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A landmark of resilience, remembrance, and restoration — the Maguire-Livsey Family Big House tells a story that bridges centuries, uniting the shared history of Gwinnett County through pain, perseverance, and pride.
In the quiet community of Centerville, near the banks of the Yellow River, stands a house that has witnessed both the light and shadow of Gwinnett County’s past. The Maguire-Livsey Family Big House, known to many simply as the “Big House,” is more than timber and brick — it is a living testament to the intertwined stories of the Maguire and Livsey families, and the generations of enslaved people whose labor shaped the land now being restored for the future.
Built in the early 1830s by Thomas Maguire, an Irish immigrant who named his plantation The Promised Land, the home reflects both ambition and injustice. By 1860, historical records show Maguire enslaved 26 individuals who lived and worked on the 1,200-acre property. Though no remnants of their quarters remain, Maguire’s journals from the 1800s provide rare — if limited — glimpses into their lives.
For nearly a century, the house changed hands and purposes, but it wasn’t until 1926 that its story took a new turn. That year, Robert and Morena Livsey, an African American couple with 13 children, purchased the home and 110 acres of its land — a remarkable act of determination in an era defined by racial inequality. Denied traditional financing, the Livseys secured the property through a bond-for-title agreement, working tirelessly to maintain it.
“They didn’t just build a home,” one descendant recalls. “They built hope.”
The Livseys farmed the land, ran local businesses, and raised a generation that would go on to transform the community. Many of their descendants still live nearby, a living thread connecting Gwinnett’s past to its present. The family maintained ownership until 2017, when the property was sold to Gwinnett County, setting in motion a new chapter of preservation and community engagement.
Today, the county is calling on residents to help shape the Livesy restoration — a process meant to ensure that this landmark honors all who made it what it is. The restoration aims to tell the full story — one that includes the enslaved people who built its foundation, the Maguires who established it, and the Livseys who reclaimed it as a symbol of resilience and dignity.
✨ A Call to the Community
Gwinnett County invites residents to share their voices, memories, and ideas for the restoration of the Maguire-Livsey Family Big House. Community input will guide how the property is restored and interpreted — ensuring that the final project represents a collective vision grounded in truth, respect, and unity.
Upcoming community meetings:
📍 Anderson-Livsey Elementary School — 4521 Centerville Highway, Snellville
- Saturday, October 18: 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
- Monday, October 20: 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
💻 Virtual Meeting
- Tuesday, October 21: 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
For more information or to get involved, visit GwinnettCounty.com/MaguireLivsey.
💬 Why It Matters
The Livesy preservation project is about more than restoring an old home — it’s about honoring the intertwined lives of those who shaped Gwinnett’s heritage. From enslavement to entrepreneurship, from oppression to ownership, the story of the Maguire-Livsey Family Big House is one of courage and community.
By preserving this landmark, Gwinnett County isn’t just saving a structure — it’s preserving a story that must never be forgotten.
Final Thought:
History isn’t always comfortable, but it is always necessary. The restoration of the Maguire-Livsey Family Big House invites every voice — past and present — to join in creating a legacy that future generations will remember not just as history, but as home.
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