THE DEMING HOUSE

DEMING HOUSE the

One of Georgia Trust’s Places in Peril

PHOTOGRAPHY BY JAVON LONGIELIERE

Built by Master Carpenter John Nelson Deming in 1898, the "Deming Heroes" are looking for the perfect owner for this 1898 Valdosta treasure.

Located at 915 North Oak Street, between downtown and Valdosta State University, this eclectic home with a rare rain porch sits on a corner lot, fittingly graced by a gorgeous oak. Inside includes beautiful wood floors, mantels, and staircase. Its namesake, John Nelson Deming, master carpenter, built many elegant homes in Valdosta’s North Patterson Historic District/National Register of Historic Places, most notably, The Crescent. The Deming House is constructed of wood shared from the construction of Senator West’s Crescent. Deming is also responsible for the immaculate 1899 interior woodwork of the First Baptist Church and 1905 remodel of the United Methodist Church, both stunning reminders of his outstanding craftsmanship.

Historic Preservationists: (seated) Councilwoman Vivian Miller-Cody; Mayor Scott James Matheson; Joyce Aigen, Dr. Alex Alvarez, president, Historic Preservation Commission (HPC); (standing) Tommy Crane, Associate Professor, VSU, Valdosta Heritage Foundation (VHF) vice president, HPC; James Horton, City Historic Preservation Planner; Nancy DeRuyter Warren; Vickie Everitte VHF; Catherine Pendleton, VHF President; Dr. Harry Hamm, HPC; Laura Yale, HPC; Roberta George.

In addition to the Demings, the McDonald Family lived in the home for many years and rebuilt the extensively damaged porch roof. In 2006 the parcel was rezoned to residential/professional and sold to an investment group. The house and its surrounding properties have since been vacant.

The Deming House is listed as a 2020 Georgia Trust’s Places in Peril after a submission by Historic Preservation & Special Projects Planner James Horton. Horton credits Vickie Everitte, Donald Davis and Harry Evans with assisting. This is the first time a structure in Valdosta has been selected for the prestigious Georgia Trust’s program and has united the City of Valdosta, including the Valdosta Historic Preservation Commission, the Valdosta Heritage Foundation, the Valdosta Lowndes Historical Society, and the investors together as a team to find a preservation-minded buyer.

Recently, a group of historic preservation volunteers met to remove the boards that had covered the Deming House's windows for decades, cleaned years of dust, and host a “Drop by Deming.” Additional open houses and private showings for interested parties are planned. The house has not been lived in since the McDonald family moved out, so it needs loving restoration and is priced at $99,000.

“We want to find the perfect fit for this beautiful home,” said Nancy DeRuyter Warren, of the investor group. “There are so many possibilities for it and the surrounding neighborhood.” “Ideally, someone would preserve and rehabilitate the home for either a residence or a business office while retaining the historical features and integrity of the structure and the site,” said Horton.

The “Deming Heroes” committee is working to spread the word and history of this unique property. Vickie Everitte, a volunteer with the Valdosta Heritage Foundation, says, “Valdosta has lost many treasures over the years, each with a unique beauty and history. While those are gone forever, this home built by John Nelson Deming, builder of multiple significant landmarks in town, need not share the fate of countless beautiful homes we have lost – it is a gem that should be preserved as part of our city.”

Harriet Deming, a descendent by marriage of John Nelson Deming.