Friends group eyed for historic Gordon Lee Mansion

By Maggie Free

Correspondent

CHICKAMAUGA, Ga. — The preservation and support of Chickamauga’s historic Gordon Lee Mansion is the focus of an upcoming community meeting.

City Councilman Jim Staub said he was approached by residents interested in forming a friends group for the mansion. The group would help develop programs and fundraisers and meet preservation needs to ensure the structure retains its original character, he said.

“Hopefully, friends would do things to support and advocate for the mansion,” Staub said.

The mansion was built between 1840 and 1847 as the home of James and Sarah Gordon. Shortly before the Civil War, James Lee, husband of Elizabeth Gordon, bought it. Before its use as a hospital during the Battle of Chickamauga, the home was used by the Union Army as Gen. William Rosecrans’ headquarters.

In 1974, Dr. Frank Green bought the mansion from the Lee family and worked to restore the house and grounds until he sold it to the city in 2007. Today it is used for weddings and receptions, Christmas parties, group luncheons and during special events such as Down Home Days and War Between the States Day.

Richard Barclift, general manager of the mansion, said a friends group would be very beneficial in efforts to keep the building historically accurate.

The group also would affect the future of the mansion and the city by “hopefully, bringing in more visitors,” he said.

Barclift said the mansion now offers group tours by appointment only, and friends group members could act as docents and make it possible to open it to the public. He also said restoration needs are continuous for such an old building, and the group could help with those, as well.

Maggie Free is based in Rock Spring, Ga. E-mail her at maggirl3@gmail.com.