by Alix Adams (Photo of the Old Medical College of Georgia by Chip Bragg)  

Welcome to “You Should Move To…”, in which we travel the country scoping out beautiful, under-the-radar old house towns where big charm can be had for little cost. Have a city, town or neighborhood to recommend? Send it along to [email protected]!

On the border of Georgia and South Carolina sits a charming southern town at the head of the Savannah River. The second oldest and second largest city in Georgia, the land has quite a few stories to tell! Plus: Affordable houses galore!

Olde Town Augusta. Photo by Mike Neale. 

SIGH. Why wouldn’t you want to move here? Photo by Nate Burgos. 

In 1735, two years after he founded Savannah, James Oglethorpe sent troops further up the Savannah River to explore and settle the head of the navigable section. He named the area after Princess Augusta, mother of King George III. Standing strong through the American Revolution, Civil War and Reconstruction, the local community has invested in revitalization efforts over the past decade that have brought a viable new cultural scene to the downtown.

The Sacred Heart Cultural Center. Photo by Dizzy Girl. 

Augusta feels like the small town kind of place you could linger around for longer than a weekend visit. Of course, the Historic District could take a month of exploration in itself and offers an amazing variety of styles including some of the state’s best examples of the Federal, Greek Revival, Gothic Revival, Romanesque Revival, Second Empire, Queen Anne (Augusta Cotton Exchange Building), Italianate, Beaux Arts (First Baptist Church), Craftsman, Art Deco AND International Styles. Magnolia Cemetery is home to many a historical figure and the oldest tree in the state of Georgia.

Gorgeous houses in Olde Town. Photo by Mike Neale. 

An historical photo of the beautiful Greene Street Historic District. Photo courtesy of the Library of Congress. 

Downtown Augusta also recognizes and promotes art as a central component to a sustainable urban economy. The vibrant and growing scene includes the Gertrude Herbert Institute, housed in the c. 1818 Ware-Sibley-Clark House (which I would sell a generously sized chunk of my soul to live in one day, that gorgeous Adamesque detailing and floating spiral staircase are killing me.) What began as a club for art hobbyists has evolved into the preeminent visual arts school and contemporary art gallery of today. Artistic community members are also joining together under the organization Artists Row. Established during the revitalization of the historic district’s main thoroughfare Broad Street, several galleries and shops are represented and offer everything from internationally renowned artworks to local pottery and glasswork while providing community support through art scholarships and programs at the local hospital. Creative types rejoice! There’s room to thrive here.

Former First Baptist Church of Augusta. Photo by J. Stephen Conn. 

An historical photo of the beautiful Greene Street Historic District. Photo courtesy of the Library of Congress. 

Dying to move to Augusta? Hoping a few of these treasures are on the market? Check out this 1851 beauty, the Amanda Dickson House (former home of the wealthiest Africa-American woman of the late 19th century) although currently zoned commercial and required full kitchen and bath installation; is in the resurgent historic district downtown, on the National Register of Historic Places and a steal at $135,000. It doesn’t seem right to call this a fixer-upper, everyone! Someone certainly needs to scoop up this elegant 1902 Craftsman in the Historic Summerville district for just under $300,000 and, if you’ve got a little jingle in your pocket, I am most definitely interested in occupying the guest room of this 1916 design by Willis Irvin. That original millwork! Those original fixtures!

The Greene Street Historic District. Photo courtesy of the Library of Congress. 

Augusta is also nationally known for hosting The Masters each spring at its famous golf course (ranked number three in the world) the Augusta National Golf Club. She boasts quite a few talented natives, as well: baseball Hall of Famer Ty Cobb, modern artist Jasper Johns and James Brown all got their start in good ol’ Augusta. If you weren’t already sold.

The Sacred Heart Cultural Center. Photo by J. Stephen Conn. 

A luscious mix of antiquity and modern downtown amenities, Augusta deserves some attention. I’m starting to agree with Ray Charles on this one — Georgia is definitely on my mind!

OLD HOUSES FOR SALE IN AUGUSTA, GA:

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933 HICKMAN ROAD
$229,000, c. 1916

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820 MILLEDGE ROAD
$1,250,000 (splurge!), c. 1809

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[twocol_one]448 TELFAIR STREET
$135,000, c. 1851

[/twocol_one] [twocol_one_last]236 ELLIS STREET
$149,900, c. 1930

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219 GREENE STREET$204,900, c. 1921

[/twocol_one] [twocol_one_last]951 MEIGS STREET$360,000, c. 1914

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956 HEARD AVENUE
$298,500, c. 1902

[/twocol_one] [twocol_one_last]1011 HOLDEN STREET$58,900, c. 1932
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1338 WINGFIELD STREET
$144,000, c. 1929

[/twocol_one] [twocol_one_last]1913 HAMPTON AVE$119,900, c. 1936
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2110 GARDNER STREET
$399,900, c. 1901

[/twocol_one] [twocol_one_last]2627 WALTON WAY$1,795,000 (splurge!), c. 1891
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2540 HENRY STREET$374,900, c. 1924

[/twocol_one] [twocol_one_last]2341 MCDOWELL STREET$299,900, c. 1921
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2628 HENRY STREET$599,000, c. 1907

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2200 CENTRAL AVENUE
$105,000, c. 1906
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1109 MILLEDGE ROAD
$449,000, c. 1891

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1303 HICKMAN ROAD$269,900, c. 1896
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2229 WALTON WAY
$895,000 (splurge!), c. 1835

[/twocol_one] [twocol_one_last]2818 WALTON WAY$449,000, c. 1911

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2909 MILLEDGEVILLE ROAD
$84,999, c. 1926

[/twocol_one] [twocol_one_last]1327 HICKMAN ROAD$169,900, c. 1906

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AUTHOR ALIX ADAMS
Alix hails from Charleston, South Carolina. She earned degrees in Historic Preservation and Art History from the College of Charleston and continues to be captivated by the city’s old-world values and architecture as they brush up against the new. She lives in an 1890 Charleston Single with her Sheltie Oliver and prefers to make the commute to work on her shiny red bike.