Yet it's appropriate that 1886 is the year to which the house is interpreted and restored. But the events that lend the walls a personality began well before 1886. The house was constructed 1818 to 1820 for James Moore Wayne, mayor of Savannah. So - there was a trap door in the library floor where the kids could throw their books. From the start, the walls harbored quirks and controversy.
Conflict shows between architect and contractors, particularly the masons.
The builder was off by six to eight bricks and the window was too high. Intended to be a showpiece, it can't get the attention it deserves except from the outside. The window is cut across by the spiral staircase. The walls tell of links to the Davenport House, another Savannah landmark. Originally the stair rail design matched.