Back in 1838, when the quaint town of Milledgeville served as the capital of Georgia, Rockwell House was built for Colonel Samuel Rockwell. A prominent attorney, owner of enslaved people and a veteran of the Creek Indian War, he spared no expense on the grand mansion.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!However, in hindsight, he may well have wished he’d been thriftier. Rockwell commissioned an elaborate wrought iron fence to wrap around the property, which still stands today. But when he was presented with the astronomical bill of $2,600 – around $88,000 (£67k) today – it’s said he had a heart attack! Rockwell died in 1841 and the home became the summer retreat of Georgia Governor Herschel Vespasian Johnson.
Following Johnson’s death in 1880, the house passed through a succession of wealthy merchants and farmers.
Stepping through this elegant entryway whisks you back in time. The delicate glass windows and intricately carved doorframes give us an idea of life in a forgotten era, as well as the refined former owners of the home.
Leland Kent photographed the mansion back in 2019 and beautifully captured its faded glory – and hints at the disaster that struck the property back in 1969.
The then-owner, a dentist named Dr Watson, was attempting remove paint with a blowtorch while renovating his new home when he accidentally set it on fire! The extensive damage to the upper floor was repaired, but severe water damage suffered following the fire is still evident, as we can see.
It’s worth noting that there’s a hoard of gold buried beneath the house – at least, there is according to local legend. While no one knows why the treasure was secreted away or by whom, some believe it’s hiding within Rockwell’s foundations.
Inside, while there are some signs of wear and tear, the essentials – like the large sash windows, striking fireplace and elegant woodwork – still survive. With light flooding into the beautifully proportioned room, it’s easy to imagine how it might be restored and put to a new use…
Thankfully, that’s exactly what happened. Rockwell got a new lease of life when it was bought by investors in 2019 for just $319,500 (£243k) and faithfully resorted to its original splendour.
In March 2024, the elegant mansion sold again – this time for $850,000 (£646k). Today, Rockwell House is available to rent out as a holiday home and you can also get married there, making it the perfect place to step back in time and experience life inside a Georgia landmark.