Oakmont, c. 1875

39 Oakmont Drive

 

Oakmont was built in 1875 by William Audley Couper of Cannon’s Point, St. Simon’s Island. It stands on the former site of Kennesaw Hall, the home of Charles J. MacDonald who was the Governor of Georgia from 1839-1843. Kennesaw Hall was burned by Sherman’s troops in 1864 and replaced eleven years later by Oakmont. Joseph M. Brown purchased the house in 1890. He served as Governor of Georgia for two separate terms, 1909-11 and 1912-13. His father, Joseph E. Brown, served as the Governor during the Civil War, 1857-1865. Alfred R. Waud, noted Civil War artist, died in this house while doing artwork for a Western & Atlantic Railroad publication (at that time Joseph M. Brown was General Manager for the railroad).

Charles Brown, the grandson of Joseph, remodeled the house in 1964. The Brown family occupied the house until the current owners, Tom & Traci Guckian, purchased the property. They have extensively updated the house.