The House
The earliest construction of the Porter Springs Farmhouse pre-dates the Civil War and has been continuously owned by the same family. It was part of the Queen of the Mountains hotel and resort, situated just a short distance from the Farmhouse and was located in what was known as the community of Porter Springs. Queen of the Mountains, referred to by family as “The Old Hotel,” was a summer get-away for many people in Atlanta because of the cooler weather and the legendary benefits of the springs on the property. Dinner was enjoyed with orchestral music, and there was a bowling alley and other entertainments. Cold outdoor showers were the norm because running water was not available. Travel from Atlanta was usually a two-day journey by coach, with a stop in Gainesville.

It’s believed that Porter Springs Farmhouse began as a caretaker’s or hunter’s cabin. The house was given to my great uncle by my great-great grandfather, Colonel Henry Patillo Farrow, the owner of the Old Hotel. The original house constitutes the oldest part of the Farmhouse and includes the living room and two bedrooms, all having painted surfaces. The “newer” part of the house is the log portion. Construction began in 1909 when my great-uncle learned that his future bride’s dream was to live in a log house. The wood used to build the Farmhouse consists of some American Chestnut, which grew prolifically around the house until the blight in the early 1940’s. The house was added onto over the years with whatever wood was available on the surrounding land.

Throughout the generations, the Farmhouse has been a gathering place for young and old alike. Games were a beloved past time, family gatherings were common, and practical jokes abounded. Frog gigging at night, making corncob pipes for rabbit tobacco, visiting Trahlyta’s grave (Stonepile Gap) in the dark to see if she’d speak to visitors, hiking Blood Mountain, and telling ghost stories were some of the favorite memories of the older generation.

Because the house is so old, we have unwelcome visitors from time to time, and you might see a mouse. However, we have made them feel so unwelcome in recent years that it’s a rare occurrence. There is also the dust factor. Try as we might to clean the house, it just sheds dirt and dust. Therefore, a visit to Porter Springs Farmhouse isn’t for everyone but the person who appreciates history and can imagine camping indoors with the comforts of heat, air conditioning, washer and dryer, internet, dishwasher, big-screen tv, home office, and oven/stove.

Explorations
Around the house you’ll see some evidence of the Old Hotel. Some fun explorations include spending some time with the green benches on the front porch where late 1800’s visitors to the Old Hotel carved their names into the benches. Try googling them and see what you can learn! Also on the porch are lights on both sides of the front door that are taken from old stagecoaches. Try writing a story about what it would be like to ride in a stagecoach! Inside the house, the dining room furniture is original to the house, and the dining room table is from the Old Hotel.

Because rodents were always a problem in the past (and sometimes in the present!), the kitchen cabinets are protected by hooks on the interior and wooden locks on the exterior. Similar locks were employed on bathroom, bedroom and exterior doors. The windows are “locked” with wooden locks and a nail. Feel free to explore the house and all of the interesting ways in which every day life was lived.

Sites and Sounds
Many different animals have been raised over the years at the Farmhouse including chickens, goats, and most recently, Angus cattle. Today, neighbors raise Angus cattle, and they surround the Farmhouse. Grazing on private property, they come close enough to the house to hear them chewing the grass, snorting, and calling out to their young. Because bulls are also present, wandering the pasture or going down to the creeks is absolutely forbidden. Dogs must be leashed when they go outside so they don’t risk running into the pasture and getting injured or spooking the cattle.

There are many other animals around the house. We have seen bears, deer and turkeys, and hear the calls of many birds, including owls. Our favorite place to sit and enjoy the wildlife is the front porch, where there is a frequent breeze - even on the hottest days.

Suches Vacation Rentals provides the following amount of basic goods as a Starter Kit for your arrival at the cabin:

Kitchen Trash Bags - 5 (under the kitchen sink)
Paper Towels - 1 Roll per Kitchen
Toilet Paper - 3 per bathroom
Body Soap - Small sample bar soaps (with welcome kit in kitchen)

Please make a note, this is a starter kit for your arrival. If you feel that you'll need more of these items you'll want to bring them with you or purchase them while you are in town.

Since coffee and laundry detergent can be very personal choices we encourage you to bring those with you as we do not provide them.

An ample supply of dish soap, dish detergent, shampoo and conditioner and hand soap are provided.

County License #: 4896