Looking west along the north side with the detached garage in the background.

Looking south along the west side.

This is the Dowdey Family Home of Tillinghast Morgan Dowdey, Sr. and Sarah Craft Dowdey. They started building the house in 1940. A contractor was hired to do the foundation and framing and most of the roof. But over the next three to four years, "Till" did the wiring, plumbing and interior (in addition to his full-time job at Southern Railway).

The landlord increased the rent on the two-story house they were renting, so the family moved into the new house prior to it being finished. Both Bernice Ruth Dowdey and Carl Eugene Dowdey can remember "seeing stars" through the unfinished roof at night. Bernice remembers that winter set in before the house was finished. She had to sit close to a little heater when washing just to stay warm. But Sarah Dowdey stated that no one even got so much as a cold that winter!

A detached garage was built in 1943. It eventually became Till's woodworking shop. A partial basement was added in 1946. This served as a laundry room as well as winter storage for the many plants Sarah grew. A small detached greenhouse was built in the late 1950's. In the early 1960's, the property next door, owned by a Mr. Brooks, became available after he died. The house was so poorly maintained that Till had it torn down. Several peach trees provided fruit afterwards.

There are many azalea bushes around the house and yard. Sarah loved flowers and worked in the yard (including mowing the grass) up until the last few years of her life.

The two pecan trees to the right did put out many pecans each year. The little round concrete table (behind the garbage can) saw the slicing of many a watermelon over time. The steps lead up to the back porch.

Additional photos taken by Harvey Scarborough on March 10, 2001.