The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Bulloch Hall has connection to 26th president
Q: What makes Bulloch Hall so special?
A: It is one of three homes in Roswell that tell “the authentic story of the American South,” according to the city’s website, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Bulloch Hall was built in 1839 for Major James Stephens Bulloch, one of Roswell’s first settlers and the grandson of Georgia’s Revolutionary Governor, Archibald Bulloch.
His daughter, Mittie Bull- och, grew up in the home, according to information from Roswell. She married Theodore Roosevelt Sr. in the dining room of the house Dec. 22, 1853. Their son, Theodore Roosevelt, became the 26th president of the United States.
“In 1905, President Roosevelt came to see his moth- er’s childhood home and spoke to a crowd from the bandst a nd in the town square,” according the Bull- och Hall website.
When you tour the home, “the past meets the present and walks us into the future,” said Pam Billingsley, historic site coordinator.
“This place has a magic all of its own. In the mornings, when it’s quiet, you can feel the house,” she said.
The three-story, 7,000 square foot Bulloch Hall was built of hardwood pine showcasing a column-framed entrance. The home’s floor plan is a foursquare-style with high ceilings typical to the period, including 11 wood-burning fireplaces throughout.
“The Greek Revival struc- ture has been described as one of the most significant houses in Georgia and one of the South’s few examples of true temple-form architecture,” according to Explore Georgia’s website.
Mittie’s other son, Elliott, was the father of Eleanor Roosevelt who married Franklin D. Roosevelt and served as the nation’s First Lady, according to Explore Georgia.Ele a nor would sometimes drive to Roswell from Warm Springs to visit.
Today, the grounds of Bull- och Hall boast 142 trees on the Historic Tree Register, reconstructed slave quar- ters, a demonstration garden and nature trail, according to the Explore Georgia website. Notable, Osage-Orange trees were planted near the house to keep rodents and insects away.
In addition to Bulloch Hall, the other houses that are part of the “Southern Trilogy” of historic homes in Roswell are Barrington Hall (1842) and Smith Plantation (1845).
The Bulloch house is located at 180 Bulloch Ave. in Roswell.
Actual Factual Georgia runs on Sundays. If you’re new in town or have questions about this special place we call home, ask us. E-mail your request to atlactualfact@ gmail.com.