Hoyt house has roots spread throughout Rome’s history
Former First Lady Ellen Axson Wilson was originally a Hoyt.
The century and a half old Hoyt house, on a bluff overlooking the Oostanaula River in Rome, may be historic for reasons aside from its age,
The home has been at the center of an effort to remove four parcels at the intersection of West First Street and West Sixth Avenue from the Between the Rivers Historic District.
The home was built around the end of the Civil War by Wade Samuel Cothran, a president of the Rome Railroad during the war, as a gift for his daughter Anna following her wedding with Robert Taylor Hoyt.
Originally from South Carolina, Cothran was instrumental in banking and commerce in Rome
during the decades leading up to the war. He was active in both river and rail commerce.
Robert Taylor Hoyt served during the war and became a druggist in Rome once the war ended.
His sister, Margaret Jane Hoyt, married the Rev. Samuel Edward Axson, whose daughter — Ellen Axson — would later
marry Woodrow Wilson and serve as First Lady of the United States.
The children of Robert and Anna Hoyt, including Wade C. Hoyt Sr., the current Rome attorney’s grandfather, lived in the home with their mother around the turn of the century.
Wade C. Hoyt III said he recalls hearing stories from his grandfather, Hoyt Sr., and first cousin, the First Lady exchanged. “He helped arrange some of her visits back to Rome and would accompany her when she was here,” Hoyt III said.
Both Wade III and his wife Gayle said they have never seen any family documents indicating the First Lady ever spent the night in the home.
Three of Anna Charlotte and Robert Hoyt’s children, Nathan, Robert and Wade Sr., were among the pallbearers at the First Lady’s funeral in Rome. Gayle Hoyt said her husband’s grandfather was closely involved with the making of arrangements for the funeral.
Records indicate that at some point, the Hoyt residence was known as Nemophila. The name is a species of flower known by the common name of Baby Blue Eyes. Gayle Hoyt, Wade III’s wife, said she has no idea exactly how the home got that name.
“This home represents the desire to see beauty following a war of destruction,” said David Mitchell, a native Roman who now lives in the Atlanta area and is founder of M.H. Mitchell Inc., a nonprofit organization created for the preservation of Southern history.
Gayle Hoyt did say at one time the front room of the home had massive oil portraits of family members on the ceiling. “Wade’s mother tried to have it renewed but they couldn’t so they covered it,” Gayle Hoyt said.
Mitchell said the home is a blend of Italianate and Second Empire architectural styles.
Hoyt III has petitioned to have the property where the home sits removed from the between the Rivers Historic District to facilitate plans to replace the structure with new homes for members of the Hoyt family. The house has been vacant for many years and suffered from the ravages of time and the elements.
The Historic Preservation Commission rejected Hoyt’s request after two public hearings. Hoyt will appeal that decision to the full Rome City Commission which will hold another public hearing and vote on July 24.