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1892 Metcalfe Courthouse

About the BUILDING

Metcalfe, located eight miles to the southeast of Thomasville, was founded as a railroad boomtown in 1889. A lumber-and-agriculture based town, Metcalfe expanded around the depot and by 1892 requested Thomas County build a courthouse there for magisterial purposes. While the courthouse was never used for court, and Metcalfe lost its governing charter by the early 1920s, it was a meeting place for the residents of Metcalfe and was the voting location for every election until 2002.

In 2003, the courthouse in severe disrepair was put up for auction by the County. The Historical Society won the bid, and the building was moved to Museum grounds in 2004. It came with its contents, including benches and voting signs and materials.

About the TOUR

The main building, the Flowers-Roberts House,  contains more than thirty-five exhibits about the history of Thomas County, as well as the document, photo, and three-dimensional archives that provide the material evidence of what happened in Thomas County’s past.

A guided tour of the Thomasville History Center grounds begins with a twelve-minute video documentary of Thomas County’s history, with an emphasis on the Victorian-era hotels and the dozens of plantations scattered around Thomas County.

Your docent will then walk you through the 1870 Rufus Smith Log House, which was moved to History Center grounds in 1974, and provides a setting to share the story of both the Smith family and yeoman farmers of the period.

From there, you will walk to the 1877 Emily Joyner- Matilda Calloway House, and hear the story of both the Civil War widow who first lived there, and the Flowers’ family nanny, Matilda Calloway, who lived there during the first half of the twentieth century.  After the Joyner house, you will visit the 1896 Oliver Ewart Bowling Alley, built to entertain the winter resident who owned the History Center’s property from 1893-1900.

Following the bowling alley, you will go to the 1942 Roberts’ Garage, which currently houses a variety of carriages and other large artifacts.  After the garage, you will return to the Flowers-Roberts House for a self-guided tour of the History Center’s many exhibits, including the timeline-style exhibits in the large Davis Wing addition at the rear of the house.

OPERATING HOURS

Monday – Saturday: 10AM – 4PM

PHONE

(229) 226-7664

LOCATION

725 North Dawson Street
Thomasville, GA 31792

GUIDED TOUR PRICES

Adults: $8
Students (age 6-17): $3
Members: FREE
Member Guests, Students (6-17) FREE
Member Guests, Adults (18+) FREE
Group Rate: $8 per Adult
(Groups Must Schedule in Advance)

Schedule Your Guided Tour

Use the contact form to schedule your guided tour today. *Completing this form does not guarantee a reservation slot. After submitting the form someone from our office will contact you and finalize your reservation.

Shop The Lobby at the Thomasville History Center Monday-Saturday, 10am-4pm. Gifts inspired by the history, people, and stories of the Red Hills region for everyone on your list!

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