The home at 551 Greene Street has had a colorful existence.
It’s been a home, the place where the last Augustan to fight in a duel took his final breath, a reputed bordello and a lawyer’s office, and on May 14, the DeLaigle home, the yellow Second Empire style building will start a new chapter with its new owner, Daniel Edwards as Edwards Mercantile and Co.
A grand opening will be held in the historic home Saturday to highlight its newest life.
Edwards, who lives in a Victorian home in Jackson, Ga., said he was drawn to the Augusta area after selling another business. He was looking for property in the area’s “opportunity zones,” and the DeLaigle home was perfect for the antiques venture he’s starting.
Built in 1873, it was the home of Mary Clark DeLaigle, who was the (several greats) aunt of Kevin de l’Aigle. There are multiple spellings of the family name, and Kevin de l’Aigle uses the original French.
Kevin de l’Aigle said he got an excited phone call from his mother, Katie DeLaigle, when she heard Edwards had purchased the family home.
De l’Aigle formed a quick friendship with Edwards and helped him learn some of the home’s history as well as joined in his business venture.
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Antiques and other items will be sold at Edwards Mercantile, but it won’t be like other antique stores.
Edwards said the home will be set up to showcase antiques in their natural surroundings so to speak. There won’t be booths where lots of merchandise is sold. It will look like the 19th century dwelling it once was with antique pieces throughout to showcase them to potential buyers.
The design element is an important aspect of Edwards’ business model.
De l’Aigle, who has a background in hotel management, has displayed one room with items that once belonged to his father and some others who belonged to a friend who recently passed away.
In the home, there will be nods to the original owner Mary Clark DeLaigle, who came under scrutiny as a young widow and mother when a boarder lived in her home. When the rumors began to fly, Charles Tilley fought in a duel to defend her honor.
Unfortunately, he died at the hands of George Ratcliffe in 1875. The gunshot didn’t kill Tilley immediately. He later died in the DeLaigle home, and de l’Aigle said there have been sightings of Tilley, who seems to be a friendly ghost and its inhabitants’ protector.
Edwards said he’s slept well in the home since purchasing it earlier this year.
By an odd twist of fate, a portrait that de l’Aigle owns has ties to Ratcliffe’s second in the duel. He purchased an oval frame that belonged to a W.H. Chew who lived from 1868 to 1922. The name is written on the back of the frame. Ratcliffe’s second was W.H. Chew, leading de l’Aigle to surmise the frame belonged to the elder Chew’s son.
In addition to the antiques side of business, Edwards sees potential for the home for social gatherings, parties and perhaps a food truck or two during the lunchtime rush. With the building’s proximity to the Municipal Building, he could see it being a convenient location for the lunchtime crowd.
He said he’d love to decorate the home at Christmas and other holidays for events, but he anticipates other happenings before then.
The grand opening will be from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Charmain Z. Brackett is the managing editor of The Augusta Press. Reach her at charmain@theaugustapress.com
