History ::
Its history includes use as an inn during the early days when tourists were swarming into the area to visit the mountain and as an emergency hospital for confederate soldiers injured in the "Battle of Atlanta" during the Civil War.
It became known as the Stillwell House after the Reverend Jacob Stillwell who came to Stone Mountain in
1868 to pastor Stone Mountain First Baptist Church. Unable to find a house large enough for a family of nine children, Reverend Stillwell had no choice but to purchase the inn. Having been built originally as an inn, the house boasted an oval ballroom spanning the entire third floor for pleasure and entertainment of its guests.
The Reverend, being a good 'Baptist', adhered to the strict church doctrine of "Baptist and dancing don't mix". Felling his family had no use for the room, he laid down firm rules regarding the same. Secure in his authority, he and Mrs. Stillwell left for a few weeks of preaching engagements, leaving the older children in charge of the younger children and the house.
One of the most interesting houses in the village is The Village Inn Bed & Breakfast, formerly known as the Stillwell House.
Two of the older daughters had always wanted to 'go to a dance' and against rules, sent out party/dance invitations to numbers of young people in the community and soon the house was filled with young people dancing "sinfully" to music provided by a band from Atlanta.
When the Reverend returned and learned of the "evil" misdeed, his righteous indignation rose to fury, and he cut off the stairs leading to the third floor. The new owner (The Baily's) reported that when they began renovation of the house in 1994, the stairs were still missing. The House remained in the Stillwell family for eighty-four years and was sold in 1942 by the reverend's granddaughter, Mary Ellen Stillwell Smith.
Originally the house was of clapboard construction with a rock foundation. It contained 12 rooms and featured two rock chimneys on either side of the house. During the early days as an inn, there were three entrances on the ground floor and a porch across the second floor that featured two doors.
When the house was remodeled in 1930, the porch was removed. A kitchen and large dining room connected to the rear of the house that was later torn down.
The latest note of interest of the Stillwell House is that during the recent renovation, the new owners came across names scrawled on some wooden boards on a wall in the back of the house. So that they could have a piece of history in their hands, they removed one of the planks on which was written the name 'Frank Nash'. Then they continued their work of covering the rest of the boards with sheetrock.
Imagine their dismay to learn later that the confederate soldiers were in the practice of writing their names on the wall just above the head of their beds. They report now, regretfully, that they do not remember, nor did they record any of the other names. What happened to Frank Nash?
Well, the Baileys think that perhaps he stayed behind, which might explain a number of rather strange things that happened during the renovation. Such as finding thins moved from where they had left them or a couple of times things that had been propped against the wall just fell over for seemingly no reason.
They jokingly called their 'ghost' Sergeant Nash... but...it could have been the good reverend, keeping watch over the house and making sure no 'sinful activity' took place. Several times the Bailey's felt eyes watching them, only to turn around and find no one there.
Was the Reverend standing guard as they replaced the stairs leading to the third floor? He would be happy to know it's no longer a ballroom, but sleeping quarters in the style of the house's original purpose, that of an inn.
Sergeant Nash seems to be at rest now, perhaps pleased with what the Bailey's did, for they tell us that since they opened for business, their 'friend' has not been back. If it were Sergeant Nash, possibly that his memory is intact with the removal of his board. If it were the Reverend Stillwell, perhaps he too, has moved on, having seen that the house is in good hands, approving of the house being used for guests and weddings unless, of course they danced....
