Macon Magazine

T HE STREETS OF MACON'S DOWNTOWN feature a panoply of buildings in various American architectural styles from the 1820s to the present day. A pleasant 1.6 mile walk from lower Walnut Street to College Street and thence to the block where Macon Magazine is located on Washington Avenue, reveals the style and period details of 14 different structures and their unique histories. While few buildings can be tied to one style alone, the selected examples best illustrate the characteristics of these important American architectural fashions. Here are brief stories and descriptions of each site to enliven this promenade. You should note that you will pass other examples in almost every style as you walk. For further reference and definitions of certain terms, pick up a copy of the late Virginia Savage McAlester's outstanding sourcebook "A Field Guide to American Architecture" and try your own hand – and eye – at determining the style and date of other buildings from Macon's unique treasury of the built environment. Architecture to admire A STROLL THROUGH INTOWN MACON REVEALS A DOZEN ARCHITECTURAL STYLES BY JONATHAN POSTON ILLUSTRATIONS BY RIC THORNTON Macon Magazine intern Meghan Lindstrom gathered key research and provided invaluable editing assistance on this article. e author wishes to thank Macon historians Maryel Battin and Jim Barfield for providing their research and editorial comments, as well as Vera Mason Scherer and Rick Scherer for their help with the stories of 276 College St. Appreciation is also extended to Muriel Jackson with the Washington Memorial Library, Matt Chalfa and the staff of Historic Macon Foundation, Julie Groce, Nathan Corbitt, Jan Beeland, Robbie Beeland, Katherine Walden and Greg Barnard. 74 maconmagazine.com | JUNE/JULY 2020

• Cover