In the mid-1850s, a young James U. Jackson reportedly stood on the Georgia banks of the Savannah River and dreamed of building a city on the other side.
In 1890, he bought 5,600 acres of land and set about building his city just up the hill from a declining Hamburg on the riverfront.
Jackson's dream town was incorporated and named North Augusta in 1906.
Some of North Augusta's notable homes pre-date Jackson's North Augusta. The Star of Edgefield and Elm Grove are examples.
But many historic and beloved dwellings were built as the city was being created.
Jackson built his own home, Rosemary Hall, on the corner of Forest and Carolina Avenues, while his brother built North Augusta's most notable landmark, Lookaway Hall, in the fork between Carolina and Georgia avenues.
Then he established a trolley car system between Aiken and Augusta, which also transported wealthy vacationers to and from the city's crown jewel, The Hampton Terrace Hotel.
Other homes were built in direct connection with the Hampton Terrace Hotel, such as the Boatwright Tea Room and the Sunshine Cottage, a vacation home built after the grand hotel's demise in 1916.
Despite its name, North Augusta was never a part of Augusta - it didn't even reside in the same state.
"I've never really had a definitive answer," said Jeanne McDaniel about why Jackson called the town North Augusta. McDaniel is the author of North Augusta: James U. Jackson's Dream.
Like most Augustans at that time, McDaniel said, Jackson considered the budding town a suburb of Augusta.
She said much of the early propaganda touted the city as North Augusta, Ga.
"They saw it as an extension of Augusta," McDaniel said. "I don't know how they could think that, since it's in another state."
Mayor Lark Jones said citizens may have been in favor of a name change years ago, but it wouldn't be an option now.
North Augusta established its own identity, he said. Even if a name change commemorated James U. Jackson, it could be confusing with the town of Jackson less than 20 miles away.
"Even if you had a majority of people who wanted to change the name, I don't think you could get the vast majority of people to agree on what the name should be," he said.
North Augusta is a young city, especially when compared to Augusta, which was founded in 1736. But as the town has aged, the memory of its founder has faded as well.
Jones said he believes that most North Augustans probably only know James U. Jackson as the statue that stands Carolina and Georgia avenues.
Reach Lisa Kaylor at lisa.kaylor@northaugustatoday.com.
This is the final story in the North Augusta Homes series. North Augusta Today would like to thank the North Augusta Heritage Council for their partnership and assistance with this series. Previous stories can be found at northaugustatoday.com.
