Berrong-Oakley House

08/30/2026

08/29/2026

Join us for an afternoon on the porch tomorrow at 4PM for a very special episode of Front Porch Mysteries, featuring the Berrong-Oakley House.

We’re incredibly grateful to the Towns County Historical Society for allowing us to record this episode from the front porch of this historic home and share a piece of Hiawassee’s history with you.

The Berrong-Oakley House…Preservation of the Past
August 30, 2026
4PM
frontporchmysteries.com

08/27/2026

We are proud to report that the siding restoration is complete, and we couldn’t be prouder of how the house looks, and we hope you are, too!

Getting to this point has truly been a blessing from God. We are incredibly thankful for every person who has donated, volunteered, shared our story, or supported this restoration in any way. This progress belongs to our entire community.

There are still a few projects remaining before we can officially call the exterior complete, and we’ll continue sharing those updates along the way.

In the meantime, work has already moved back inside the house!

We’ve started restoration work on a set of upstairs windows. Unlike most of the windows in the house, these are not original. They were replaced around the 1970s and, after more than 50 years, have reached the end of their life and no longer operable.

Since replacement is necessary, we have an opportunity to correct that alteration and return this opening to a more historically appropriate appearance. The new windows will be constructed in the traditional weight-and-sash system, just as windows of this house’s period were intended to operate.

It may seem like a small detail, but historic preservation is often found in details just like this, repairing what can be saved, replacing only what must be replaced, and when replacement is necessary, doing it in a way that respects the historic character of the house.

To learn more about the project or make a tax deductible donation, visit townscountyhistory.org/boh.

08/25/2026

Join the Towns County Historical Society and step back in time to learn from the people who helped build and shape our community.

08/22/2026

As evening settles over the Berrong-Oakley House, another piece of the restoration is beginning to shine.

The front porch now has additional lighting to help illuminate the full length of the porch, while the home’s original 1920s porch light remains in place as part of its historic character.

When restoration is complete, the Berrong-Oakley House is planned to serve as a community event and heritage center. From programs and exhibits to receptions, meetings, community gatherings, and other special events, the house will once again welcome people through its doors, including after the sun goes down.

The additional lighting will help make the porch and entrances safer and more welcoming for evening events, while also highlighting some of the architectural details that make this 1905 home so special.

Restoration isn’t only about preserving a building as it was. It’s also about thoughtfully preparing it for a new chapter, one where this historic home can once again be filled with people, activity, and memories.

And we have to admit… she looks pretty good lit up at night.

One project at a time, the Berrong-Oakley House is getting closer to welcoming the community back through its doors.

To learn more about the project or make a tax deductible donation, visit townscountyhistory.org/boh

08/20/2026

If you look closely at the Berrong-Oakley House, you’ll notice something new! The decorative woodwork in the gables has been painted a contrasting shade, allowing these beautiful architectural details to stand out against the freshly painted exterior.

And there’s a historical reason for doing so!

Queen Anne architecture was all about variety, texture, and detail. During the height of the style in the late 1800s and early 1900s, homeowners often used multiple exterior paint colors to draw attention to decorative shingles, spindlework, trim, gables, and other architectural features. Historic examples could be quite colorful, with contrasting, and sometimes vibrant, colors helping emphasize the craftsmanship of the home.

The National Park Service notes that this playful use of different materials, textures, and decorative woodwork was one of the defining characteristics of Queen Anne architecture. Historic National Register documentation also shows that period architectural pattern books recommended using several exterior colors to highlight those details.

For the Berrong-Oakley House, we wanted to honor that tradition without making the color scheme quite as bold as some Victorian-era examples. Instead, a more neutral contrasting color that complements our mountain surroundings while still giving the gable details the attention they deserve was chosen through last years community survey.

It’s a subtle change, but look at how much of that beautiful craftsmanship suddenly comes to life!

To learn more about the project or make a donation, visit townscountyhistory.org/boh

08/18/2026

If you’ve driven by the Berrong-Oakley House lately, you may have noticed a little color appearing overhead!

As exterior painting continues, the porch ceilings are being painted haint blue, carrying on a tradition that has been part of Southern architecture for generations.

The history behind haint blue is especially interesting. The tradition is generally traced to the Gullah Geechee people of the coastal Southeast, whose culture preserved many traditions with West and Central African roots. Shades of pale blue and blue-green were historically used around porches, doors, windows, and other parts of the home.

The word “haint” is an old term for a ghost or restless spirit. According to tradition, the blue was associated with water and the sky and was believed to confuse or ward off unwanted spirits. There was never one official shade of “haint blue”, colors varied depending on the pigments and materials available.

Over time, blue porch ceilings spread beyond the Lowcountry and became a familiar feature of homes throughout the South.

For the 1905 Berrong-Oakley House, we thought this traditional Southern detail was a fitting way to bring a subtle touch of color to the exterior while honoring the history and character of the house.

And we have to say, we’re loving how that blue looks against the fresh white paint!

Another detail completed. Another step closer to bringing this historic home back to life.

08/14/2026

Restoration is a slow process, because when you’re preserving a piece of history, you want to make sure every detail is done right. And when you’re fundraising along the way, that process can feel even slower.

Sometimes, when the work happens a little at a time, it can be hard to see just how much progress is actually being made.

Then you look back.

The first picture was taken in April 2023, when the City of Hiawassee purchased the Berrong-Oakley House. The second was taken today, as the first coat of paint began going on the exterior.

How far we have truly come.

What was once a house in need of a future is slowly becoming a place our community can be proud of, a place where the stories of those who came before us can be preserved and shared for generations to come.

Every repaired board, restored window, rebuilt porch detail, coat of paint, and hour of volunteer work represents another step toward bringing this historic home back to life. None of it has happened overnight, and none of it has happened alone.

But the work doesn’t stop here.

There is still much to be done inside and out, and there are still funds to raise to make it possible. We need the continued support of our community to carry this project across the finish line.

Whether you give $10, $100, volunteer your time, share our updates, or simply tell someone about the project, you are helping preserve a piece of our shared history. Every contribution moves us a little closer.

One day, the restoration will be finished. The tools will be put away, the dust will settle, and the doors of the Berrong-Oakley House will open to a new chapter.

And when that day comes, we’ll be able to look back at that photograph from April 2023 and know that our community came together and saved something worth saving.

We’ve come a long way. This is our history and our community. Together, we will see it through!

08/07/2026

🕯️ A GRAVE AFFAIR RETURNS THIS SEPTEMBER! 🕯️

By lantern light, step into the past at Burch Cemetery during A Grave Affair, September 10–12, 2026.

Along the way, you’ll visit the graves of Towns County citizens and meet the “spirits” of those who came before us through historical character reenactments. Their stories will bring local history to life, including the dramatic changes brought by the building of Lake Chatuge and the relocation of graves from areas destined to disappear beneath the lake.

📅 September 10–12, 2026
🕰️ Tours at 5:00 PM, 6:30 PM & 8:00 PM
📍 Burch Cemetery, Towns County

🎟️ Space is limited! Tickets are available at townscountyhistory.org/burchga or through the Lake Chatuge Chamber of Commerce at (706) 896-4966.

A Grave Affair is a project of the Towns County Historical Society benefitting the Berrong-Oakley House restoration project.

08/05/2026

One of the details that makes the Berrong-Oakley House so distinctive is its decorative gables. These ornamental wood patterns were a popular feature on Queen Anne homes in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, adding character and craftsmanship that set them apart from more modest houses of the era.

Over the years, weather and age had taken their toll, with several of these decorative pieces deteriorating beyond repair or even missing. Our restoration team carefully evaluated each element, preserving every original piece that could be saved. Where replacement was necessary, each new piece has been custom milled to match the original design, dimensions, and craftsmanship as closely as possible.

As these restored decorative elements are installed, the home is beginning to regain the architectural details that have defined it for more than 120 years. Once painted, the repairs will blend seamlessly with the original woodwork, ensuring the character of this historic landmark is preserved for future generations.

Every detail matters in a historic restoration, and it’s exciting to see another piece of the Berrong-Oakley House brought back to life.

To learn more about the restoration or make a tax-deductible donation, visit townscountyhistory.org/boh.