Our lives unfold as stories, and we get to choose how we want our stories to be written. The Hazlehurst House wants to be a part of your story.
Ryan Bartels/Light Adrenaline Photography & Design
Situated in downtown McDonough, the Hazlehurst House was built in 1829 and retains the character it had over 150 years ago. McDonough is a short, thirty-five minute drive from Atlanta and an even shorter trip to Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. We are a full-service facility with a passion for crafting an unforgettable and enchanting event. From exquisite food and wine to the loveliest linens and china, The Hazlehurst House is the perfect setting for your dream wedding. The elegance and charm of this historic venue are paired with a staff of highly trained professionals who will capture your vision and execute it with a distinctly personal touch.
Each of our brides receives individual attention tailored to creating their special day. We are confident that you will find our exceptional service, unique spaces, delicious food, and attention-to-detail unsurpassed. It is our desire that you have an enjoyable planning experience and a perfectly executed event so that you will cherish the memories of this happy time.
History
This estate, located in McDonough Georgia, originally consisted of 231 acres and was purchased for $130 by Ezekiel Cloud. Shortly thereafter, Abner Davis of Jones County, Georgia purchased the property from Ezekiel. Abner built The Hazlehurst House and several small living quarters. Abner passed away in 1834, and his wife sold the property to Col. G. W. Bryan in 1869.
The Hazlehurst House still gleams to this day with so many original features, including hand blown windows, original wooden floors and walls, original fireplaces and mantels, and it still has the remnants of the one of the servant quarters, Mrs. Akie, who was so fondly thought of by the Bryan family. Mrs. Cornelia Hutton Hazlehurst, the granddaughter of Col. G. W. Bryan, inherited the house and put it on the map for what it is today. She was a fun-loving southern belle who loved to entertain. The house was the hub for parties and social events in the community. If there was a big, fancy event in the town, more often than not it was here at the Hazlehurst House.
Cornelia and her husband never had children, so she invested a lot of her time giving back to the community, sharing her time and talents with others. She also spent a lot of time with the children of her servants, as they were referred to at the time, as she loved children very much. We have record that she sent at least one child to college and she also paid for the first “fancy church” African American wedding in McDonough, complete with fresh flowers in the church, an aisle runner made from a bed sheet, and a spread of delectable food. She had so much fun planning that wedding which was for Akie’s granddaughter, Cornelia, named after Mrs. Cornelia Hutton Hazlehurst.
It is interesting to note that The Hazlehurst House was also utilized as a hospital during the Civil War between the states and is filled with artifacts dating back to that time in our history. Some of the items found on the property are letters written by soldiers, love letters, legal documents, photos, sketching in the blown glass, firing ammunition, knives, etc.
The Hazlehurst stayed in the Hutton/Hazlehurst family until 1990s when it was purchased by a developer and his daughter, Priscilla McCammon. Priscilla and her family restored the house as much as they could to its original condition and added a large ballroom that can accommodate approximately 200 guests. Over the years, bits and pieces of the property were sold off and the property now consist of three acres. Finally, the property was purchased by its current proprietor, Felicia Watts, who has made many improvements to create the ambiance and event space that it is today. As fate would have it, it is being utilized today for much of the same purposes for which Mrs. Cornelia used the house: entertaining and grand celebrations!