02/20/09

Photo Gallery: Chattooga Academy (John B. Gordon Hall)

Gordon Hall, built in 1836, as Chattooga Academy through the interest of Spencer Marsh and other citizens of Lafayette, is the oldest brick schoolhouse still standing in Georgia. An older school built of logs once stood near the center of town.

Chattooga Academy was used until the 1930's. A wooden annex to this building was torn down during The Battle of Lafayette, and the wood was used as barricades. The annex was replaced in 1897.

The above-mentioned buildings were the only schools in Lafayette until Lafayette High School was built in 1921 and Fortune Elementary School was built in 1936.

In the early days of the academy, parents from out-lying areas sent their children to board with town folk to attend school. Among these children were two Gordon boys from Gordon Springs, Whitfield County. One of these boys was supposedly John B. Gordon, later Confederate General and Governor of Georgia. The Gordon boys boarded with the Spencer Marsh family next door to the school.

Gordon Hall is named for the above mentioned John B. Gordon. It is a beautiful two-story building of Georgian design, with one large room on each floor and a chimney at each end. The bricks were made by Amos Welborn at his brickyard in Rock Spring, a community north of LaFayette.

In 1863, General Braxton Bragg's Army headquartered at Gordon Hall preceding The Battle of Chickamauga. In 1864, Gordon Hall served as Union headquarters for The Battle of Lafayette.

Currently owned by the City of Lafayette, Gordon Hall until recently was used as headquarters for The Lafayette Area Chamber of Commerce. Listed on The National Register of Historic Places.

DAR Marker "Chattooga Academy" text:
Chattooga Academy 1836 National Register of Historic Places Marker placed by William Marsh Chapter NSDAR 1980

GHC Marker "John B. Gordon Hall" text:
This old academy, built in 1836, was in the line of fire during the Battle of LaFayette in the War Between the States. General Braxton Bragg, who had his headquarters in LaFayette planned the Battle of Chickamauga under an old oak tree that stood in front of this building and was known as "Bragg's Oak." The tree was destroyed by lightning a few years ago. The LaFayette Chapters of the D.A.R. and U.D.C. purchased this historic building to preserve it. It was renamed John B. Gordon Hall for Gen. Gordon, former pupil in the academy.

146-2 Georgia Historical Commission 1953