Although revival of interest in America’s early history was much in evidence at the 1876 Centennial celebration in Philadelphia, it was decades later before American’s enthusiasm for the houses of their 18th century ancestors manifested itself in new buildings that closely mimicked the proportions and details of Colonial architecture. For the most part, houses built from the time of the Centennial until the first decade of the 20th century remained complex and asymmetrical in form. To make a house “Colonial” the architect/contractor simply applied “Georgian” details such as fanlight windows, and classical swags and columns, to otherwise late-Victorian dwellings. 

By World War I, however, many “historically-correct” copies of America’s Colonial mansions (and more modest houses) were being built. Such a dwelling is the house at 284 West Main Street. This finely-proportioned Georgian Revival brick house with stick mortar joints was built in 1922 for the Emmett F. Magee family after a design of local architect J. Bryant Heard. According to the deed, no dwelling placed on the lot could be any closer to the street than 35 feet, a setback consistent with other houses which had been erected recently on the former “Ficklen’s Field,” the old Harry C. Ficklen property along West Main Street. Apparently Mr. Magee, an executive with a local tobacco company, and his wife, the former Marie Stith, spared little expense on their new house—the 1923 property records assessed its value at $12,000, a sizeable amount for the early 1920s. 

Mrs. Magee, who survived her husband by some years, held title to the property until her death in 1969, when her heirs sold the house to Mr. and Mrs. Gary Bengston. The Bengstons conveyed the property to Mr. and Mrs. John E. Barker in 1978. The following year it was purchased by Mr. and Mrs. Delano S. Cocke, who completed a great deal of restoration on the old dwelling during their 12 years here. 

For Mr. and Mrs. Walter Watson it was love at first sight when they purchased the venerable structure two years ago. Since then they have redecorated the house with prized possessions and antiques, many of which are family heirlooms. Chinese and custom-made rugs are in evidence, as is the owners’ love of roses, seen in porcelains and other decorative items throughout the house. Handsome draperies and pillows which accent many of the rooms reflect Mrs. Watson’s talents as a seamstress.