Plantation style home in Georgia
White Hall House, West Point Georgia
The late Plantation Plain type, Greek Revival transitional style house, now known as White Hall, was built in 1857-8 by Alexander F. Kendrick and has served through the years as a prominent residence in Harris County, although now the house and site are a part of the City of West Point which is mainly in Troup County.
In 1854 John M. Harrington and Alexander F. Kendrick bought some 320 acres in Harris County from S.N. Bisco for $2,700. In 1857 Kendrick bought Harrington's half interest and built on the property the house now known as White Hall. After Kendrick died, the house was sold in 1876 to Duncan M. Poer for $10,000. In 1880 F.M. Longley bought it for $3,800 at a public sale, he being the highest bidder. W.A. Poer bought it from Longley in 1885 and sold it to George W. Poer for $5,700 in 1889, the property then consisted of 216 acres "with one residence and six cabins on it." During Poer's ownership the house was called "Happy Heights" and the extensive grounds surrounded by a picket fence were laid off in boxwood-bordered walks and flower beds. W.E. Booker bought the place from F.C. Barrett in 1923 and in 1949 it was sold to Ben H. Crawford.
Architecturally White Hall has one of the best remaining examples of a Greek Revival portico in Georgia. Its design follows no particular classical pattern, but rather is an outstanding creative combination of classical parts by a mid-19th-century craftsman. Only one other house, Rebel Hall, northeast of West Point, has the same entablature with heavy dentils on the frieze. (The contractor-builder for Rebel Hall, 1850-2, was known to be a Mr. Urpe.) It is this type of detail, these craftsmen-created variants from the ancient classical originals that are representative of 19th-century Georgia architecture.
Building Description
About 1857-8 Alexander F. Kendrick built a classical plantation house near the Harris-Troup County line and the Chattahoochee River.
This two-story frame house is a later Plantation Plain type, Greek Revival transitional style. Its two-over-two central hall plan with shed rear addition is reminiscent of the Plantation Plain style structure, but the details including a full, two-story Ionic portico with a full entablature suggest the Greek Revival influence. The detailed entablature features a large, heavy dentil motif on the frieze. The entranceway design includes a trabeated doorway with side and transom lights on both the balcony and entrance levels; a delicate wire and iron railing graces the hanging balcony. All windows on the front facade have side lights and 1ike the doorway are trimmed above with a small dentiled entablature.
Originally the house was only one room deep on either side of a central hallway with a semicircular stair and a rear shed portion; soon after the house was built, a back hallway with stairs leading to a separate upstairs room was supposedly added for a later owner's sons. The parlor ceiling is trimmed with an egg and dart cornice motif and a center medallion.
Several recent additions have been made to the house including the library addition, carport, garage and additional bathrooms and closets, all on the rear of the house. After the Ben H. Crawfords bought the house, the dining room mantel and fireplace was removed; a later present owner added a library and several small rooms to the rear of the house.
Stairs in the front central hall (1973)
