The Root House

The Root House, formerly owned and lived in by William and Hannah Root, is a 19th century middle-class home found in Marietta, GA. It was constructed in 1845 and is an example of the typical residence 19th century merchant and his family. It was originally built on the corner of Church and Lemon Streets in Marietta, but now lives just two blocks away and is a museum. This home is two stories high, including a hallway entrance opening into a parlor and multipurpose room and bed rooms above. In addition to the house, there is a detached outhouse and kitchen. The kitchen includes a working cast iron stove. There is a garden in the back as well. The Root House Garden is designed to reflect the gardening practices of the mid-19th century. All the

Root was a very successful businessman for many years and was influential in the development of the town” (Akamatsu 110). He and his family were very religious and contributed to the spiritual well-being of the community. Mr. Root was one of the founders of the St. James Episcopal Church in Marietta, established in 1842. Hannah Root, formerly known as Hannah Simpson, was the daughter of one of the first pioneer families to inhabit Marietta, GA. Her father was also an important part of the spiritual community, he was one of the founders of the first Presbyterian Church in Marietta. William served as the county coroner for two (2) terms starting in 1883. William died in 1891 and is buried in the Marietta City and Confederate Cemetery. Both William and Hannah died in the Root house.

The Root house is of cultural significance because it depicts the living conditions of the Root family. They were a large family of middle class income. The home at the time period had no indoor plumbing, therefore hygiene was not really of top importance. “They probably took a bath maybe once a week” (Curlee). When they took baths the oldest were to go first starting with the males then the females and lastly the children. The youngest of the family usually the baby would be bathed the dirty bath water of the rest of the family. Some cultures would look at that as unhygienic and

Somehow, the Root House survived.” (Beemon). The Root house is a significant in-town residence, one built by the merchant class for the merchant class. It withstood getting sold, getting moved, falling apart, and in the end getting saved and restored. It is no ordinary home, it is history. It takes us back to how the middle class lived, how they made due with what was provided to them and they survived. As Marietta grows and changes, the Root House will stand as the site where one can stop and see where it all began and how far we have