The Couey House

The Couey House. Summerville Historic Site. Built in the early 1840’s by Andrew McSelland Couey, this log house was one of the earliest pioneer homes in Chattooga County. As the land was cleared, the house was constructed of huge logs which were hoisted into place and carved into half dovetail ends as the house was erected. The house was restored to this site as it was considered to be a significant representation of the craftsmanship and lifestyle of the early pioneers in this area of north Georgia., Originally, the house was located nearly seven miles from this site in Dirt Town Valley near Tidings, Georgia. As the home of the family of Andrey and Fereby Couey, the house was once surrounded by a profitable 400 acre farm which produced corn, cotton and livestock. As with many southern homes, the War Between the States brought much hardship as Union soldiers passed through the area and depleted supplies., In addition to the loss of material goods, the inhabitants of the Couey house suffered greatly during the War Between the States with the death of their son Andrew Jackson Couey in Virginia on November 1, 1861. Like most Chattooga County men, Couey fought with the Confederate Army. His death and all Chattooga County’s loss of life were particularly ironic, since this humble county with very few slave holders had voted against secession from the Union at the Secession Convention held in Milledgeville, Georgia on January 19, 1861 . The Couey's younger son, Eli Couey, also joined Company B, 9th Georgia Infantry, served throughout the war, and was present at the surrender at Appomattox, Virginia on April 9, 1865., Also known as the Couey-Owings-Knowles House, this historic structure was the home of Andrew Couey until his death in 1882. Later, in 1904, it became the home of Couey's granddaughter, Flora Couey, who married William H. Owings. After the farm was subdivided and sold over the following decades, the house was last owned by Billy Knowles prior to being acquired by the Georgia Department of Transportation. Due to the widening of U.S. Highway 27, the original site of the Couey house was needed. The relocation to Dowdy Park in Summerville was begun in 1995 and, though modern additions to the house had been added, only the original log structure was moved., Heroic efforts of the Summerville Fire Department saved the house from complete loss in 2005. As the house was once again restored, the preacher porches were removed to allow the front porch to be open across the full width of the structure. This returned the facade to the appearance of the early 1900’s as remembered by Chattooga County Historian, Robert S. Baker, descendent of the Couey family and author of Chattooga The Story of A County and Its People., Since 1998, the house has been maintained by the City of Summerville as an example of historic preservation and for the enjoyment and education of all who visit the site. The Chattooga County Historical Society has continued to assist with the preservation and furnishing of the house as well as with the documentation of the history surrounding it.