Christmas evening at Callaway, Dec 8 from 7-9 pm will feature period-correct decorations of the 1869 Brick House, illuminated with candles and oil lamps. The Molly Pitcher’s and friends will be in authentic 1860s dress and will entertain with Christmas Carols. They may even dance a reel in the main hallway! Join us for homemade snacks, a beautiful venue and lots of Christmas cheer. Hearth side cooking in the cabin and needlework in the Grey House is featured, as well as other informative and interesting re-enactors that offer a step back in time. Join us and see how it REALLY was!

The Cherry Grove Schoolhouse is a rare surviving example of an early 20th century rural African American school building in Georgia. The building was constructed circa 1910 on the grounds of the Cherry Grove Baptist Church (founded 1875) as a part of the 175th school district for the rural farming children of Cohentown and Sandtown. It is a one-room wood-frame schoolhouse of approximately 465 square feet. It has a timber frame wooden structure covered in clapboard supported by stacked stone piers.

It still retains a high level of integrity through its materials and design as a rural African-American church-based schoolhouse; its original location; its setting and feeling in a rural area; and its association with the education of African-Americans in Wilkes County.

Episcopalians had been gathering in Washington since the 1830s, but it was May 1868 when the Church of the Mediator was received into the Diocese.The present church was concentrated in 1896 on property acquired from the Toombs family. It replaced an earlier structure near the Square destroyed in the Great Fire of 1895. Particularly significant are the stained glass windows created by the Wilbur Burnham Studios. Robert Willingham Jr. will be giving a talk about the history of the episcopal church and it’s windows at 11:00A, 1:00P and 3:00P on the day of the tour. 

The Hendricks Florist on the Square was one of Washington’s earliest “picture shows” when it opened in 1913 as the Princess Theatre. Thomas M. Nabers, local Coca-Cola bottler, was building owner. The silent movie epic “Quo Vadis” was featured in 1914. In later years it was a dry goods store. Harold Blum was proprietor during and after World War II. McConnell’s 5&10 was also a long time occupant.

It was over 140 years ago the buildings near the southeast corner of Court Street and North Jefferson first housed livery stables and blacksmith services. Former Confederate soldier J.F. Jackson, with Black artisans Ben Allen and Peter Lamar employed as his smiths, developed the site in the 1880s for his livery, horse and mule barn, and sales arena. The original structure for his livery and carriage house was replaced in 1896 with a large frame building that extended from Court Street to the south corner of the present brick edifice. Next to it on the southside was a general mercantile store and several Black-operated businesses. This stretch of Jefferson Street was the center of Washington’s Black commercial district from the 1890s until World War II.

In 1908, livery stable, then managed by J.C. Fanning, was rebuilt in brick just after World War I, the blacksmith shop at the front right-hand side.

From livery to carriage shop to blacksmith to sales barn, the building modified itself with the passing times to become an automobile garage and repair shop, a go-kart factory, and even, briefly, a roller-skating rink. It has now come full circle to embrace its origins as a place for crafts people and artisans. By 2021 the building was condemned and in vary bad shape. When current owners Patrick and Leye Blount found it. Patrick is a full time Artist/Architectural blacksmith and, after purchasing the building in late 2021 Patrick set out to restore this building back to its original purpose, a working blacksmith shop. For more information please see www.greenhowhandmade.com and Please visit the YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/@123n.jeffersonst.9 where they documented all of the restoration work done to save this building. 

A legend in his own time, Robert Toombs was a successful planter and lawyer who led a turbulent career as state legislator, U.S. Congressman and Senator. “Defend yourselves; the enemy is at your door…!” thundered Toombs from the Senate floor on January 24, 1860. The following year, Georgia seceded from the Union and Toombs personified the South by evolving from conservative Unionist to fire-breathing secessionist. After serving just five months as Confederate Secretary of State, he resigned to serve as brigadier general in the Army of Northern Virginia.

In 1870, as the Reconstruction Era drew to a close in Georgia, Toombs felt that Georgia should live under a constitution of her own making. His last service to Georgia citizens was helping create the Constitution of 1877, which was not amended until 1945. Visitors are welcome to tour the house and grounds, and view exhibits and displays.

Olessia Vladimirovna Maximenko was born in a small village in Siberia. Often original in thought, Olessia’s unique perspective of the world is illustrated in her artwork. She began her lifelong career in art with formal training at an art school in Russia. Although she excelled in school, and graduated with honors, it is her raw talent and passion that enable her to paint in her own style. Having lived in Charleston, SC for a decade, Olessia has developed a collection of lowcountry scenes. She is currently living with here husband and two young sons in a retired Feed Mill in Washington, GA.

This impressive church building was dedicated to the Glory of God in 1910, though its earliest congregation began in 1786. The beautiful stained-glass windows are the impressive “The Woman at the Well” and “Christ in the Garden”. There is also a distinctive window memorializing those who lost their lives in the Great War. The heart-pine woodwork of the sanctuary with its arches and intricate designs were created by a local craftsman.Music has long been an emphasis for the church and our newly refurbished organ will be played at intervals during the day. Come and sit for a few minutes in the warm and peaceful setting and leave refreshed.

This house museum was originally built about 1835 and contains a collection of artifacts, memorabilia and antiques representing more than 200 years of history in Washington and Wilkes County, Georgia. 

An impressive collection of artifacts is on display, including: Jefferson Davis’ field desk, Dave the Slave pottery, an Eli Whitney Cotton Gin, George Washington’s gravy boat. Learn about the biographies of influential citizens including Robert Toombs, Alexander Stephens, E.M.Bounds and many more.

The house contains furnished rooms, authentically decorated with antiques dating to the mid 1800’s. Furnished rooms include: the master bedroom, dining room, kitchen and parlors.