The house was built for Waymon B. and Irene Hollingsworth between 1906 and 1908 as a wedding gift to the couple from Irene’s father, Mr. George Walton Felker of Monroe. The house stood on a lot of 1 1/3 acres on what was, at that time, called Hampton Street—now known as Stonewall Avenue. Downstairs was a formal entry, parlor, music room, dining room, kitchen, butler’s pantry and master bedroom and bath—with indoor plumbing, the first in Fayette County. Upstairs were four large bedrooms, a bath and center hall and a sleeping porch. The home is graced with 12 foot ceilings on the main floor, stunning carved mahogany and oak mantels, and its original stained glass windows featuring the family monogram.

Mr. Hollingsworth graduated from the University of Georgia Law School and became an attorney in Fayetteville where he also served as a judge. He also owned several other businesses including a cotton brokerage and peach orchards. Mr. and Mrs. Hollingsworth had one daughter named Louise Felker Hollingsworth. Louise married Charles Jackson and moved to Florida. In 1947 Judge Hollingsworth died suddenly. Louise and Charles decided they would return to Fayetteville and share the home with her mother. They lived with her until her death in the late 1960’s, raising their two children, Holly and Mell, in the family home.

After Mrs. Hollingsworth’s death, the house was sold and modified for use as “The Fayetteville Child Care Center.” After serving in that capacity for many years, the center was closed and the house remained vacant until its purchase in 1998 by the Fayetteville First Baptist Church. The church purchased the house because of the proximity to the church and the church’s need for expansion.

A group of preservation-minded individuals asked the church to save the historic home. It was agreed that the church would donate the structure but it had to be moved from the property. The house was deeded to the Fayetteville Downtown Development Authority who accomplished the moving and restoration of the house through a combination of public and private funding and donations of many generous businesses and individuals. The Hollingsworth House will now be used as a public events facility, available for rent for weddings, receptions and other gatherings. Rental proceeds will fund the ongoing maintenance and improvements to the house and future projects to enhance Fayetteville’s Historic Main Street program.