| history |
The
Pope ’ s Museum
A renaissance of restoration
words & photography by Payton Fletcher
Entering a renaissance of restoration , the Pope ’ s Museum was the house and home of Laura Pope Forester , a Grady County native , who used her self-taught folk artistry to help empower and inspire women , creating a monument from her own residence to her lifelong efforts .
Michelle Dean , the executive director of the museum , said that she and her husband , Dan , had learned much about Forester and the museum during their time living at and restoring the property .
“ Laura and her husband moved into this house in 1884 , it was originally a one story house ,” Dean said . “ They purchased it with about 500 acres and before her first husband died in 1911 , it had 1,600 acres , the store across the street and she had added the back half . The second and third story gables , she added in the 1930s .”
After her first husband died in 1911 , Dean said , she remarried in 1914 , all the while she began creating one of the oldest acknowledged and known outside art environments done by a woman .
“ So , her husband died and she was a single mom , she married Julian Forester in 1914 ,” she said . “ And truly , even before that , she began creating what is now known as one of the original outside art environments in the United States .”
The appeal of Forester ’ s home as a tourist attraction , the director said , was as large of a draw as it is today , with it being a major attraction in the early 1900s . She went onto mention that Forester , as her home ’ s popularity grew , testified alongside other business owners in the area to found Grady County .
“ It was a major tourist attraction in the 20s , the 30s and in the 40s ,” she said . “ Originally , this site was a part of Thomas County . She went to Atlanta and testified with a group of other business owners and petitioned for Grady County to be carved out of Decatur County and Thomas County . She helped found Grady County .”
On Forester ’ s art , which decorates the property , Dean said that three core values are incorporated into her work , which included family , honoring the military and the importance of women to the success of America .
10 Spring 2023 | Thomasville Scene