Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-10-12
THE HOME OF TROUP.
A Visit to vaIdOsta, where Gov. TrouI
Lived and Died.

Lived and Died.
But little is known abroad, as nothing
has been written, says Dublin letter to
the Telegraph and Messenger, of Valdosta,
the old home of an Ex-Governor and a
noted Georgian, George NJ. Troup. 1t is
situated about seven miles from this place
and near the Oconee river, and upon a
gradually slOping elevation, higher by
several feet than the surrounding country.
The visitor or the traveller would never
guess that the lone log house standing out
in bold relief upon this cone-shaped hill.
was all that remained of the habitation Of
one who had held the highest posjtion IN
the councils of nation: and when he is
lhlor. Leu mat this solitary structure, in
all of its roughness, was once the "grand
ROOM" the ''ladies' parlOr," the room in
which Cupid bent his bow and thrust ar
rows plucked from the CULVER Of the beau
tiful Grille TrOup, afterwards Mrs. DIR.
Vigal, he would, as l did, marvel, and
doubts would crowd themselves upon his
brain.
As you approach this historic spot there
are
ssNO stored windows Digit.
Casting dim or blazing light"
The mound on which the house stood
gives one grand landscape view. Espe-
ciallv was | impressed with the magnlti-
cence of the scenery revealed from the
southeast and southwest. The lands from
the spot gradually taper downward for
two or more leagues and then as gradu-
ally an elevation begins, and as far as the
eve can reach, far over in Montgomery
county, it is Toasted to It's fullest. When
visited this spot it was at that hour
when the imagination is given play to re-
trOspection and perhaps the beauty OF
surroundings is heightened. One of the
most gorgeous of sunsets lent its presence
and | couldsalmOst imagine that the king
Of day himself preferred to linger awhile
to cast his eye of molten fire upon val
dOsta and contemplate the quietude OF its
SURROUNDINGS. The building, it cannot be
termed a mansion. was not, as have said
and as some might suppose, an imposing
structure, but they might be equally sur
prised to know that Gov. Troup's home con-
sisted of numerous small log huts thrown
together. None of the apartments were
ever ceiled or plastered, except one, and
this was the ''grand ROOM" 1t is a fact
worthy of repeating-that the master and
lord of YaldOsta abhOrTed plank or brick
house. He liked free and fresh and plenty
of pure ventilation, and therefore pre-
ferred the common, plain log CABIN 20 the
high-gabled roof and frescoed hall.
The hospitality of Valdosta was its
characteristic feature. Its doors were
never closed against the poor and needy,
the sick or weary, but they constantly
stood aiar. Notwithstanding its proprie-
tor was called an aristocrat, the humbIest
found hearty welcome awaiting at Val
dosta. OF the once proud and umbrage-
GUS trees, with prolific foliage that clus-
tered and lowered near, all are gone, save
one lone Wild olive, and this, all covered
with long draping gray moss, dropping
down in long festOOns, reminds one OF
some lone, weary and aged sentinel, left
on duty, true to the charge and whitening
under old ages touch. One chimney
stands also, made of native sand rock,
and il poses against the grand r0om.''
Upon it's back is the inscri ptiOn, sc. Nj.
Troup. Jan. l, 1852" at which time this
room was made an addition.
The we'll of water used by Gov. Troup's
household is in use to-day by one of his
former slaves. Induced by curiosity to
cuaff from the same libatiOn which had
cooled the lips and tongue that spoke
such burning, eloquent truths, drew
from its depths a cooling beverage. Ii
was from this home that George NJ. TrOuI
was called to Congress, to the executive
chair of Georgia and to the second high.
est place in the gift of human power.
Gov. Troup's living was i'll keeping with
his rural home, and his manner and mode
of dress equally as simple. His wardrobe
was homemade and ''store clothes found
no favor in his eyes.
At ValdOsta some of the most prominent
men of the day we're entertained in rOyaI
style. Among that number l could men
| ton Gen. Mirabeau b. Lamar, Randolph
/ Spaulding, Mansfield Terrence, Jas. Pink
| ney Smith, DIR. Vim. Mcdaniel, Col. Jas
j. jackson and dozens of others that
might enumerate, but whose names l dc
not now recall. The sideboard at Val
dOsta was always filed with the bes
wines and brandies, and the old Governor
never felt that he had dined unless he had
seen the sparkles upon his glass. One
/ characteristic of him was that he seldom
tasted of anything intoxicating before L
| O'Clock a. m, and then he made merry
| with his friends.