The Revolving Fund’s successful history of saving homes noted for their architectural and historical significance began in March of 1990 with the acquisition of the c. 1829 Terrell-Stone House. Located in Sparta, the home represents the Revolving Fund’s initial effort at matching a unique, aging property in danger of succumbing to deterioration or development with a historically minded buyer sensitive to the intricate demands of restoration. While residing in Virginia, Richard and Mauriel Joslyn learned of the Terrell-Stone House and immediately found themselves drawn to the property. Already owners of a historic home, the Joslyns recognized what an extraordinary opportunity owning the Terrell-Stone house represented, and they purchased the property in March of 1991.  During their extensive restoration of the house, the Joslyns lived in one of the surrounding outbuildings before eventually establishing residence in the central house.

Terrell-Stone House before (above) and after (below)

The home’s rich history exemplifies why the survival of such properties helps bridge modern Georgia with its past. Dr. William Terrell, the home’s original owner, was a noted planter, physician and botanist.  Terrell not only served two terms in the United States Congress, but also had a county, type of grass, Civil War battery, University of Georgia professorship and a building on the school’s Athens campus named for him. A richly traveled man of impeccable taste, Terrell designed the many gardens thriving on the property to mirror those he had discovered in Italy and Europe. In fact, the Terrell-Stone House grounds were so revered that the Georgia Railroad rerouted a section of tracks rather than infringe on the property’s cultivated beauty. 

The house’s Federal style is exceedingly rare in Georgia outside of Savannah. Indeed, its striking Federalist features such as the fan-lit entrance and Palladian-influenced Ionic columns have contributed heavily to the spread of its reputation as a unique and important architectural work.

Through the collaborative efforts of the Trust and the Joslyn family, the Terrell-Stone House again stands in its original glory. The successful purchase of the Terrell-Stone House set in motion the Revolving Fund’s quest to further the cause of historic preservation in Georgia, the effects of which continue to reverberate throughout the state. 

Do you know of an endangered historic property in your town? The Georgia Trust may be able to help. Contact Frank White, Revolving Fund director, at 404-885-7807. 

-Matt Rahn