Owners of one of the last homes on Berckmans Road on why they won’t sell

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) – One of the last houses standing on the old Berckmans Road. Masters Patrons and people who live in Augusta often ask about it and wonder why it’s still here.

The Richards family has lived in this home for generations. Despite the changing landscape, they’re not ready to move just yet.

“We grew up in this neighborhood, and we saw the. I guess when the Augusta National came in and started buying property,” said Jimmy Richards, one of the homeowners. “We just saw all our neighbors, all the kids we grew up with throughout the neighborhood, slowing, surely sell out to the national. It’s kind of sad. I mean, you’re seeing all your neighborhood just disappear.”

The house holds many memories for the Richards family. Their mother – Mary Ann – and her husband got it in the 1950s and raised their 10 children there.

“My mother had no desire to sell it when she was here, and obviously, when she passed about 12 years ago, we decided to hang on to it and use it for family functions. We have someone staying here now. It’s kind of a gathering place for the family.” We like it being home to all the kids, grandkids, nieces, nephews. They enjoy it. They wouldn’t be happy if we did sell it,” said Richards.

Richards says they rented the house for a few years, and they let patrons pay to park in their yard.

“A lot of people came back every year. They park here. They really enjoy it, and we have got to know some good friends across the country. It’s been fun seeing them come back every year,” said Richards.

In the future, they say it may get sold, but as of now, they want to keep it in the family and have no plans of selling it.

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