The spaceThe Ethridge, named after one of the buildings initial owners, is located upstairs in one of the original buildings on the square of Historic Downtown Jefferson. The building was built in the late 1800's and originally served as the local town general store downstairs, and a boarding house upstairs. After 100+ years and several owners, the boarding house space has been beautifully updated and renovated to a modern day, luxury version of its original purpose.
All plumbing, electrical, appliances, etc. are brand new, so you will not encounter any of the inconveniences you might experience staying in a historic property. However, the beautifully restored hardwood floors hold over 100 years of history and stories, as do the original exposed brick walls. The pressed tin ceilings are new, but carefully selected in a pattern and style from the era of the building.
Soaring ceilings and oversized windows envelop the building in natural light, making the space feel both immense and quaint at the same time. You can hear the hum from cars passing during the day, but evenings tend to be quiet and peaceful.
The living room and kitchen connect at the front end the building with a large pantry, oversized island, and fully stocked kitchen, including a blender, food processor, coffee maker (which can use grounds or pods) , and coffee bar. The living room has a desk, a small dining table, sofa (with sofa bed), and 2 chairs. Several games can be found in the living room media console, including scabble, monopoly, and others.
There are 2 bedrooms , both with king beds, one has an en suite bathroom with a tub/shower combo. The 2nd bathroom is in the hallway with a large stall shower. Both bedrooms offer a large closet complete with hangers. The bathrooms are stocked with shampoo, conditioner, soap, face wash, mouthwash and children's shampoo.
Additional spaces are a hall closet, perfect for storing luggage, and a large walk in laundry room. An ironing board, iron, and cleaning supplies are provided.
Guest accessThe Ethridge is located in the Washington Lofts, a small group of upstairs apartments in Historic downtown Jefferson. The hallway and stairs are shared between 4 units in the building. Once you pass through the front door of the condo (located off the access hallway), guests have exclusive access to the space.
Additional notesA couple of important notes about our space.
First, the only way you can get to the apartment, is via a set of stairs. The stairs are original and have been refinished. However, they are worn from a century of people walking up and down them.
Second, Jefferson is an amazing small town with amazing people. We absolutely love living there and are so excited to host visitors to our small town. It is a small town though. We have a couple of great shops and stores on the square, but only one restaurant, within walking distance, which is open in the evening. The wonderful thing about Jefferson's location is that you are less than a 30 minute drive from Athens, Gainesville, Commerce and Buford, 4 great mid-sized towns you can head to for a day-trip if you are looking for more activities and dining options.
Guest interactionI live down the street if you need anything during your stay. However, this space is set up for use exclusively by guests.
Neighborhood overviewOnly an hour's drive from Atlanta, Jefferson was designated the county seat of Jackson County on November 24, 1806. The city, named for President Thomas Jefferson, was the site of a previous Indian settlement named Thomoccoggan. The city was then incorporated as Jeffersonville. Later, the name was changed to Jeffersonton and finally shortened to its current name on June 30, 1824.
Main Street Jefferson hosts an array of community events throughout the year, including Concerts on the Square and an annual Christmas Parade. The picturesque buildings in downtown house great local shops and restaurants. Jefferson is home of the Crawford W. Long Museum, which highlights the life and medical career of Dr. Long, who was the first to use ether as anesthesia in 1842. Jefferson is also home to the historic Jackson County Courthouse and the Jefferson Memorial Stadium, which hosts the annual Boys State Track Olympics every spring.
** From Explore Georgia , Official Tourism Site
Getting aroundThere is free parking on the street in front of the unit, as well as several free parking lots around the city. Once you are parked you can walk around the square to the local stores including a small wine shop, a tap room, an ice cream shop, donut shop, and a couple of lunch options.
