By Caitlin Wolfe
DouglasNow.com
The Ashley-Slater House in Douglas — I’m willing to bet everyone has heard of the city’s most famous landmark. If you’re reading this, and have never heard about the brick house that is located at 211 South Gaskin Avenue, it is not your average 109 year old home. A lot of people today have heard of this home from the ghost stories that have passed down from generation to generation, or maybe as the old Chamber of Commerce and the Welcome Center. Maybe you’ve heard of it for what it’s used for today, the City of Douglas Community Development Department. While the Ashley-Slater House has been known for various titles and utilized for reasons over the years, there are few who actually know the history that lies within its walls.
Let’s start at the beginning, shall we? This story begins with John Marshall Ashley and Christian Ada Clements, most commonly referred to as “Ada.” John Ashley was a businessman who was born on the Ashley Plantation on the Ocmulgee River on July 31, 1861. Years into his adult life, he became a well known businessman in the city of Douglas. Ada Clements, born on June 19, 1882, was one of 7 Clements daughters born in Alamo, Georgia. In October of 1907, Ada was visiting her sister who lived in Douglas on Gaskin Avenue. As fate would have it, while visiting her sister, Ada’s and John’s paths would cross at a party they were both attending. Soon after their relationship began, they would be married on April 29, 1908. At the start of their marriage, Ada was 26 years old and John was 47 years old.
Ada Clements was well known for being a beautiful, social, and vibrant opportunist. Some even referred to her as one of the South’s “Steel Magnolias.” At a time when it wasn’t the social norm for a woman to cross these lines, Ada Clements did what she set her mind to and asked questions later, or as some would say, didn’t ask any questions at all. It was this personality and attitude that led her to be elected to serve on the Board of Directors of the Union Banking Company in 1917. For a woman to hold this title during that time period was very unusual and considered to be an honor. To say the least, a lot took place over the next several years after her marriage to John Ashley. Some of these things include death, heartbreak, remarriage, and Ada’s flourishing business ventures. If you keep reading, we’ll get to all of that. In the meantime, let’s talk a little bit about her first husband, John Marshall Ashley.
John’s father, Matt Ashley, passed away when John was just 14 years old. It’s said by many that his father in law, J.J. Lewis, began teaching him all things timber and business related. The two men were responsible for establishing lumber mills and turpentine stills throughout the Coffee County area. In the 1890’s, John Ashley moved to Upton, a location closer to Douglas. He placed financial investments and support in various companies for the area, including Douglas’s first bank, the Union Banking company; the extension of the Douglas-McDonald Railroad to Douglas; the Waycross Air Line; Douglas Ice and Power Co.; Union Pharmacy; Douglas Oil and Fertilizer Co.; Douglas Realty Co.; and Empire Construction Co. As you can see, he’s not referred to as Coffee County’s first homegrown millionaire for nothing. However, it is rumored that he would often say he would’ve given half of his fortune to be able to earn a college education. Unfortunately for him, due to the death of his father at such an early age, he was never given that opportunity.
After Ada’s and John’s lives collided and they were married, the two set off on what would be considered a lengthy honeymoon trip to Washington, New York, and Baltimore. It was after returning to Douglas from their newlywed getaway that visions of their new house together would begin — what we now know as the Ashley-Slater House.
John Ashley wanted to have a home at Upton, close to his mill. However, Ada loved the social life that Gaskin Avenue held. She insisted on living in town. Between this time and the completion of their home, the two lived in a local hotel for several years. Ashley bought the lot for $6,000 in 1908; however construction on the home didn’t begin until 1912 and was completed in 1914. It is said that John Ashley hand selected the pine that would be used in the house while also choosing only the most perfect bricks that were made on the property.
On February 4, 1915, not long after the couple moved in, Ada and John would have their son, J.M. Ashley Jr. The Ashleys now had the marriage, fortune, home, and family that every couple dreamed of having. However, the newfound bliss for Ada and John was cut short when their 20 month old son fell ill with diphtheria that quickly developed into pneumonia. It’s said that John Ashley wasted no time in getting his son extra medical care. He sent a special Georgia-Florida engine and sleeper car straight to Augusta where two doctors were waiting. The train tracks from Augusta to Douglas were completely cleared, and the doctors were on their way to the Ashley home in hopes of saving the toddler. For two gut wrenching weeks, the doctors and nurses fought tirelessly to save the young J.M. Ashley Jr. Unfortunately, their efforts were ineffective and the Ashley’s only son passed away on October 24, 1916. As tragic as this was for their family, the tragedy doesn’t end there.
As the story has often gone for over 100 years now, after getting home from his only son’s funeral, Mr. Ashley walked out on the porch and cursed God out of frustration and sadness. The following afternoon, his brother in law, Judge Dart, found him on the side porch where he had collapsed from a stroke. He was immediately taken to the hospital but sadly passed on October 28, 1916. This meant that for Ada, in a matter of just 4 days, she had lost her only son and her husband. In just two short years, Ada was now left alone in their beautiful red brick home on Gaskin Avenue.
Some of you are probably wondering, what happens after the Ashley era and where does this leave Ada? If you want to know more, keep your eyes open for part 2 of this very captivating, tragic, and amazing story of the Ashley-Slater House.