Guide to the 2025 Madison in May Tour of Homes & Gardens
Addison K. Bell house, ca. 1895
Upon Dr. A. K. Bell’s death it was said that he had become “one of the most popular physicians in this section of Georgia.” The house he built directly across from the Baptist Church retains its original folk Victorian appearance. The most notable exterior feature is the bay window dormer that overlooks South Main Street – the fashionable place to be in the mid-1890s. Inside, visitors will marvel at the finely crafted millwork including the parquet ceilings of the principal rooms.
Bonar Hall, 1839
This elegant property with its grand two-story brick house and mix of original and relocated outbuildings well deserves its place on the National Register of Historic Places. The bricks were manufactured on site by enslaved labor, and the plantation originally included well over a thousand acres. Bonar Hall has been featured in numerous publications and was the principal set of an Emmy-winning TV movie. The interior features an intriguing mix of historic furnishings highlighted with the owners’ eclectic collections from around the world.
LeSeuer-Overby-Rhodes
This 150-year-old house is set in a glen of trees on the edge of town. The ownership of two families, Overby and Rhodes, accounts for over a century of that time up to 2004. The gable-and-wing configuration with a wide and welcoming front porch is typical of period homes. In 1933 a reporter dubbed the Rhodes property "one of the prettiest places we know," and it continues to deserve that praise. Though expanded and modernized several times, the home retains its historic appearance and ambiance.
Alfred Shaw House, 1847
A local furniture merchant built his home on this lot about 1847, but he would hardly recognize it if he were to return today. In the Victorian era of the latter 19th Century, the house acquired the fashionable Queen Anne treatment with the large porch, gingerbread trim, and shingled gable that it exhibits today.
The Madisonian Building, 1906
Originally built as an office for the Western Union telegraph service and other businesses, this building acquired its current name in the 1960s when it became the headquarters of the local newspaper. After the paper was sold and renamed in the early 21st Century, the building was renovated for use as a residence upstairs with a gallery and later a boutique downstairs. It now offers upscale space for residents who want to live near the fine shops and restaurants around and near Madison’s town square.
The Porch House
Built in the 19th Century on a corner near some of Madison’s grandest homes, this house started as typical four-room/central hall plan. It became known as the “Porch House” after 1916 when the owner of Farmer’s Hardware expanded his home and added the extra-wide porch with its large pipe railings, no doubt from his store.
House of Janus
This quarter-of-a-century-old home was inspired by a classic estate in lowcountry South Carolina. It is sited on a gently rising seven-acre plot on a quiet side street just a mile or so from Madison's Town Square. The present owners added a library, a three-tiered home theater, and a sunroom. Handmade furniture, family antiques, and the owner's ceramic collection decorate the rooms. The home deftly blends the formality of the foyer, dining room, and parlor with the livable and comfortable rooms to the rear and the expansive outdoor living space. The beautifully-landscaped backyard showcases deer-resistant plantings, a water feature, and a large picnic shelter.
Our Madison in May Tour will include local historical landmarks and churches!
More information and Tour Map coming soon.
Welcome to the Madison in May Tour of Homes & Gardens! Here is a helpful guide for those who may be attending the Tour.
Check -In
We are going digital! There is no need for check in at the Madison Morgan Cultural Center like we’ve done in years past. Everything you need to know is right here, but please feel free to come by and tour our historical schoolhouse, use our restrooms or just say hi!
The Tour Map is provided here on our website for you to print or save on your cell phone, but we will have extra tangible copies if you’d like to pick one up before the tour!
Tour Hours & Information
The Madison in May Tour of Homes & Gardens is on May 16 & 17, 2024. The Tour Hours are from 10 AM to 4 PM. Please note that this is a self-guided walking tour that you may complete at your leisure; please make sure to plan accordingly based on your needs. Remember to wear comfortable shoes and plan clothing based on weather forecasts. There is no starting or stopping point, you may begin the tour at any home. There are plenty of public restrooms and delicious options for lunch which are also marked on your Tour Map.
Parking
Ample parking is available around town, which is marked on the Tour Map. Feel free to park here at Madison Morgan Cultural Center, too, and please note that Groups traveling in a bus or large van MUST park at MMCC.
Thank you for attending our Spring Tour. We hope you have a lovely time!
Tour of Homes Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
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The Porch House
Bonar Hall
Leseuer-Quincy-Rhondes
Alfred Shaw House
The Madisonian
House of Janus
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Yes, the same line-up of houses will be featured on both Friday and Saturday’s tour.
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The Day Tour will be on both Friday, May 16th, and Saturday, May 19th from 10 AM - 4 PM.
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The majority of the homes on this year’s Spring Tour of Homes & Gardens are within walking distance from the Cultural Center.
Please refer to your tour map to see a detailed outline of the parking available during the Tour of Homes. Please park in designated areas - avoid blocking driveway, intersections, and narrow streets.
We ask that if you are capable of walking, please do so and allow those with mobility issues to have access to parking.
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Parking for the Spring Tour of Homes & Gardens will be available at the Madison-Morgan Cultural Center, as well as at many other parking locations designated on the tour map.
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Restrooms are available at the Madison-Morgan Cultural Center (Tour HQ), The Convention Visitor Bureau and also at Town Park. You will not be able to use the restrooms inside the homes on the tour.
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The Madison in May Tour of Homes & Gardens is a rain or shine event. In the event of rain, please plan to bring an umbrella and to dress accordingly.
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The MMCC does not coordinate lunch reservations for the Spring Tour of Homes. We recommend that if you and your group plan to eat at any of the establishments in Downtown Madison to make a reservation ahead of time.
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The MMCC does not offer refunds but we thank you for your donation.
We are so excited to showcase many of Madison’s historic and treasured homes. We hope to see you there!