THOMASVILLE- The National Historic Landmark property, the Lapham-Patterson House, located at 626 North Dawson Street in the historic district in Thomasville, has been transformed into a Christmas wonderland. The property is owned by the State of Georgia and operated by the Thomasville History Center.

The two front parlors boast Christmas trees decorated in the Victorian style, in keeping with the age of the house. The house was built between 1884-1885, during the height of the great resort era in Thomasville.

The hexagonal-shaped dining room was decorated by the John Lee of Nansemond Chapter, National Society Colonial Dames Seventeenth Century. The Eastlake table and chairs are original to the house. The apple cone, the center piece of the table, was crafted by Mary Margaret Quiggle. The Lord and Lady Fox salt and pepper shakers are from Winterthur, the Dupont Museum in Delaware, and the brass candlesticks are from Italy. The featured china pattern, Royal Hunt by Noritake, was chosen for its motif of wild game, indicative of South Georgia hunting plantations.

Charles William Lapham, a shoe merchant and Quaker from Chicago, Illinois, built the house as a winter cottage. He and his architect, Jens Peter Theodore Rommerdall, a Danish immigrant, accomplished the construction of the 6,000 square feet house, a Queen Anne Style, late Victorian era cottage. Heart pine timber from the local area was used in the construction of the house, with the exception of the staircase spindles, which were made of imported walnut.

Lapham’s pyrophobia, triggered by the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, which burned for three days, destroying most of Chicago, likely caused the institution of the unusual features of the house. It has forty-five doors and fifty-three windows in the nineteen rooms. Most of the windows are close to the floor and reach almost to the ceiling, opening from either the top or the bottom for easy entrance or exit through the porches in the event of fire. However, the heart pine used in the construction of the house is very flammable. Another unique feature of the house is a basement. Lapham, being from the North thought every house should have a basement, so he created one under part of the kitchen. It was used for storage of milk, cheese, eggs, and wine.

Anyone looking for a delightful adventure should step back in time and visit the truly one of a kind Victorian resort-era home of Charles William Lapham and his wife, Emma Mary Conger Lapham. Also, those who are lucky might even have an encounter with the resident ghosts.

The house may be rented for various events, such as small to medium-sized banquets, family reunions, and wedding receptions. Guided tours of the house are available for a nominal fee. Tour times are Thursday at 1, 2, or 3 p.m.; Friday at 1, 2, or 3 p.m.; Saturday 10, 11 a.m. and 1, 2, and 3 p.m. Group tours may be arranged by calling 229-226-7664, emailing history@rose.net, or thomasvillehistory.org. There is also available a three room guest suite available for rent by contacting the History Center or VRBO or Airbnb.

An ornament workshop will be held on December 14th. To sign up go to Lapham-Patterson House Holiday Ornament Workshop-Thomasville History Center/Brushfire