Winn House
By Ed Williams Sr., treasurer, Gwinnett Historical Society | The application of exterior wood sealer to the historic barn and school house at the Elisha Winn House in Dacula is now complete.
Williams
Funding for this project was made possible through the sponsorship of the Philadelphia Winn Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution of Lawrenceville. It was at the Elisha Winn home where Gwinnett County government held its first session in 1818.
The application of sealer will provide protection to the buildings for many years. Co-President Betty Warbington of the Gwinnett Historical Society (GHS) says: “It’s a small job that will make a big difference in the preservation of these historic buildings. We at GHS appreciate the support of the Philadelphia Winn Daughters on this project.”
The 38th annual Elisha Winn Fair will be held in October, and the school house, barn and plantation house will be open for tours. GHS members will demonstrate period activities, and Philadelphia Winn Daughters will be on hand to commemorate a plaque that will be erected recognizing the contribution of the DAR to the GHS preservation efforts.
Old school
The Walnut Grove one-roomed school, circa 1875, was first located near the present Walnut Grove Baptist Church and across the street from the Methodist Campground on Braselton Highway northeast of Lawrenceville. When a new school house was built in 1911, the little school became a grist mill and later on a carpenter’s shop. The Hamilton Davis family owned the school and donated it to the GHS in the 1980s. The GHS had it moved to its Elisha Winn House location on Dacula Road. The multi-stall barn dates to around 1915 and replaced the original barn on the plantation site. Neither the school house nor the barn has ever been painted or sealed.
The Gwinnett Historical Society’s Grant application was sponsored by the Philadelphia Winn Chapter, and the National Society awarded the grant in the amount of $766 on April 30, 2016. First Vice Regent Ann Story, who has worked tirelessly on the project, says: “DAR was founded upon patriotism, historic preservation, and education. We saw all of our core beliefs represented in this project! Throughout the school year, busloads of school children visit the plantation, where learning history becomes fun and hands on.”
The DAR grants program was started in 2010. Funding is awarded to support projects in local communities which promote the organization’s mission areas.
The National Society Daughters of the American Revolution was founded in 1890 to promote patriotism, preserve American history, and support better education for our nation’s children. Its members are descended from the patriots who won American independence during the Revolutionary War. With178,000 members in approximately 3,000 chapters worldwide, DAR is one of the world’s largest and most active service organizations. To learn more about the work of today’s DAR, visit www.dar.org. For more about applying for a Special Projects Grant from DAR, visit www.dar.org/grants.
- For more information regarding the Philadelphia Winn Chapter of the NSDAR and the Gwinnett Historical Society, visit Philadelphiawinn.georgiastatedar.org.
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