Harriet Rainey Bratton (1795-1874) took over the operation of the Bratton plantation after the death of her husband, Dr. John Simpson Bratton, Sr., in 1843. She resided in the Homestead House until her death in 1874. Today, the Culture & Heritage Museums’ preservation team is working to restore the house to its appearance in 1855 just after master builder O.P. Cranford had added the portico to Harriet’s house.
The first phase of the preservation project focused on structural repairs, reconstruction of the 1854 portico, and restoration of the exterior. This work was completed in Summer 2024.
The preservation team is now working to restore the interior of Harriet’s house. The first step in this next phase of the project is to finish the necessary architectural research to uncover the way the house looked in 1855. At the conclusion of our research, preservationists will make repairs to woodwork and plaster, as well as reconstruct built-in closets in the Assembly Hall and a partition wall on the second floor.
The Homestead House is open to visitors; however, access is limited due to our preservation activities.
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