Built in 1852, this stunning antebellum home fell into disrepair when the George Hampton Young family line came to an end in 1913. Over the next 40 years the thousand acre plantation returned to forest lands; the four-story building all but disappeared from view and from memory. In 1962 antique dealer Robert Snow and his wife discovered Waverley Mansion wrapped in vines. Once inside the abandoned building, they fell in love with the four winding staircases leading up and up and up. They took up residence, all the while repairing, cleaning and restoring the building to its former grandeur.
As soon as we made our way up the path to the formal entryway of the Waverley Mansion, docent Jimmy stepped off the veranda and greeted us enthusiastically. It was 10am and we were his first visitors of the day. After he collected $10.00 per person, our tour guide was off and running. Wally and I and Teresa and Steve from Sanctuary, another Looper boat, had made the short drive together from the Columbus Marina in the courtesy car. We had two hours to absorb the history of this 164-year old home that had survived the devestation of the Civil War. Jimmy brought the past to life as his stories began to unfold. Before we climbed the winding staircases to the second story of four bedrooms, we were invited to step outside to stroll around the garden areas. Rather off-handedly, Jimmy mentioned that Mr. Snow, the owner for the past 54 years, along with one daughter and grandson, still lived in the mansion. In fact, he told us, that at age 92, he was known to tend the gardens during the daily tours. We let our gaze travel across the lawn and there, to our amazement, was the elderly Mr. Snow raking under the trees, attended by his 12-year old black lab, Talula! You could have knocked all four of us over with a peacock feather... three peacocks were actually nearby. When would you ever visit a mansion dating back before the Civil War and find that the second owners were still living there...eating, sleeping, and enjoying it as their home? The rooms were beautifully appointed with period furnishings... no sign of today’s world to be seen. But wait, carefully tucked in behind the canopy in one elaborate bedroom was a flat-screen TV, a modern electric fan and a corded phone. Quite likely we had spotted Mr. Snow’s hide-away.
Created by Darcy O Campbell
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