Tarver Plantation
a.k.a. Tarva Plantation
Tarva Rd./Co. Rt. 122, N of Newton, Newton, GATarver Plantation is significant as a historic working plantation with a Greek Revival plantation house constructed about 1850. The plantation consists of approximately 1,300 acres that have historically been part of this large land holding. Tarver Plantation is significant in the areas of agriculture and architecture.
In terms of agriculture, the property is significant as an example of a large and extensive working plantation from the 1850s to the 1870s. It was the home of Henry Andrew Tarver and his wife Elizabeth Solomon Tarver until the Tarvers moved to Atlanta in the 1870s. In 1850, the plantation consisted of 3,700 acres and produced a variety of crops, including corn, oats, cotton, peas and beans, and sweet potatoes. In 1860, the plantation operation had been scaled down to 2,200 acres, with corn, cotton, and sweet potatoes as the main crops. During the Civil War, the plantation was a source of food and other supplies for the Confederate government. The plantation was operated by slavery through the Civil War and then changed to a system of sharecropping in the late nineteenth century. In the 1940s, the property became a hunting preserve under the ownership of Russell A. Alger, Jr. of Chicago, Illinois, as did many other Albany and Thomasville area plantations. Tarver Plantation continues to be a seasonal home to the present.
In terms of architecture, the property is significant for its very intact Greek Revival plantation house built about 1850. The classically designed house has very fine details that make the house an excellent example of the interpretation of the Greek Revival style in southwest Georgia domestic architecture in the mid-nineteenth century. These details include a symmetrical main block with front and side porticoes, entrances with transoms and sidelights, interior moldings and mantels, and an unusual cross-hallway floor plan with wide central hallways in the form of a Greek cross. The area with full-length verandah and the original kitchen wing are also significant features. A 1940s restoration made minor alterations and additions but left the mid-nineteenth-century, Greek Revival character of the house very intact.
Local significance of the district:
In terms of agriculture, the property is significant as an example of a large and extensive working plantation from the 1850s to the 1870s. It was the home of Henry Andrew Tarver and his wife Elizabeth Solomon Tarver until the Tarvers moved to Atlanta in the 1870s. In 1850, the plantation consisted of 3,700 acres and produced a variety of crops, including corn, oats, cotton, peas and beans, and sweet potatoes. In 1860, the plantation operation had been scaled down to 2,200 acres, with corn, cotton, and sweet potatoes as the main crops. During the Civil War, the plantation was a source of food and other supplies for the Confederate government. The plantation was operated by slavery through the Civil War and then changed to a system of sharecropping in the late nineteenth century. In the 1940s, the property became a hunting preserve under the ownership of Russell A. Alger, Jr. of Chicago, Illinois, as did many other Albany and Thomasville area plantations. Tarver Plantation continues to be a seasonal home to the present.
In terms of architecture, the property is significant for its very intact Greek Revival plantation house built about 1850. The classically designed house has very fine details that make the house an excellent example of the interpretation of the Greek Revival style in southwest Georgia domestic architecture in the mid-nineteenth century. These details include a symmetrical main block with front and side porticoes, entrances with transoms and sidelights, interior moldings and mantels, and an unusual cross-hallway floor plan with wide central hallways in the form of a Greek cross. The area with full-length verandah and the original kitchen wing are also significant features. A 1940s restoration made minor alterations and additions but left the mid-nineteenth-century, Greek Revival character of the house very intact.
Agriculture; Architecture
Listed in National Register of Historic Places in 1989.
About National Register Listings
The National Register of Historic Places is the official list of the Nation’s historic places worthy of preservation. Authorized by the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the National Park Service’s National Register of Historic Places is part of a national program to coordinate and support public and private efforts to identify, evaluate, and protect America’s historic and archeological resources.
The city of Savannah, Georgia was the first planned city in America. It was laid out in a grid pattern with squares for public use, and this design was later copied by other cities throughout the country.
About Baker County
Baker County Timeline
Baker County, Georgia, has a rich history that dates back to before its establishment. The area was originally inhabited by Native American tribes, such as the Creek Nation, who hunted and farmed on the land. In the early 19th century, European settlers began to arrive, gradually displacing the Native American population.
The county was officially created on December 12, 1825, and was named after Colonel John Baker, a prominent leader in the area and one of Georgia's first state senators. Initially, Baker County covered a much larger area than it does today, extending into what is now part of neighboring counties.
Throughout the 19th century, agriculture played a vital role in Baker County's economy. Cotton was the primary crop grown on large plantations, which relied heavily on enslaved labor. This reliance on slavery persisted until the Civil War, when the institution was abolished.
Baker County's economy continued to heavily focus on agriculture even after the Civil War, with a shift towards small-scale farming by independent farmers. Today, the county's economy remains largely agricultural, with crops such as peanuts, soybeans, and corn being grown. The county also boasts natural resources, including timber and livestock. Baker County continues to preserve its history through museums and historic sites, providing visitors with a glimpse into the past and the rich heritage of the area.
The county was officially created on December 12, 1825, and was named after Colonel John Baker, a prominent leader in the area and one of Georgia's first state senators. Initially, Baker County covered a much larger area than it does today, extending into what is now part of neighboring counties.
Throughout the 19th century, agriculture played a vital role in Baker County's economy. Cotton was the primary crop grown on large plantations, which relied heavily on enslaved labor. This reliance on slavery persisted until the Civil War, when the institution was abolished.
Baker County's economy continued to heavily focus on agriculture even after the Civil War, with a shift towards small-scale farming by independent farmers. Today, the county's economy remains largely agricultural, with crops such as peanuts, soybeans, and corn being grown. The county also boasts natural resources, including timber and livestock. Baker County continues to preserve its history through museums and historic sites, providing visitors with a glimpse into the past and the rich heritage of the area.
Baker County Timeline
This timeline provides a condensed summary of the historical journey of Baker County, Georgia.
- 1825 - Baker County is established as a county in the state of Georgia.
- 1833 - The county's first courthouse is built in Newton, the county seat at the time.
- 1836 - The Creek Indians are forcibly removed from their land in the area, opening it up for settlement.
- 1852 - The county seat is moved from Newton to the newly established town of Milford.
- 1861 - The American Civil War begins, and Baker County sends many of its residents to fight in the Confederate Army.
- 1865 - The Civil War ends, and the process of Reconstruction begins in Baker County.
- 1906 - The town of Newton is incorporated and becomes the county seat once again.
- 1941 - The Georgia Warm Springs Foundation, now known as Roosevelt Warm Springs Institute for Rehabilitation, is founded in Warm Springs.
- 1986 - Flooding caused by Tropical Storm Alberto devastates parts of Baker County.
- 2003 - The town of Milford is disincorporated, and Newton becomes the sole incorporated municipality in the county.