Druid Hills Neighborhood, Atlanta – “Boxwood” is one of my favorite homes in Druid Hills. Built in 1912, it is one of the first grand estates built in the neighborhood.
“Boxwood”, Druid Hills
Parker Place, Luthersville
Luthersville, GA – Meriwether County – This 1902 home, built by the Upshaw family is now known as Parker Place Events has quite a history! This home has 18 stained glass windows and many exterior doors. It was built to house guests as a boarding house. It’s rumored that the first car in Luthersville (and all of Meriwether County) belonged to the Upshaw family.
In the 1960s, prior owners had the train depot moved to the property. Today this beautiful venue operates as Parker Place Events. Neat history of this beautiful home!
Madison, Georgia – 10 Favorite Homes
Madison, GA – Time to look at some historic homes in Madison! This is one beautiful small town, established in 1809. It is said that when General Sherman came through in 1864, he spared the town because it was “too pretty to burn”. True or not, it is a pretty town. There are so many old homes in this town of approximately 4,000 and walking around I enjoyed looking at all the front porches, American flags, and mature landscaping. I tried to look for and share some homes that I had not seen photographed as often.
They have a couple of tours of homes each year, one in the Spring and one just before Christmas. If you want to visit Madison, Georgia – a great resource is the Madison-Morgan Cultural Center as they have a calendar you can take a look at. Madison is the county seat of Morgan County.
The Kolb-Foster House has had several updates since originally built in the late 1830s, love that wraparound porch!
- Kolb-Foster House, circa 1837 with some later updates.
Now this is one built in 1840, sitting on a double lot. I just want to hang out on that front porch!
Now this is one grand home!
General Sherman said “Madison is too pretty to burn”
Madison was along the stagecoach route from Charleston to New Orleans, and the Stagecoach House below dates to 1810. It has had some additions and more of a Greek Revival update in the 1840s, but amazing it’s still here. Think about it, it’s been here for 215 years! If those walls could talk….
This is Boxwood, built 1851-1852, named for the gardens on the back side of the house here. Called an Italian styled cottage when it was built, this home has been in the same family since 1906. Some of the original parlor furnishings are on display at the Madison-Morgan Cultural Center.
Another great porch – this is the Fitzpatrick-Walker-Miles House, circa 1900.
And this yellow house really has the look of home. This is the Jarboe-Cunningham House, built in 1907.
Whenever I think of Madison, Georgia – this is the kind of house that comes to mind! There are quite a few antebellum and classic revival houses, so if you love big old houses with white columns, you’ll get your fill in Madison, Georgia.
This is the Winter House, circa 1896 – check out that detailing on the porch. I’d hate to have to paint that woodwork! But what a fun looking house!
I didn’t get any information on this house, but that front porch sure looks inviting!
And just one more with the great front porch going on before we leave Madison.
Madison is about an hour east of Atlanta on I-20, and not only does it have great old homes, the downtown has a great variety of shops and restaurants. This is one of my favorite small towns in Georgia – and hope you’ve enjoyed taking a look at some favorite homes here.
You don’t have to wait for a tour of homes to tour an Antebellum home, as Heritage Hall is open for tours all of the time. Full details of Heritage Hall are on their website. This is one special home, and if you get a chance take their tour!
Candler Park – Atlanta – The Smith-Benning House
Candler Park – This community of about 1,700 homes is just a few miles east of downtown Atlanta. Founded in the 1870s, this neighborhood, along with the surrounding ones were among the first “suburbs” of Atlanta. They were built along the streetcar and railroad lines, and this area was annexed by the City of Atlanta way back in 1909.
Candler Park, along with many Atlanta in-town neighborhoods, went into decline around the 1950s with the growth of suburban living. Fast-forward a few decades and the rejuvenation of this neighborhood is apparent. There’s an active Neighborhood Organization that hosts a big fall festival and tour of homes in early October.
The Smith-Benning House is considered to be both the oldest and largest house in Candler Park – and it’s fresh off a 27 YEAR restoration. Yes, 27 years of restoration to bring this house back. The pictures below will show you quite a transformation.
As I was reading up on this house, early owners of this house found it impossible to heat this place – in 1905 they built a “winter home” literally next door to their house.
Looking all the way back to 1982, this house was ready for renovation. The style is considered Victorian Eclectic – it’s got a whole lot going on. These black & white pics are from the National Register of Historic Places Nomination.
Now I gotta say, looking at that picture above, here’s exactly what came to mind!
Let’s take a look at the first floor before renovation – you get a sense of how grand this place was – I spy some pocket doors. The stairwell has a lot of Eastlake details.
Upstairs – while plaster was removed, the original woodwork was also removed and stored for restoration.
This grand house had gone into quite a decline before renovations began. Even outside, a lot of the woodwork and trim was replaced.
Fast Forward to 2015 and look at the result of 27 years of effort! Yes, the owners spent 27 years bringing this beautiful home back to life and making all the needed repairs and renovations. They received a couple of awards for this:
Atlanta Urban Design Commission Award – Historic Preservation- Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation – Excellence in Rehabilitation
I’d give them the patience and perseverance award for sticking with a multi-decade renovation!
This is a large house on a small intown lot, so hard to get a lot of pictures between trees, power lines, the street, and whatnot! Here’s a look around the other side of the house. It keeps going and going and going….
I was so impressed with the woodwork on this house, here’s a close up of the detail on the front.
This house was originally the house of Judge Charles W. Smith (1856-1923), who was one of the founders of Edgewood (as Candler Park was originally known). He was the first mayor after it’s incorporation in 1898, and went on to the Atlanta City Council after the area was annexed by Atlanta in 1909. It was purchased by Augustus Harrison Benning in 1889, and it stayed in his family’s ownership until the 1960s. Interestingly, he was a partner in the development of Atlanta’s Flatiron Building (built 1897), which is Atlanta’s oldest remaining skyscraper. And while New York has one too – Atlanta’s was completed a few years earlier than NYC’s!
- Flatiron Building, Atlanta
Remember how I mentioned they built a winter home across the street in 1905? Yes, that was the Benning family that did that in 1905 – quite a change from the big house above! But hey, I understand drafty old houses, though I’ve never thought to build one next door for the winter.
It’s Here! Old Georgia Homes
Be on the lookout for the launch of this blog, where we’ll be visiting some of the many fascinating old homes throughout Georgia!