Penfield, Georgia
Encyclopedia
Penfield, Georgia, in the United States
was established shortly after 1829 in Greene County, Georgia
, and named in honor of Josiah Penfield (c.1785 - 1828), a Savannah
merchant and silversmith
, who bequeathed $2,500.00 and a financial challenge to the Georgia Baptist Convention to match his gift for educational purposes. The Convention organized a manual labor school which opened in 1833 as Mercer Institute (renamed Mercer University
in 1837), in honor of Rev. Jesse Mercer
of Greene County, a major contributor to the matching gift request.
As the University grew, a Female Academy (1838), post office, bank, mercantile stores, print shops, Male Academy Preparatory School (1847), hosiery mill and cotton warehouses opened on the 450 areas that surrounded the campus. Residential housing, influenced by the requirement that homes provide housing for students, added to the charm of this typical southern community.
Before long, the Christian Index, Temperance Banner, Georgia Illustrated Magazine and The Orion were all being published in Penfield. Hard times brought on by the American Civil War
, however, initiated the school’s move to Macon
in 1871 and the village of Penfield survived on the strength of the cotton
industry.
Today, the village of Penfield is distinguished by the Greek Revival architecture
of Old Mercer Chapel, community churches, town cemetery, and Victorian
homes that flourished until 1919 when the prosperity built during the "Cotton Era" was ended by the boll weevil
.
Ruins of the town's mercantile buildings, bank, post office and Mercer Institute’s (science building, dormitory, Phi Delta Literary Society Hall, Ciceronian Hall and others) can be seen next to the still-functioning chapel located just above the old town square along East Main Street. Penfield Cemetery, located a short distance along Cemetery Road, holds the remains of many community leaders and, in particular, Jesse Mercer, namesake of the University.
In recognition of its contributions to architecture, education and religion from 1825-1874, the village of Penfield was added to the National Register of Historic Places
in 1976. The area now known as the Penfield Historic District comprises 305 acres (1.2 km²), including Old Mercer Chapel (now Penfield Baptist Church), Sanders Chapel, Penfield Presbyterian Church, Penfield Cemetery and over a dozen notable houses.
The Penfield Historic District is located seven miles (10 km) north of Greensboro
on GA 5925 (commonly known as Penfield Road).
Directions: From Atlanta
travel east on Interstate 20
approximately 73 miles (117 km) to Greensboro (exit 130). Exiting the interstate, turn left onto GA-44/Lake Oconee
Parkway. Follow GA-44 2.7 miles (4.3 km) into Greensboro. Turn right at the first traffic light onto East Broad St./ GA-12/GA-15. Turn left at first traffic light onto N. East St. for 1.5 miles (2.4 km). N. East St. becomes Penfield Rd./GA 5925. Follow Penfield Rd. 5.8 miles (9.3 km) into Penfield.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
was established shortly after 1829 in Greene County, Georgia
Greene County, Georgia
Greene County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. It was created on February 3, 1786. As of 2000, the population is 14,406. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 15,662. The county seat is Greensboro...
, and named in honor of Josiah Penfield (c.1785 - 1828), a Savannah
Savannah, Georgia
Savannah is the largest city and the county seat of Chatham County, in the U.S. state of Georgia. Established in 1733, the city of Savannah was the colonial capital of the Province of Georgia and later the first state capital of Georgia. Today Savannah is an industrial center and an important...
merchant and silversmith
Silversmith
A silversmith is a craftsperson who makes objects from silver or gold. The terms 'silversmith' and 'goldsmith' are not synonyms as the techniques, training, history, and guilds are or were largely the same but the end product varies greatly as does the scale of objects created.Silversmithing is the...
, who bequeathed $2,500.00 and a financial challenge to the Georgia Baptist Convention to match his gift for educational purposes. The Convention organized a manual labor school which opened in 1833 as Mercer Institute (renamed Mercer University
Mercer University
Mercer University is an independent, private, coeducational university with a Baptist heritage located in the U.S. state of Georgia. Mercer is the only university of its size in the United States that offers programs in eleven diversified fields of study: liberal arts, business, education, music,...
in 1837), in honor of Rev. Jesse Mercer
Jesse Mercer
Jesse Mercer was a prominent Baptist minister and a founder of Mercer University in the U.S. state of Georgia. Born in North Carolina on December 16, 1769, he was the son of Silas Mercer, a Baptist minister who moved his family to Wilkes County, Georgia in the early 1770s...
of Greene County, a major contributor to the matching gift request.
As the University grew, a Female Academy (1838), post office, bank, mercantile stores, print shops, Male Academy Preparatory School (1847), hosiery mill and cotton warehouses opened on the 450 areas that surrounded the campus. Residential housing, influenced by the requirement that homes provide housing for students, added to the charm of this typical southern community.
Before long, the Christian Index, Temperance Banner, Georgia Illustrated Magazine and The Orion were all being published in Penfield. Hard times brought on by the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, however, initiated the school’s move to Macon
Macon, Georgia
Macon is a city located in central Georgia, US. Founded at the fall line of the Ocmulgee River, it is part of the Macon metropolitan area, and the county seat of Bibb County. A small portion of the city extends into Jones County. Macon is the biggest city in central Georgia...
in 1871 and the village of Penfield survived on the strength of the cotton
Cotton
Cotton is a soft, fluffy staple fiber that grows in a boll, or protective capsule, around the seeds of cotton plants of the genus Gossypium. The fiber is almost pure cellulose. The botanical purpose of cotton fiber is to aid in seed dispersal....
industry.
Today, the village of Penfield is distinguished by the Greek Revival architecture
Greek Revival architecture
The Greek Revival was an architectural movement of the late 18th and early 19th centuries, predominantly in Northern Europe and the United States. A product of Hellenism, it may be looked upon as the last phase in the development of Neoclassical architecture...
of Old Mercer Chapel, community churches, town cemetery, and Victorian
Victorian architecture
The term Victorian architecture refers collectively to several architectural styles employed predominantly during the middle and late 19th century. The period that it indicates may slightly overlap the actual reign, 20 June 1837 – 22 January 1901, of Queen Victoria. This represents the British and...
homes that flourished until 1919 when the prosperity built during the "Cotton Era" was ended by the boll weevil
Boll weevil
The boll weevil is a beetle measuring an average length of six millimeters, which feeds on cotton buds and flowers. Thought to be native to Central America, it migrated into the United States from Mexico in the late 19th century and had infested all U.S. cotton-growing areas by the 1920s,...
.
Ruins of the town's mercantile buildings, bank, post office and Mercer Institute’s (science building, dormitory, Phi Delta Literary Society Hall, Ciceronian Hall and others) can be seen next to the still-functioning chapel located just above the old town square along East Main Street. Penfield Cemetery, located a short distance along Cemetery Road, holds the remains of many community leaders and, in particular, Jesse Mercer, namesake of the University.
In recognition of its contributions to architecture, education and religion from 1825-1874, the village of Penfield was added to the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1976. The area now known as the Penfield Historic District comprises 305 acres (1.2 km²), including Old Mercer Chapel (now Penfield Baptist Church), Sanders Chapel, Penfield Presbyterian Church, Penfield Cemetery and over a dozen notable houses.
The Penfield Historic District is located seven miles (10 km) north of Greensboro
Greensboro, Georgia
Greensboro is a town in Greene County, Georgia, United States. Its population was 3,238 at the time of the 2000 U.S. census. This town is the county seat of Greene County.-Geography:Greensboro is located at .According to the U.S...
on GA 5925 (commonly known as Penfield Road).
Directions: From Atlanta
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
travel east on Interstate 20
Interstate 20
Interstate 20 is a major east–west Interstate Highway in the Southern United States. I‑20 runs 1,535 miles from near Kent, Texas, at Interstate 10 to Florence, South Carolina, at Interstate 95...
approximately 73 miles (117 km) to Greensboro (exit 130). Exiting the interstate, turn left onto GA-44/Lake Oconee
Lake Oconee
Lake Oconee is a reservoir in central Georgia on the Oconee River near Greensboro and Eatonton. It was created in 1979 when Georgia Power completed the construction of the Wallace Dam on the Oconee River. Lake Oconee is the second largest lake in the state of Georgia...
Parkway. Follow GA-44 2.7 miles (4.3 km) into Greensboro. Turn right at the first traffic light onto East Broad St./ GA-12/GA-15. Turn left at first traffic light onto N. East St. for 1.5 miles (2.4 km). N. East St. becomes Penfield Rd./GA 5925. Follow Penfield Rd. 5.8 miles (9.3 km) into Penfield.