Last weekend I had the pleasure to visit Le Jardin Blanc to tour the gardens and enjoy tea as part of last week’s Hydrangea Festival events.

After tea I was able to roam about alone from room to room with my camera, so this week my column is heavy with images instead of words. 

Let’s just say I was in heaven!  Le Jardin Blanc has all the ingredients for a nice afternoon as far as I’m concerned–great food, interesting teas, wonderful décor, beautiful gardens, a little shopping, and history!  

The correct historical name for the property is the Poole-Huffine-Bulloch-Rollins home, and at 144 years old it has quite a history. It was built by William Haynes Poole, the very first physician and surgeon in the area before Douglasville or Douglas County existed by name.  My article The Doctor Is In provides a little background on Dr. Poole, but I’d like to add that he began studying with Dr. M.F. La Dell in Cedartown and earned his degree from Savannah Medical College where he served one year as an intern at the Marine Hospital.

He graduated in 1860 with first honors in his class and his graduating thesis, “Modue Operandi of Medicines” was published in what would amount to the American Medical Journal today for other physicians to review. 

After graduation, Dr. Poole returned to his parents’ home in Carroll County intending to open his medical practice there, but he served the next four years in the Medical Unit of the Confederate Army.  Fannie May Davis’ history of Douglas County relates his skill in surgery was reported to have been equal to the best in the entire unit.  His learning experiences, no doubt, made up for any laxity that might have been overlooked in medical school.

He arrived in Skint Chestnut after the war was over, and soon Dr. Poole had an extensive and profitable practice. He built the home on Strickland Street for his bride, Marcella Vansant, daughter of Rueben and Flora Vansant.  They had eight children.  I couldn’t help but think as I walked up the stairs how busy the house must have been at one time with eight children moving about even though there are thirteen rooms to spread out in.

Dr. Poole was very well known in town and took part in many aspects of the development of Douglasville. He owned land throughout the county, served on a committee that made recommendations a courthouse be built in 1896 and was a Mason and member of the Lutheran Church.   After the 1896 Courthouse burned in 1956 a box that had been placed behind the cornerstone was opened.   One of the items inside the box was a $500 Confederate note signed by W.H. Poole and two of his sons, Reuben H. and Thomas J. Poole.

The slate roof is original to the home and was hauled to Douglasville by two horse wagons from Rockmart Quarry.   Fannie May Davis advises the home is constructed with wooden pegs holding together its oversized framing members. 

The Huffine family bought the property from Dr. Poole.  Mr. Huffine was in the cotton business and owned the Huffine Warehouse which was located  where the Downtown Conference Center is located today. 

Next came the Bulloch family followed by Keith and Sandra Rollins who were the last owners to actually live in the home. They made many restorative improvements to the home and gardens before passing ownership to Susanne Hudson and Jeri Farmer who own Le Jardin Blanc.

Today the home is used for events from grand weddings, parties, and of course a full tea is served on Thursdays and Fridays at 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. and on Saturdays at 11:30 a.m.  Reservations are required and can be made by calling 678-838-4449.   The Website for Le Jardin Blanc can be found here.