About Us

The Story of The Haralson House

The Haralson House originally stood just off Blairsville's downtown square.  Said to have been built in the 1840's the Haralson's were a prominent business family.  After the Haralson family, the infamous "cat lady" and her husband, the lawyer.  His office was adjacent to the Haralson House directly across from Food Land grocery store.  Today, if you look closely at the old brick building, you can barely make out the sign on the door, "Attorney."  When the house was moved, several original Georgia Law books were found and you can still read the pencil notes written in the margins.  There's no shortage of round spectacles either, all of which are on display in the house today. 

Alledgely, the "cat lady" had several staff whom she ran off one by one.  No one was allowed to tour the enormous home and the thick hedge in front of the house confirmed no one passed through.  Eventually when the lady, the lawyer, and her cats passed on, the Haralson House was abandoned.  Most locals had stories of what they thought took place behind those doors for so many years, but it remained a mystery as to what would become of "that big ol' white house on the square."   

In 1996, Janice Kelley Gratton, a Blairsville native and city clerk, heard the house was in danger of being torn down.  The locals chatted among themselves..., "Who would take on such a project?  Who in their right mind would want "that ol' thang!" 

That person was Janice.  In her mind she imagined a beautiful, majestic southern plantation home completely restored and resting peacefully on an open pasture.  Soon, Janice claimed The Haralson House as her own.  The mighty Haralson House was taken apart room by room and trasported down Blairsville's only four-lane road to Janice's farm. 

They situated the house in the perfect spot and began their work.  The orgininal hard wood floors were preserved, along with the wavy glass window panes.  The wall colors were chosen from a historical paint registry reminiscent of the orginal colors in the 1840s.  A year of labor and a lot of love later, the House was exactly the way Janice pictured it.  Clean, bright, cheerful, and charming, the Haralson House waits today to welcome you into her rooms.