Lapham-Patterson House

Lapham-Patterson House
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
U.S. National Historic Landmark
Location	Thomasville, Georgia
Coordinates	30°50′45.74″N 83°58′59.03″W / 30.8460389°N 83.9830639°W / 30.8460389; -83.9830639Coordinates: 30°50′45.74″N 83°58′59.03″W / 30.8460389°N 83.9830639°W / 30.8460389; -83.9830639
Built	1885
Architect	Rommerdal, Tudor
Architectural style	Queen Ann Whimsey
Governing body	Thomas County Historical Society
NRHP Reference #	70000868[1]
Significant dates
Added to NRHP	August 12, 1970
Designated NHL	November 7, 1973[2]

The Lapham-Patterson House is a historic site in Thomasville, Georgia. The house, built between 1884-85 as a winter cottage for businessman C.W. Lapham of Chicago, is a significant example of Victorian architecture. It has a number of architectural details, such as fishscale shingles, an intricately designed porch, long-leaf pine inlaid floors, and a double-flue chimney. Inside, the house was well-appointed with a gas lighting system, hot and cold running water, indoor plumbing, and modern closets. 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 and is also a National Historic Landmark, which also puts it on the National Register of Historic Places.^[3]

The 3-story structure has a mellow-yellow exterior with brick-red roof and chimneys. At the core of the house is an 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.

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 amorpheous 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.

Mr. Lapham was a Quaker but may have been deeply involved in the occult. Workers at the house have reported unusual occurrences which some have attributed to paranormal activity.

References

External links

• Lapham-Patterson House Historic Site