Editor’s note: Do you want answers to questions about the Golden Triangle? Each week, Dispatch reporters set out to explain or update a timely, practical issue. Email your question to [email protected].
If you’ve ever walked through Columbus’ historic neighborhoods, it’s noticeable that these antebellum homes aren’t just numbered – they carry names.
From the stately Snowdoun in Northside to White Arches in Southside, each home’s name seems to reflect its architecture, heritage or the families who lived there. And it isn’t just the two-story antebellum homes that have names. Many of the small southern cottages have signs with names on them as well. From Dolce Vita to Summer Breeze and Miss Mattie Love’s Cottage to Gigi’s House, these small-sized, one-story cottages show that naming your home wasn’t only reserved for the grand antebellums.
So how did this tradition of naming begin? If you own one of these homes – can you change the name?
Where do the names come from?
The tradition of formally naming homes in Columbus began around the time of the inaugural Columbus Pilgrimage in 1940. The Pilgrimage, an annual spring event that opens the city’s grandest antebellum homes to the public, originally began as a way to display and safeguard the homes.
Rufus Ward, local historian, explains that a few houses had informal names before the Pilgrimage, but the trend truly took off with the event.
“Some homes kept names from family plantations or architectural features, and others were given names by their owners to highlight their history or charm,” Ward said.
Most house names were chosen by the homeowners themselves.
“Several houses had always been referred to as so-and-so’s house, but very few had actual names,” Ward said.
A home’s name reflects its family heritage or physical features, Ward said.
Snowdoun was named by a 19th-century owner whose second wife was from Holly Springs, where her family lived on a plantation called Snowdoun. Whitehall was named between 1910 and the 1930s, referencing the Hardy family’s ancestral home in Virginia.
Riverview earned its name because its gardens extended to the Tombigbee River, offering a scenic view from front to back. White Arches describes the house’s prominent white Gothic arches.
‘They give the homes a personality’
Over the years, Pilgrimage has drawn tourists to Columbus and ticket sales have supported the Historic Home Tours and the Preservation Society of Columbus. In its 85-year history, the event has shown that historic home names contribute significantly to Columbus’ identity and tourism. Frances Glenn, tourism director for the Columbus-Lowndes Convention and Visitors Bureau, said names like Waverley, Whitehall and Riverview are recognizable to visitors and often appear in books about Southern architecture.
“They give the homes a personality,” Glenn said. “A numbered address doesn’t do that.”
Naming the historic homes is also an asset when it comes to documenting the city’s history, Ward said.
“When you name a house, it becomes real,” he said. “Names also make it easier to document and research the city’s historic architecture. Pilgrimage guides and historic registers rely on them to trace properties’ architectural and familial lineage.
Can a name be changed?
As far as changing a home’s name goes, both Ward and Glenn agree there is no “official rule,” rather a sense of obligation and duty to keep a name if it holds historic significance.
“Most homeowners view themselves as stewards of the homes, only temporarily,” Ward said. “They usually preserve the historic name, because a house has a personality beyond just the people living in it.”
Sometimes, the excitement of moving into a historic home presents an opportunity to bestow a new name to a residence with no known name – not all homes come with names attached. Such as Munson’s Manor, Oak View or Huntington.
“It wasn’t the family right before us, but the folks before them that named (the house) Huntington,” said Emily Damm, current resident of Huntington. “I’m not certain if it had a name before then, but so far we’ve kept it the same.”
When asked if she has ever considered changing the name Damm said that they had considered it. “We were interested in changing it at first, but now we like it … we don’t see the need,” she said. “It’s nice to know our house was loved long before us.”
Other homes have had their names altered over time to reflect new families or preserve clarity. For example, a house that was in the original Pilgrimage formerly known as Hamilton Hall was renamed Baskerville Manor by its current owners to honor their family heritage.
Ultimately, the names of Columbus’ historic homes provide more than charm – they are a tangible link to the city’s history, Ward said. Whether reflecting family heritage, architectural features, or natural surroundings, the names help residents and visitors alike connect with the stories these homes hold.
“The names connect them to the past…” Ward said. “It belongs to something bigger than yourself.”
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 34 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 34 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
