Wynnton Village Historic District

The Cedars

Statement of Significance from National Register Application 1971

Colonel John Banks, the original owner of "The Cedars", was an extremely prominent lawyer in Georgia in the early days of Columbus. A former Indian fighter, he visited the area in 1825 when he was ordered by Governor Troup to accompany General LaFayette on his trip from Milledgeville, the first capital of the State, to Alabama. Col. Banks moved to Columbus from Elberton, Georgia, in 1836.
Col. Banks was one of the founders of the Planters and Mechanics Bank of Columbus and owner, with John E. Dawson, of the Howard Cotton Mill. Col. Banks and his wife Sara had a large family, and to accommodate them in comfort, he built a spacious and impressive house from the little village of "Wynnton". A long drive led from the old main road that ran through Wynnton Village to Macon, Georgia. The drive was lined with cedars, behind which was a planting of large oaks. On the west, as one faced the house, was a charming guest house which stood just inside the white picket fence surrounding the main house. Col. Banks also had large holdings in Alabama and had five known working plantations there.

An extremely generous man, he gave large amounts to charity. It is said that during his lifetime he gave away not less than $50,000 for charitable purposes. He was also a leading figure in the founding of Wynnton Academy. (Founded in 1843, it is generally considered to be the oldest such building in continuous use as a school facility in the State of Georgia. It is now the library of Wynnton Elementary School.)Pictured is the cedar drive to the main house c.1890
Col. Banks provided the land (along with James M. Chambers, Van Leonard, A.H. Flewellen and Col. Wm. L. Wynn) for the school to be built upon. The group acquired four acres for the girls' school and six acres for the boys' school. Col. Banks is generally considered to be the primary proponent of education in the embryo town of Columbus. The Wynnton area was annexed to the City in 1925 and Wynnton Academy became a part of the public school system. Columbus' Cedar Avenue was formerly the drive to this "Great House", which is one of the earliest and most important in the section of Columbus known as "Wynnton."

The Cedars is extremely important to the community, and its style is unique in Columbus. This house has been in the Banks' family since 1837 and is presently owned and lived in by a direct descendant of John Banks. This house is not open to the public.

Description of the House from the National Register Application 1971
In 1837 the floor plan consisted of eight large rooms with a hall running the length of the house. The conveniences, such as the kitchen, were located in outbuildings at the rear of the house. A dirt floored basement, entered from the outside, was used for slave quarters and stores.

The main house was built of handmade deep rose colored bricks covered with stucco. This was marked off in large rectangles to resemble blocks of stone. Four Ionic columns of stucco brick support the front portico. The roofline was changed in 1885 from a much flatter roof to the present one, which gives a greater feeling of height. As one enters through the large double-front doors, one comes into a hall 9' wide and 40' long. Here an artist spent several months painting the walls to resemble pinkish Italian marble. To this day, this remains in excellent condition (and are maintained by present owners). To the right (east) of the hall is a parlor with black imported marble mantel and the original flowered carpeting. Behind this room is the dining room with a white Italian marble mantel. Across the hall (west) the bedrooms were located, all with handmade pine mantels and all opening into one another. The rooms have fine recessed windows, many with the original blown-glass lights. The floors are heart-of-pine, 5 1/2 inches wide. Original imported English brass locks and hardware grace the doors. All the ceilings are 13'.

Throughout the house, the doorways are beautifully carved, and this carving is even carried out onto the exterior doorways in the rear of the house which open onto a veranda. Wings on wither side of the house extend beyond the main body of the house, thus forming a courtyard in the rear.