The Sleighter House, Washington

The Sleighter House was originally built in 1827 as a female seminary. It served for many years as a finishing and boarding school for girls and gained a national reputation for excellence prior to The Civil War. Devastating fires in 1839 and 1857 left the house in ruin but was rebuilt and remained in use until the mid 1890’s. Evidence of the fires can be seen in the attic beams.

Also located in the attic are carved initials of some of the girls that attended the female seminary. In 1898, a local druggist purchased the house for 150 dollars under the condition that it be moved a few hundred feet toward the south to its present location. It is believed that around this time the old cook house and grand columns were attached to the structure.

Washington is located approximately one hour and 40 minutes East of Atlanta, 40 minutes Southeast of Athens and one hour Northwest of Augusta. The Sleighter House is located in town just a short distance from the Square, north of Robert Toombs Avenue.

Washington, Georgia is a place of history and legends. Here, one can experience Colonial America, the Confederacy, and Victorian Era while strolling along our streets. In 1780, a charter was issued for the town to be named after George Washington and was the first in the United States to use the name. George Washington visited in 1791. In April 1865, what was left of the Confederate treasury, estimated at over half of a million dollars in gold, was moved to Washington. The Confederacy was officially dissolved here by Jefferson Davis and members of his cabinet. The gold has yet to be found.