765 N Main St. in Ashburn, Georgia

765 N Main St. in Ashburn, Georgia

Location: 765 N Main St. in Ashburn, Georgia
Date: February 20, 2021

ASHBURN’S HISTORIC DRIVING TOUR STOP #6
This home, sometimes known as the McKenzie Home or one of the Shingler homes, was built for Clyde Shingler McKenzie by her father J.S. Shingler, Sr. to celebrate her marriage to G.C. McKenzie. It stayed in the McKenzie/Shingler family until 1980.

It was designed by Macon architect P.E. Dennis of Dennis & Dennis Architecture Firm. He had his hand in designing many of Turner County’s beloved buildings such as the Methodist Church and the Courthouse. The home represents the Neoclassical Revival period. Constructed in 1908, the building originally featured a multi-hipped, red Ludowici clay tile roof. (The roof has been replaced with shingles due to a lack of experienced craftsmen in the area to work on the roof but a similar color was selected to maintain the appearance of the red tile.)

One thing of note is that the porte cochère was enclosed in 1914 to create a “sleeping porch.” The home is evidenced as Victorian with the use of stained glass as well as the generous use of dark woodwork throughout the home. One should also note the large pocket doors and high vaulted ceilings (16 feet high in the study).

The architectural significance of this home cannot be forgotten. As you can see in the original house plans, there is little change from the original design aside from the enclosed porte cochère.