One of the most historic homes in Tifton is now a part of Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College after the recent donation of the Fulwood Garden Center to the ABAC Foundation by the Council of Garden Clubs of Tifton, Inc.

“We appreciate the generosity of the Council of Garden Clubs of Tifton, Inc. and we look forward to utilizing this important piece of Tifton’s history for many special events in the future,” ABAC President David Bridges said.

Bridges will formally accept the facility for ABAC at a recognition ceremony for Virginia Pennington at 11 a.m. on Jan. 31 at the Fulwood Garden Center.  Pennington, president of the Council of Garden Clubs of Tifton, Inc. and second vice president of the Garden Clubs of Georgia, will be honored during the ceremony which is open to the public.

“We are ecstatic to gift ABAC this historic property,” Terri Branch, chair of the Board of Trustees of the Council of Garden Clubs of Tifton, Inc., said.  “Our goal was to find an organization that would preserve the past, maintain the property for community enjoyment, and secure the history for future generations with progressive and innovative ideas to promote education, conservation, preservation, and beautification.  ABAC was the perfect choice.”

Paul Willis, Vice President of Finance and Operations at ABAC, said the Garden Center will continue to be available for rental to the public for special events.

“ABAC will maintain and showcase the historical elements of the Center for the community and for visitors to Tifton,” Willis said.  “ABAC students will also help curate the Center, including the beautiful grounds and gardens.”

Polly Huff, curator for ABAC’s Georgia Museum of Agriculture and Historic Village, said tours of the historic home will be available by appointment through Jennifer Vieth, facilities rental coordinator at the Museum.

“We will also be working to preserve and display the available artifacts in the Garden Center and maintain an inventory of every artifact in our digital database,” Huff said.

Huff has already assigned ABAC student Brittany Bass to assist with curatorial duties at the Garden Center.  Bass, a junior history and government major from Arcadia, Fla., will work with Huff this spring semester on an internship.  Her duties will include inventory, condition reports, and cataloging of each artifact at the Garden Center.

Constructed in 1914 as a home for Paul D. and Ruth Vickers Fulwood, the interior of the structure became a part of history almost immediately.  The beautiful flooring installed in the Fulwoods’ home was originally intended for the home of Tifton founder Henry Harding Tift and his wife, Bessie.  The mill sent the flooring to the Fulwood home by mistake.

“Mr. Fulwood always said that the floors were the finest element of the home,” Huff said of the original flooring which is still in place today.

The Council of Garden Clubs of Tifton, Inc. purchased the Fulwood Garden Center in 1985.  The two-story, 2,764 square-foot house features landscaped grounds that offer a suitable location for both indoor and outdoor gatherings.  All the vintage ceiling light fixtures are original to the house.

Another unique aspect of the Garden Center is a Rufus Porter style mural in the home’s foyer and staircase wall.  From 1825 to 1845, Porter painted scenes of New England towns and harbors in homes in that area.  His work often depicted Connecticut, home state of Tifton’s founder.

Led by Tifton artist Susan Saye, five artists from across America painted the mural at the Garden Center in 2013.  Huff said a tiny fox is painted into the mural and presents a bit of a puzzle for those who try to find it.

With the aid of several community groups including the Tifton Rotary Club, the historic gardens and the camellia collection around the Garden Center continue to thrive.  In 2013, Rotarians financed a brick path to the wedding garden, and local citizens, ABAC club members, and FFA volunteers have assisted with various projects in the gardens.

Camellias in the gardens are named for Bessie Tift, Ruth Fulwood, and Sandra Deal, wife of former Georgia Governor Nathan Deal.  Mrs. Fulwood was president of the American Rose Society and is reported to have maintained 250 camellias in her yard.

Historic landmark status was granted to the Fulwood Garden Center on Oct. 5, 2015.  A marker in the front yard designates the facility as an historic landmark for Tifton, dedicated to the memory of Paul D. and Ruth Vickers Fulwood.  The property is also listed on the National Registry of Historic Homes.

Individuals or groups who wish to rent the Fulwood Garden Center can contact Vieth at [email protected] or call (229) 391-5202.