Macon Magazine

June/July 2020

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11: Greek Revival - Cruciform design Raines-Carmichael House, 1183 Georgia Ave., circa 1846-48, National Historic Landmark MACON BOASTS A RARE EXAMPLE of a cruciform house, directly derived from Macon's leading 19th century architect from a published pattern of another American practitioner. Elam Alexander, whose prior works included the Cowles-Bond (Woodruff ) House and Wesleyan College, took a plan from W.H. Ranlett's design as published in 1846 in the most popular periodical of the day, Godey's Lady Book. is design for an "Anglo-Grecian Villa," with additional Greek Revival detailing, adapted well to the prominent corner lot at Georgia Avenue and College Street. Precisely because of the corner placement, the cruciform shape of the dwelling can be seen from several angles. e Ionic-columned, semi- circular portico on the south elevation is an alteration, as it originally followed the lines of the house between the wings instead of being curvilinear. Each of the points of the cross are comprised of three story wings, framed by full height Doric pilasters, also supporting full Grecian entablatures with dentilled cornices, pedimented gable ends and bay windows on the principal level. e few changes to the ensemble, other than the porch, include a single-story addition on the northwest. While the exterior is in the form of a cross, the interior features an octagonal central hallway with a free flying circular stair rising through three floors. A cupola with a balustrade surmounts the house. Built for Judge Cadwallader Raines, the dwelling was sold after his widow's death in 1869 to John E. Jones, whose relations the Millers acquired it thereafter. is corner site was once eyed for a gas station, but was saved from this fate in 1942 when purchased by Robert and Katherine Willingham Carmichael. eir daughter, Kitty Carmichael Oliver, became one of Macon's leading preservationists and served as director of the Middle Georgia Historical Society for two decades. is is one of only two individually listed National Historic Landmark buildings in Macon, so designated by the Department of the Interior, along with Hay House, for its significance to the nation. 12: Second Empire Hatcher-Groover-Schwartz House, 1144 Georgia Ave., 1880, National Register of Historic Places A MARSHALLVILLE PLANTER, dairy farmer and businessman, Marshall James Hatcher constructed Macon's purest domestic example of the Second Empire Style by 1880. Many Americans associate this style of architecture with the macabre, especially Halloween, due to the use of a house in this form in the works of cartoonist Charles Addams and in the resulting "Addams Family" television show. Popular in Paris, this architecture arose during the reign of Napoleon III and hearkened back to French Renaissance forms. One of its most notable characteristics is the use of the mansard (dual pitched, four-sided) roof form attributed to 17th century architect Francois Mansart. Largely translated to America after the Civil War and during the administration of President Grant, it was the favored style for lavish public buildings such as the Old Executive Office building and the Renwick Gallery in Washington, D.C., and the mode quickly caught on throughout the country for construction of both large and small houses. Highlights of the detailing of this house that exemplify the period style include the brick façade with decorative stone banding and various tinted mortars, the corner multi-story tower, the mansard roof with colored and decoratively placed slates, the molded parapet at the top of the roof with modillions, the shaped dormers, the heavy bracketed cornice, the arched two-over-two windows with carved lintels and the lacy cast-iron front porch with its concave roof. is house exemplifies the fact that some Second Empire details match those of the Italianate style. e house originally possessed a basement kitchen, but this function was relocated a few years later to a rear, wooden addition. Hatcher's son, Judge Felton Hatcher, inherited the house. His family sold it in 1935 to the Denmark Groover family and in 1967, the dwelling became the property of the Bert and Edith Schwartz. For the last two decades, Rob and Heather Evans have owned this magnificent dwelling. 82 maconmagazine.com | JUNE/JULY 2020

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