Discover the secrets of this grand estate
Georgia’s Rockwell House, a magnificent specimen of pre-Civil War architecture, was abandoned after a fire in 1969. Before restorations started, Abandoned Southeast photographer Leland Kent shot the dilapidated treasure in all its dilapidated beauty. To see inside this mysterious Southern mansion and learn the real story behind the mystery surrounding its hidden gold, click or scroll down.
Southern belle
Located in the charming historic town of Milledgeville, which was Georgia’s capital at the time, this magnificent home was built in 1838 for Colonel Samuel Rockwell, an attorney, slaveholder, and Creek Indian War warrior.
Palatial property
Maine architect Joseph Lane was chosen by Rockwell to create the home’s architecture. The massive palace, perched in an advantageous high site amid a forest of old oak and magnolia trees, was built with no expense spared. Each and every piece of lumber used in the building was expertly cut and carved by hand.
Unusual façade
As seen in this digital reproduction by Preservation South’s Kyle Campbell, Rockwell House was finished in pale yellow and contrasted with Charleston green shutters, unlike many other Southern mansions of the era that were painted in immaculate white.
Hefty price tag
Remarkably, the cost of making the wrought-iron fence that encircles the front of the land is rumored to be equal to that of the home! According to legend, Colonel Rockwell suffered a heart attack upon seeing the bill, which at the time was estimated to be worth $2,600 (£1.9k). It’s unclear whether the exorbitant fence accelerated Rockwell’s death, as he passed away at the mansion in 1841.
Famous former resident
Eventually, in the 1850s, Georgia Governor Herschel Vespasian Johnson acquired the property, which he utilized as a summer retreat. Johnson, a well-known American politician who even sought the Democratic Party nomination for vice president in 1860, was one of the property’s most well-known occupants.
Grand entrance
Once you pass through the entryway and travel back to the 21st century, it’s easy to picture the opulent past of this royal home. The front door is a work of art, flanked by elaborate covings and glasswork, and the curved sweeping staircase would have made a spectacular entrance for Milledgeville’s upper class.
Retro nostalgia
After being included to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978, the mansion continued to deteriorate with just the barest necessities being repaired. Nevertheless, retro designs like this retro bathroom held up really well.
Architecture worth saving
The magnificent double doors on the first-floor landing that go out to the front balcony are among the other features that have withstood the neglect of the house. With their elaborate leaded-glass surround, they mirror the style of the large foyer below and cast an abundance of natural light over the open stairwell.
Faithful finishes
The majority of the house’s original woodwork and vintage elements have been conserved, making it a designated historic landmark. But instead of their original wood bases, the front porch column bases were remodeled in the 1940s using brick and concrete. Since then, Campbell and the group have fixed this and brought the exterior back to its former glory.
A historic landmark reborn
Now that the renovations are almost finished, Rockwell House can be rented out on Airbnb. The ornate wrought-iron gate enclosed the mansion, which was repainted in its former cheerful yellow color, while it was nestled among beautifully maintained grounds. This opulent estate, which was abandoned and neglected, is currently recovering its former splendor, however the whereabouts of the hidden gold are still unknown.
