Houses of Hancock: 1785-1865" and Prof. John Linley's book, "Architecture of Middle Georgia The Oconee Area" agree on this point.)

— Submitted May 21, 2012, by David Seibert of Sandy Springs, Georgia.

Photographed By David Seibert, August 2, 2012

2. "Old Dominion" Marker

Photographed By Judith Barber, May 20, 2012

3. "Old Dominion" Marker

Photographed By David Seibert, August 2, 2012

4. "Old Dominion" Marker

Looking south on Jones Street (Georgia Highways 15 and 16) toward the Hancock County Courthouse in the distance. On the right, barely visible, is the Dr. William Terrell House, c.1822. Frederick Nichols, an architectural writer, described it as "one of the most refined and graceful homes in all of Georgia."

Photographed By David Seibert, August 2, 2012

5. "Old Dominion" Marker

The marker points to the site of the house, now the location of the Sparta-Hancock Detention Facility.

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on May 21, 2012, by Judith Barber of Marietta, Georgia. This page has been viewed 1,127 times since then and 61 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on May 21, 2012, by Judith Barber of Marietta, Georgia. 2. submitted on August 9, 2012, by David Seibert of Sandy Springs, Georgia. 3. submitted on May 21, 2012, by Judith Barber of Marietta, Georgia. 4, 5. submitted on August 9, 2012, by David Seibert of Sandy Springs, Georgia. • Craig Swain was the editor who published this page.