Home built by D. C. Collier, 1918-1919
By 1918, at the age of only a couple of years past 50, J C Collier had already made two fortunes of a lifetime – the first as a dry goods merchant (see Jan. 2, 2017 post), the second in agriculture (see Sept. 17, 2016 post). He was about to make his third in textile manufacturing (see Feb. 24, 2017 post). Oxford Knitting Mills (started by J C and his father, I C Collier, in 1898) was doing well. D C Collier, J C’s son, had joined the company in 1911, having completed a degree in textile engineering at Georgia Tech. Financially, the future looked very promising.
The two decided to have homes that were appropriate for their wealth and position in the community. For their new residences, J C and D C bought adjacent properties on Thomaston Street in Barnesville, Georgia. Their planning was greeted with some excitement in the town as evidenced by this article from the local newspaper.
When constructed, the two homes shared a common carriage house or garage of the same construction as the houses. The homes were celebrated in two postcards of the time, one black & white and the other in color.
J C Collier House in the Right Foreground, D C Collier Home on the Left, Carriage House Between the Two.
J C Collier House on the Right, D C Collier Home on the Left, Carriage House Between the Two.
When J C Collier was elected State Senator in 1924, a picture of his home appeared in the Atlanta Journal.
D C Collier was a detailed manager. Here is a spreadsheet he created showing the various categories and the cost to build his home. The total cost in 1919 was $26,538.00.
20141115133405_00041D C also kept a detailed ledger where he tracked all individual payments. It can be viewed by clicking on the following link.
D C Collier Construction Ledger
And, finally, he also kept EVERY INVOICE. These were found in a wooden file box. CHF presented them to the current owner of the home.
J C and D C undertook extensive landscaping of their properties. Here are the landscaping plans with the locations and proper names of various plants. The cost for landscaping was over $1,000 in 1919.
Landscaping plans reduced rotatedD C Collier’s home was electric throughout. There was an intercom inside at the front door where one could page each room in the house. There was a music room and a French room (where the children were taught French). The upstairs bath had what I will describe as a full length, wrap-around shower. The house had a built-in, in-the-wall vacuum system, of which D C was very proud. One family anecdote was that the system never worked, but no one told D C. When he left, the housekeeper got out the broom and dustpan.
A small alley ran perpendicular to Thomaston Street and beside J C’s property. Called “Collier Alley”, it was marked until recently by a concrete marker. I observed this summer the marker had been replaced by a typical street sign.
Here are some more pictures of the two homes.
View from J C’s to D C’s, showing Landscaping
D C Collier Home
Former J C Collier Home, Probably around 2003
Carriage House or Garage, Property Line goes Through the Building
Former J C Collier Home
House Built by D C Collier
Here is a great portrait of the Collier family taken next to the home of J C Collier (seated).
Also see the June 10, 2016 post about the homes being featured in the Georgia Trust Barnesville Expedition Tour of Homes.
Hello y’all!
I’m positively THRILLED to have discovered this foundation and to have access to so much dedicated, thorough research. I’m Kristen Howard, 6th great-granddaughter of Vines Collier. If my research is correct, I descend from John Isaac (to Thomas, to Robert, to William, to Noah, to Mary (Collier) Braun, to my mother Carol (Braun) Howard).
I found it particularly funny that the Old Vines Collier Plantation now is home to the Collier-Howard home! Also, I was born and raised in Ohio (where John Braun took his bride, Mary Collier, after they met in Macon where he was stationed.) Coincidentally, I recently moved from there to Atlanta, merely an hour away from Oglethorpe and Barnesville. Getting back to my roots (albeit accidentally) I guess. Anyway, I deeply appreciate all that you have done and continue to do, and am excited to comb through this site and learn all that I can.
Peace,
Kristen
Kristen,
Welcome!! We’re glad you found us! Maybe you can provide us details on your line.
Glen Collier
OMG I hope after 30 years of research, I hope I am on the right trail. I hope this is right as followers—Isaac Collier married Ann Vines had 8 children.I am a descendant of Isaac Collier born 1819 and died 1860 on election day at Hillardston,Nash County,N.C. he married Patience Joyner. Before I go any futher can someone tell me if I have the right Collier family. Thank you, Marsha Collier
Hey, Marsha!
If you are a descendant of Isaac and Anne, you have the right Collier
Family. Primarily descendants of Isaac and Anne’s son Vines and his wife
Sarah Elizabeth Williamson. My records do not show your 1819/Isaac GF,
but , that doesn’t mean any thing, because, my record don’t show many
of Vine’s bother’s children. Hope I helped! John Collier/father of Isaac
I will answer to myself Yes I am on the right Collier line.
Did you never get a response about your ancestry?
Hello my name is Gary Skinner. My 2nd great grandfather was John Collier son of Henry Collier of Georgia. I am curious if Henry was related to your Collier? He had a daughter named Piety Collier. Thank you
Dear Gary,
I wondered if you have done a DNA test or would consider doing one. There are just too many John Colliers in Georgia to be sure without you doing this. Glen and my brothers have tested for the Vines line so we could do a match if you have the DNA test. Something to consider to solve this puzzle.
Warmest regards, Elaine Collier Neal
Hello John Collier, Thank you for your answer as of Sept.2018. With much research and DNA with Ancestry, I am your kin. My g.g.g.Grandfather was Myhill Collier brother to Vines Collier. My great grandfather Isaac Dudley Collier was son of James Collier and Fanny Conn. Thank you so much for the tons of information and pictures you have on line. So helpful and so interesting. My tree on Ancestry is The Collier . Thanks Again, Marsha