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Time Line

Mickelberry and Nancy C. Ferrell acquired the land and built their home in LaGrange. Nancy started what developed into Ferrell Gardens.Sarah C. Ferrell, daughter of Mickleberry and Nancy Ferrell, married her double first cousin Blount C. Ferrell.Sarah and Blount Ferrell returned to LaGrange from Marianna, Florida, and Sarah started expanding her mother's garden.Union troops marched through LaGrange but Ferrell Gardens was spared."The Terraces", also known as Ferrell Gardens, received wide acclaim for their beauty. Praised as the 'finest in 30 states' by visitors.Blount Ferrell home described as having "elegant parlors" "thronged with the beauty and fashion of LaGrange, tables filled with every delicacy..."Ferrells offered to sell their home and grounds to LaGrange for use as a city park and cemetery but the council refused to ratify Mayor E. D. Pitman's offer.The novel "Vesta" written by Sarah's sister, Florida P. Reed, used Ferrell Gardens as the setting and Ferrell family members inspired the characters.Sarah Ferrell died after tending to Ferrell Gardens for over 60 years.Judge Blount Ferrell died and Ferrell Gardens were left untended until 1911.Fuller E. Callaway, who had great success in the textile business, purchased the 90 acre Ferrell place for $8,000.Hentz and Reid architects were commissioned by the Callaways to design their new home.Callaways renamed the property Hills and Dales and their home was completed. The official opening was a celebration of Fuller and Ida Cason Callaway's 25th wedding anniversary.International Cotton Exposition was entertained at Hills and Dales enroute between Atlanta and New Orleans. The noted journalist, Ida Tarbell visited the home as did statesman William Jennings Bryan.Fuller and Ida held a large wedding reception at Hills and Dales for their son, Cason, and his bride Virginia Hand.Country Life Magazine did a feature story on Hills and Dales. The house and garden would later be featured in House and Garden Magazine, House Beautiful Magazine, and a book entitled Beautiful Gardens of America by Louise Shelton.Fuller died at Hills and Dales. Employees of his numerous enterprises contributed to build a memorial tower in his honor. The tower was erected in 1929.100th anniversary of Ferrell Gardens was celebrated by Mrs. Fuller E. Callaway, Sr. who hosted a large luncheon for the Garden Club of America.Ida Cason Callaway died at Hills and Dales.Fuller E. Callaway, Jr., with his wife Alice Hand and their two children, moved into Hills and Dales.The gardens at Hills and Dales were open to visitors as part of the first Georgia Garden Pilgrimage.The interior was partially redecorated with designs by Philip Trammel Shutze and interior decorator Sarah King Small of Atlanta.Fuller E. Callaway, Jr. held his first Hereford cattle sale at Hills and Dales, the first of many "Hills and Dales Dispersions".Alice Hand Callaway and Ferrell Gardens were featured in The American Woman's Garden by Rosemary Verey and Ellen Samuels.On January 21st, LaGrange temperatures dipped to -5 degrees Fahrenheit, a 100 year low. The cold killed many camellias, sentinel boxwood, and other ornamental plants at Ferrell Gardens.Fuller E. Callaway, Jr. died.The video, "Ferrell Gardens: A Growing History" featuring Alice Hand Callaway and Ida Callaway Hudson, was produced by the Troup County Historical Society.Alice Hand Callaway died at Hills and Dales. The property was bequeathed to Fuller E. Callaway Foundation with the request that it be used for the enjoyment and instruction of the visiting public. Alice had cultivated the gardens at Hills and Dales for 62 years.Hills and Dales Estate formally opened to the public.