History of the Pope - Walton House About the year 1650, three brothers named Pope came to America from England and settled in three adjoining counties in the northern neck of Virginia. Third generation son, Burrell Pope, migrated to what is now known as Wilkes County Georgia in the year 1762. He brought with him his newly born son, Wiley Woods Pope. It was Wiley who started this house in 1797. Wiley's granddaughter's husband, John Howard Walton, continued the construction of the house, but did not finish it because of his involvement with the war between the states. During the Civil War, John's Pregnant wife, Mary Elizabeth Pope Walton, lived alone in the house with only a young slave girl named Sarah to assist her. Sarah stayed on to nurse the newborn, Lulu Belle, and when Sherman marched through Georgia, it was she who helped to hide the silver. Sherman's troops rode through the hallways raiding and plundering, but the house was spared because of the newborn baby. John Howard Walton was a meticulous dresser who was known more for his love of books and fine clothes than for his farming acumen. He was a kinsman of George Walton (one of Georgia's signers of the Declaration of Independence), George Walton II and Octavia Walton LeVert, both of whom played an important part in Florida's history. It is written that John Howard Walton left for service in the war of "Northern Aggression" (as the Civil War is called by native Southerners) riding a fine horse, only to return in 1864 riding a mule. With no funds to pay former slaves for labor on the 2,500 acre plantation, he was forced to trade the house and lands to his father- in- law, Wiley M. Pope, who completed the house and lived there until 1891. The house looked much the same then as it does now, except it had open hallways both downstairs and upstairs, which have since been enclosed. Hundreds of photos, sketches and measurements were made before the house was dismantled, catalogued and restored. We shall remain forever indebted for this formidable accomplishment to the determination of Mr. Dayton Smith, the extraordinary engineer and dedicated restaurateur from Memphis, Tennessee who moved the Pope-Walton house from it's original site 117 miles east of Atlanta to our present site. It took Smith three years to accomplish the feat, moving it brick-by-brick, board-by- board and restoring all it to our three lovely, wooded acres. So authentic is the restoration that wooden pegs and original lumber were used even in the attic. In the early '70s the banquet hall was added to the house. We named it the Ladybug Room in honor of the very last, great hostess of the house who lived here until 1920. She was known, as "Ladybug" as a child and "Aunt Lady" in her older years. The great-great granddaughter of Wiley M. Pope, Mrs. Melba Young Beale who now lives in Florida, said that it was fitting that the Pope-Walton House should now be dedicated to the cause of good food because the mistresses of this house had for over a hundred years been noted for the tables they set. Some of the most famous sons of Georgia were entertained in this antebellum home during its long history. We at Anthony's Restaurant are proud to continue the tradition. |
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3109
Piedmont Road 404.262.7379 Asif Edrish - Marketing, Food, and Beverage Director aedrish@bellsouth.net Mary Dean Aguirre, General Manager mary_aguirre@bellsouth.net Private Luncheon and Banquet Dinners, as well as Open for a` la Carte dining Monday-Saturday 6:00 PM to Till Home History Ghost Restaurant Menus Corporate Weddings Occasions Holidays Cakes Rooms Chef Bio Directions Contact |