Lapham–Patterson House

The Lapham–Patterson House, located in Thomasville, Georgia is a historic structure at 626 North Dawson Street. It was constructed at a cost of $4,500 in eleven months between 1884-85 for Chicago footwear businessman C.W. Lapham as his winter cottage.^[1][4] Designed and built by Danish immigrant “Tudor” Rommerdall, who arrived in 1884 from Chicago. He soon became a popular contractor in the public and private sectors before dying in 1887 while constructing a water tower at the Thomas County Courthouse.^[1]

Location626 N. Dawson St.
Thomasville, Georgia

Coordinates30.84562°N 83.98296°W / 30.84562; -83.98296

Area6,000 ft²^[1]

Built1885

Quick facts Location, Coordinates ...

Lapham–Patterson House
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
U.S. National Historic Landmark
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Location	626 N. Dawson St. Thomasville, Georgia
Coordinates	30.84562°N 83.98296°W / 30.84562; -83.98296
Area	6,000 ft²[1]
Built	1885
Architect	Rommerdal, Tudor
Architectural style	Queen Ann Whimsey
NRHP reference No.	70000868[2]
Significant dates
Added to NRHP	August 12, 1970
Designated NHL	November 7, 1973[3]

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It is a significant example of Victorian architecture. It has a number of architectural details, such as fish scale shingles, an intricately designed porch, long-leaf pine inlaid floors, and a double-flue chimney. Inside, the house was well-appointed with a gas lights, indoor plumbing with cold and hot water and larger closets.^[4] Its most significant feature is its completely intentional lack of symmetry. None of the windows, doors, or closets are square. The house is a Georgia Historic Site^[4] and is also a National Historic Landmark, designated in 1973 for its architecture.^[4] It is also a contributing building in the National Register-listed Dawson Street Residential Historic District.

The three-story structure has a mellow-yellow exterior with brick-red roof and chimneys. At the core of the house is a hexagonal-shaped room. There are at least 50 exits; Mr. Lapham had been in the Great Chicago Fire and subsequently became paranoid about being trapped in a burning building. Mr. Lapham was a Quaker.

The house was deliberately constructed slightly askew to take advantage of sunlight entering the third floor during the Spring and Fall Equinoxes. Within is a gentlemen's parlor with a small stage featuring a stained-glass window in the center. In the fretwork outside the room over the balcony are animal and amorphous shapes cut into the wood. In the center is a cutout of what is presumably the head of Mrs. O'Leary's cow.

During the Spring and Fall Equinoxes the patterns are projected by sunlight onto the floor through the glass. The total effect is that, in the center of the stained glass window's colorful pattern on the floor, the shadow of the cow's head can be seen.

One wing of the house contains a one-bedroom suite that is available for nightly rental through Airbnb. There is no access to the rest of the museum.^[1][5]