Bedingfield Inn

Private Parlor

Private Parlor - Halliday Room

This room has been furnished in honor of the Halliday family by W. T. Halliday, Jr. of Birmingham, Alabama, and Elizabeth Halliday McNeely of Toccoa, Georgia.

This room, the one beside it, and the two bedrooms over it could have been private apartments for the family or a manager. The two bedrooms overhead have a door in the hall that shuts them off from the public. The original arrangements of the room layout over the entire Inn still exists to give clues as to what each room was used for.

The sofa is an early empire of around 1820 and reflects a style originating in France around Napoleon’s time, becoming popular here after the War of 1812. This style, when first adopted over here was more like that of the French than the American empire that came in later years. It is mahogany over pine, with paw feet and roll arms with an enclosed bolster.

The oval mirror, gold leaf possibly over pine is 1850 or earlier. It is a gift of Mr. and Mrs. Oscar Davis of Atlanta.

The chairs are typical American empire and were also developed from the French style. They have horizontal splats with a pointed back.

The table is called a “center table”, veneered, American empire with broad lyre base.

The card table indicates French influence with foot design at the corners with a tiny pineapple in it. Top of this table turns.

The whale oil lamp used in this period was a gift of Mr. Edward Shorter of Columbus.

The melodeon is of rosewood. It has lovely lyre legs, beaded ornamental molding. It’s foot pedal bellows were put in working order by Mr. Riley Middleton of Columbus.