The house at 125 Habersham St was built in 1842 for Frederick W. Heineman, a merchant and auctioneer. Mr. Heineman was born in Germany, but came to America with his family in March 1797. They arrived through the port of Charleston and came to Savannah the same year. In 1833, he married Miss Emma Neyle and they had four children.

In December 1842, The Savannah Guardian reported the “fine new three story brick building as nearly completed on Columbia Square, occupying a whole lot, with the town square in front and a street on each side, also having a stable and carriage house and all the necessary outbuildings of brick.” Yet, in the same month, the house was advertised as being for rent. The Heinemans apparently never lived in the house, since his address was listed as being on Broughton Street in Washington Ward when he died only six years later on November 16, 1848.

The house however remained in the Heineman family at least until 1910. It was occupied by many different people and was a boarding house until about 1920. One of the residents was a well-noted Georgia writer, humorist, and journalist, William Tappan Thompson. He is chiefly remembered today as the author of Major Jones’s Courtship, one of the most popular humorous books published in America during the nineteenth century. He married Caroline Amour Carrie in 1837. He had ten children, but only four lived to adulthood. Many happy events took place at the home, including the marriage of this daughter, Mary Augusta. It is also likely that Thompson was inspired to write a few of his fictional sketches and some of his most pungent editorials while pacing the floors of the Heineman House.

Then from 1947 through the mid 80’s, the house served as an architect’s and an attorney’s office. It was restored in 1991 and 1992 essentially as it was first constructed. The floors and much of the woodwork is original, and throughout the house are family pieces and period reproductions acquired over time at actions and estate sales.

Today as the Columbia Square Inn, the house proudly continues its long tradition of offering deluxe accommodations in Savannah’s historic district. The inn not only lodges overnight guests, but also caters to business meetings, corporate events, private gatherings, weddings, and receptions.