I've been sneaking by here when I could for almost 20 years. I've been dreaming a history for it but I'd like to know the real story if you know somebody who knows. There's a map and a video at the bottom.
This grand house is near Ellenwood Georgia on Highway 23 south of I-285.
It's the grandest house with the grandest garage on Moreland until you get to McDonough, until long after Moreland has changed to Macon Highway, North Henry Boulevard, then Atlanta Street.
It has the maximum front porch for a one-story. And who doesn't love fluted square columns of real wood.
I've never seen a soul or even a car there. A couple of years ago they boarded up the back windows.
Yesterday I had a little look around.
Looks like it was last a real estate office.
Or maybe a developers' office.
A little leaky in one room.
An important fireplace.
It has mostly lost its identity as a house. Perhaps it was never a home, perhaps it was a funeral home, maybe both but I don't know.
There's a side porch too. Looks like the copper thieves have already been here.
The side porch faces this walled garden on the the north side, can't see it from the street. They've kept the lawn mowed.
There's a millstone in the middle.
View from the walled garden.
You'd need a hard heart not to fall in love with the garage.
Go see if you are in the neighborhood. It's where Old Rex Morrow Road T-Bones Highway 23.
Video 1:02
A lady (she wished to remain anonymous for now) called me about this house. She was involved with the Forest Park Garden Club. In the early 1980's she helped put on (an understatement) the Forest Park Flower Show. She told me about the year that this house's gardens were in the show and she was the host / docent.
ReplyDeleteShe said the grounds were exquisite. The walled area around the millstone was an elaborate boxwood garden with pebble paths, the side porch a perfect place to view it. The front and sides of the house were also "done up" proud. You couldn't really see this from the highway.
She said she was so exhausted from managing the flower show that the owners treated her like a queen and took over hosting themselves, brought her cookies and drink. When flower show workers called, they brought her the phone. She remembers it as one of her most pleasant days.
The inside of the house was not open for the flower show. She said it was full of Victorian era antiques.
Terry, can you tell me about the millstone? My friends and I were obsessed with a house (now destroyed) that had one of these in its basement. What were they used for? Thanks!
ReplyDeleteFrom a friend:
ReplyDelete"Terry, I think I can help answer your questions. The house was extensively remodeled with the porch and gardens addiiton in the early 1960's - when I was in early elementary school. I remember the renovation of the house well as we drove from Henry County to Atlanta (this was pre I-75). It was the home of Loran Cash who owned Loran's Flower Shoppe located next door - which has been torn down for many years. The garage held all of the flower deliivery vehicles. Lorgan's Flowers was one of the largest flower shoppes in south metro serving Clayton & Henry Counties. As I recall Loran's Mother also lived with him in this house until her death, maybe late 60's. Loran, himself, lived till the late 80's. The house had lovely antiques and beautiful flowers.
"The porch roof was added as part of the early 60's renovatoin. The porch wrapped around to the right side of the house. It also extended beyond the footprint of the house to the left, but did not wrap around. The proportions and scale were wonderful and the house was set on a slight hill. It was quite dramatic lighted at night - especially at Christmas. Also, as I recall area with the really large window area boarded up was a big den / kitchen added during the renovation. My Mother was a regular customer at Loran's - so I was there many times. I am sure the renovation occurred in the 60's during my elementary school days. Quite typical of that period porches had broken red tile.
"Terry, the flower shoppe was next door. At one time a circluar drive was in front of the shoppe. The shoppe also had a greenhouse and, I believe anotherw as added inth e opposite direction. Loran's Mother would walk over every day from the big house and work in the shoppe. His brother may have also worked in the shoppe. It was a big business in its day. Just north on Hwy 42 (opposite side) was another attractive house (long ago torn down) and its owner taught china painting classes. Club types from all over south metro went weekly to take china painting. ..."
What a magnificent find and interesting history. Such a shame that all that grandeur was lost to time. Thank you, Terry, for bringing homes like this back to life, even if only in other people's shared memories.
ReplyDeletejust blogwalking.. Nice post and have a nice day :)
ReplyDeleteNice Post!
ReplyDeleteGreat!
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