Berrong-Oakley House

10/08/2026

Take a look at this comparison! On the left is our newly handcrafted window, and on the right is the original window at the Berrong-Oakley House!

A special thank you to Mark of the Craftsman for the time, skill, and attention to detail that went into recreating this historic window! It’s amazing to see the level of craftsmanship that goes into matching the original woodwork of a home built more than 120 years ago.

Details like these are what make historic preservation so important. We’re proud to see the craftsmanship of yesterday being carried forward by skilled craftsmen today!

To learn more about the project or make a tax deductible donation, visit townscountyhistory.org/boh

09/30/2026

🪟 Let’s talk windows!

This upstairs window on the south side of the Berrong-Oakley House wasn’t original to the house. Based on its construction and operating system, we believe it was installed sometime in the 1970s or 1980s.

Like many modern replacement windows, it simply wasn’t built to last as long as the original historic windows. Its operating system had failed long before restoration began, and over the past year, the window itself had started showing signs of deterioration. From the exterior, it also didn’t quite match the proportions and appearance of the original windows that remain throughout the house.

So, what’s the solution?

Build it back the way it was originally done.

A new window is being custom-built to match the original windows of the house, right down to the traditional sash-and-weight operating system.

It’s a small detail in the scope of a large restoration, but details like this matter. Rather than replacing historic features with modern substitutes, our goal is to preserve what can be preserved and, when something must be replaced, recreate it as closely as possible to the original.

The result will be a window that looks right, works the way the originals did, and, if properly maintained, can serve the house for generations to come.

Sometimes the best way forward is to build it like they did in 1905.

09/17/2026

And work continues at the Berrong-Oakley House!

A big thank you to Dennison Brothers Nursery for coming out yesterday and helping us finish the installation of our new underground drainage system!

Because of the design of the house’s roof and gables, one side of the property receives a tremendous amount of rainwater runoff concentrated in one area. Over time, that much water around a historic foundation can lead to serious problems.

The new drainage system will collect that runoff and carry it safely away from the house, helping protect the foundation and preserve the Berrong-Oakley House for years to come.

It may not be the most noticeable part of a restoration, but good drainage is one of the most important investments we can make in the long-term protection of this historic home.

To learn more about the restoration or make a tax donation, visit townscountyhistory.org/boh

09/08/2026

We would like to extend a special thank you to the generous sponsors of this year’s A Grave Affair!

Their support helps make this unique evening of local history possible while raising funds for the restoration of the historic Berrong–Oakley House and supporting the continued upkeep of Burch Cemetery.

We are grateful to the businesses, organizations, and individuals who believe in preserving Towns County’s history and helping us share the stories of those who came before us.

Please join us in thanking our sponsors and support the businesses that support our community!

Tickets are still available at townscountyhistory.org/burchga or at the Lake Chatuge Chamber of Commerce (706) 896-4966

09/04/2026

🚨 Special episode out now! 🚨

Today, we’re taking Front Porch Mysteries somewhere a little different.

Join us for a special episode recorded right on the front porch of the historic Berrong-Oakley House in Hiawassee, GA. We’re incredibly grateful to the Towns County Historical Society for inviting us out and allowing us to share the story of this special piece of our local history.

The Berrong-Oakley House is more than an old home. It’s a connection to the people, stories, and history that helped shape our community. Preserving places like this means preserving the stories that come with them.

If you’d like to help support the preservation of the Berrong-Oakley House, you can learn more and make a donation here:

https://www.townscountyhistory.org/boh

Thank you to the Towns County Historical Society for welcoming us onto the porch and trusting us to help tell its story.

The Berrong-Oakley House… Preservation of the Past.

A special episode of Front Porch Mysteries is out now wherever you stream podcasts, or on YouTube.

09/03/2026

📚🧱🦋 Books, Bricks & Butterflies: Two Women. One Goal. Education.

We’re putting a little Dolly-inspired spin on September with 9–25!

All month long, 25% of every donation made to the Berrong-Oakley House restoration will be donated to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, helping put free books into the hands of children right here in Towns County.

Why are we doing this? Because of the shared belief Maggie Berrong and Dolly had in fighting illiteracy and expanding education.

Two women. One goal. Education.

Help us build history and futures this September!

Learn more & donate at townscountyhistory.org/boh

08/30/2026

08/29/2026

Join us for an afternoon on the porch tomorrow at 4PM for a very special episode of Front Porch Mysteries, featuring the Berrong-Oakley House.

We’re incredibly grateful to the Towns County Historical Society for allowing us to record this episode from the front porch of this historic home and share a piece of Hiawassee’s history with you.

The Berrong-Oakley House…Preservation of the Past
August 30, 2026
4PM
frontporchmysteries.com

08/27/2026

We are proud to report that the siding restoration is complete, and we couldn’t be prouder of how the house looks, and we hope you are, too!

Getting to this point has truly been a blessing from God. We are incredibly thankful for every person who has donated, volunteered, shared our story, or supported this restoration in any way. This progress belongs to our entire community.

There are still a few projects remaining before we can officially call the exterior complete, and we’ll continue sharing those updates along the way.

In the meantime, work has already moved back inside the house!

We’ve started restoration work on a set of upstairs windows. Unlike most of the windows in the house, these are not original. They were replaced around the 1970s and, after more than 50 years, have reached the end of their life and no longer operable.

Since replacement is necessary, we have an opportunity to correct that alteration and return this opening to a more historically appropriate appearance. The new windows will be constructed in the traditional weight-and-sash system, just as windows of this house’s period were intended to operate.

It may seem like a small detail, but historic preservation is often found in details just like this, repairing what can be saved, replacing only what must be replaced, and when replacement is necessary, doing it in a way that respects the historic character of the house.

To learn more about the project or make a tax deductible donation, visit townscountyhistory.org/boh.

08/25/2026

Join the Towns County Historical Society and step back in time to learn from the people who helped build and shape our community.