There is no denying the aura of more than 200 years worth of history surrounding the University.

North Campus, including landmarks such as Old College, Demosthenian Hall and the Chapel Bell, gets a lot of publicity for both its age and landscape. These buildings, however, are not the only historic highlights on and around campus.

Lumpkin House, for instance, stands in front of Conner Hall, but does not blend in with the surrounding science buildings.

According to “A Walking Tour of the University of Georgia” by Professor Emeritus of History Nash Boney, Lumpkin House was built in 1844 by Wilson Lumpkin.

As Georgia’s Governor from 1831 to 1835, Lumpkin was appointed by President Andrew Jackson to oversee the removal of Cherokees by way of the Trail of Tears. Lumpkin’s political career also included stints as a U.S. Senator and U.S. Congressman. He retired from politics in 1841, and recruited Irish stonemason Edward Lilly to build a new home on his land in Athens. Lilly built the Lumpkin House out of Clarke County’s natural bedrock, known as Athens Gneiss.

In 1907, the Lumpkin House – and with it the 736 acres that became South Campus – was deeded to the University with one stipulation. If the house was destroyed or moved from its original location, that acreage would once again be owned by Lumpkin’s descendants.

Thus, odd as it may look compared to the brick facades of the chemistry and biology buildings across the street, the Lumpkin House is not going anywhere anytime soon.

Thomas-Carithers House

Many historic homes are dotted around Athens, including several on South Milledge Avenue. The Thomas-Carithers House, located at the corner of South Milledge and Baxter, has quite a story to tell.

According to the Carl Vinson Institute of Government’s Web site, the house was built in 1896 by Athens architect William Winstead Thomas.

The architectural style is the main reason students may hear the building referred to as the “Wedding Cake” house.

In 1913, the house was acquired by James Yancey Carithers, a former state senator.

It is now the home of sisters in the Alpha Gamma Delta sorority, who have lived there since 1939 when the property was bought from Carithers’ widow. The sorority has renovated the house, adding an element to the story of the Wedding Cake House.

A 2003 feature in The Red & Black highlights the so-called “engagement” room in the house. Thomas’ young daughter, who the house was supposedly built for, hung herself in the engagement room after her fiancée left her at the altar.

Legend has it the spirit of Isabel Thomas haunts the room, and many sisters reported sightings or supernatural activities.

Lucy Cobb Institute

In addition to building the Thomas-Carithers home, Thomas played a part in constructing the Lucy Cobb Institute, located on North Milledge Avenue.

The Institute was a secondary school for young women built in 1859 by Thomas R.R. Cobb. It is named for Cobb’s daughter, who died before she could attend.

The curriculum helped prepare women to continue their education at the University once it began accepting women in the early 1900s. The school closed in 1931 and was purchased by the University, but the buildings were used again during WWII to house students when dorms were being used by naval cadets living on-campus. In the 1980s and ’90s the entire Lucy Cobb Institute complex was renovated to become the new home for the Carl Vinson Institute of Government – yet again meshing the past, present and future of University history.