Not long ago we found a home that was going to be torn down on the edge of Winterville. It’s a sweet little town outside of Athens where I spent much of my childhood going to my father’s Main Street office. In the middle of town, which was made a historic district about 2002. There is a railroad depot located in the square. In the 1840's that stop and general area was referred to as the Six Mile Station and was a frequent water and wood stop located 6 miles east of Athens. Much of the towns beginnings were built off that stop. By the 1850's the Winter Family, of Germany settled in the area. The stop became Winter Station and in 1886 John Winter became postmaster. The area then became known as Winterville. The town is centered on the rail line with most main roads leading to the depot.
This 1940’s single gable bungalow was located on the crest of a small hill in the middle of a vast swath of privately held land. Much of the house had fallen but there were some treasures to be had without too much risk. The siding on the house was a traditional clapboard but has been well covered in asbestos shingles. The windows were double hung and the interior would have been covered in beadboard.
We believe the particular land this house lay on once belonged to William Pittard between 1817- 1819. The Pittard Family were some of the American first settlers in this area of Clarke County and on into Oglethorpe County. The family name Pittard begins to appear in the area in the 1790’s tied to land transactions with the oldest brother, Thompson. His brother William is often referred to as one the earliest settlers in Georgia. After fighting in the war of 1812 as a Private in the state militia alongside Thomas’ 2nd Artillery Regiment, he went on to prosper appearing in many land deals in the Winterville area.