Historic Berrong-Oakley House Restoration Reaches Major Milestone

Press Release

The restoration of the historic Berrong-Oakley House in downtown Hiawassee continues to

make steady progress, with crews spending the past several weeks focused on preserving one

of the home’s defining architectural features, its original wood siding and architectural details. 

Workers have been washing, repairing, and preparing the exterior for paint as part of the

ongoing restoration. Thanks to careful preservation efforts, roughly 99% of the home’s original

siding has been saved. Only a small portion required replacement due to deterioration caused

by the extensive kudzu growth that had engulfed the property before the City of Hiawassee

purchased it and the Towns County Historical Society assumed management of the house in

2023.

Because the narrow wood siding used when the house was built is no longer commercially

manufactured, replacing damaged boards presented a unique challenge. Modern siding is

typically produced in wider profiles, making it unsuitable for an accurate historic restoration. To

maintain the home’s historic character, each replacement board has been custom-milled on-site

to closely match the original material, just as it was done over 100 years ago.

The next major step will be the application of the home’s final exterior paint, bringing the outside

phase of the restoration near completion. Paint colors were chosen based on historic

representation. The Society launched a community-wide survey last winter to help choose the

final color options, taking the community's opinion into consideration. Once a few remaining

exterior details are finished, work will move inside the house, where restoration efforts will

continue to preserve and rehabilitate the building’s historic interior.

The Berrong-Oakley House, built in 1905, is one of Hiawassee’s significant historic landmarks.

The restoration is a collaborative effort between the Society and the City of Hiawassee to

preserve the community’s architectural heritage while creating a space that can be enjoyed by

future generations.

To learn more about the project or make a tax-deductible contribution toward the restoration,

visit townscountyhistory.org/boh.