The Usher House in historic Covington, Georgia, is a sight to behold. It used to be hidden behind a beautiful magnolia tree. However, when homeowners removed the tree, an even more magnificent sight could be observed.
The house was erected for one of the pioneering men of Covington, Georgia, Richard Oliver Usher. The house was built across from his wife’s sister’s house, the Floyd house. Mr. Usher was listed as a local merchant as early as 1842; however, it is unknown when he first showed up in Newton.
Mr. Usher and his family spent many happy days in the Usher House. When he died, he was buried in the Methodist section of the City of Covington cemetery. For those of you who like self-guided tours, his family site is marked by an ornate marble monument and surrounded by an iron fence. The Usher house remained in his family for 90 years. It saw to the happiness of his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
The house was lived in and loved by many different Covington, Georgia families. The Faulkner family, who purchased the house in 1972, did most of the major renovations. They were the notorious family who removed the magnolia from the front of the house. This allowed the splendor of the ante-bellum beauty to shine. They also connected the old backyard kitchen to the house, and acquired time-appropriate furnishings.
This ante-bellum house is pleasing to the eye. We think this is mostly due to its perfectly proportional three-story structure! Pair the proportions with beautiful ornamental details and you have the epitome of a southern historic house. If you want to go on a historic self-guided tour, the Usher house is the place to visit. When you walk by this house, you feel as if you have been teleported back into pre-civil war Covington, Georgia.
