Polk House renamed; original mantle returns

Preserve Mecklenburg has changed the name of the Polk House on Old US 74 in Polkton include the name of L.L. Polk’s wife, Sarah Gaddy Polk (1840-1901).

The official name of the house is now “The Leonidas Lafayette Polk and Sarah Gaddy Polk House.” ​Sarah was her husband’s steadfast partner, according to Preserve Mecklenburg. She called him “Buddie.” He called her “Sallie.” Sarah knew sorrow. Five of her seven children preceded her in death. Sarah’s backing was considered a major part of L.L. Polk’s success in public affairs. Preserve Mecklenburg wants to honor Sarah’s legacy.

Sarah moved into the house as a teenage bride in 1857 and lived there until 1873. She gave birth to five children during those years. All were daughters. Two more were born after the Polks moved to a new home. Sarah was solely responsible for the household during the Civil War. L.L. Polk was an officer in the Confederate Army. When Union soldiers raided the farm in March 1865, Sarah hid the family silverware at the bottom of the well in the backyard.

​This month, former owners of the Leonidas Lafayette Polk and Sarah Gaddy Polk House donated an original mantle to be reinstalled in the home. Andrew Polk was L.L. Polk’s father. Andrew had the Leonidas Lafayette Polk and Sarah Gaddy Polk House constructed between 1823 and 1827.

“You could not purchase mantles from a store in the 1820s. Skilled craftsmen had to live at the site and fashion everything by hand,” said Dan Morrill in a press release. “Imagine the time and labor that were involved in producing the exquisite decorative detail on this mantle … What stories it can tell!”

Austin Kirkland traveled to the home of the donor to get the mantle. Austin and his wife Meagan live in Peachland. They will be the new owners. The restoration of the Leonidas Lafayette Polk and Sarah Gaddy Polk House will begin in January.