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The growth of Macon paralleled the growth of the railroad as depots received, stored, and shipped freight. |
Macon boasts
11 Historic Districts listed on the National Register of Historic
Places. Macon has more listed historic districts than any other
city in Georgia. Please use the links below to learn more about
each of the districts.
Cherokee
Heights | East Macon
| Fort Hill
Macon Historic District |
North Highlands
Pleasant Hill |
Railroad Industrial District
Shirley Hills | Tindall
Heights | Vineville
| Cherokee Brick
Cherokee Heights
Macon's Cherokee
Heights was placed on the National Register of Historic Places because
it was one of the first planned residential and suburban communities
in Macon. Developed from 1909 - 1923, the homes are primarily built
in the styles of Georgian Revival, English Tudor, Spanish Mission,
Craftsman and Bungalow, including many homes designed by Georgian
architect, Neel Reid.
Cherokee Heights
was developed by a real estate developing company, the Vineville
Improvement Company. This company provided the first suburban development
of its kind in Macon. The area was developed in two phases, the
first from 1909 to 1911, and the second in 1923. Businessmen, managers,
and other professionals of the early Twentieth Century middle class
resided in Cherokee Heights.
Location: Bounded
by Pio Nono Avenue, Napier Avenue, Inverness Avenue and Suwanee
Avenue.
Developed: 1909
to 1923. Approx. 67 acres. Planned residential suburban community.
Architectural
Styles: Georgian Revival, English Tudor, Spanish Mission, Craftsman/Bungalow.
Good collection of architect Neil Reid houses.
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East
Macon
East Macon Historic
District, located one mile east of the central business district,
consists of mid-nineteenth through early twentieth century residential,
commercial, and educational development. East Macon's historical
significance lies in the architecture of the homes and buildings
in the area, as well as the obvious community planning and development.
In the 1920's,
land in East Macon was sold for settlement and was further developed
into the present pattern of large homes on large lots. Beginning
in the Twentieth Century, smaller, more modest homes were incorporated,
developing the neighborhood that is still visible today.
Architectural
Styles: Italianate, Folk Victorian, Neoclassical Revival and Craftsman.
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Fort
Hill
Approximately
one mile east of Macon's central business district is the Fort Hill
Historic District. Fort Hill was accepted onto the National Register
of Historic Places due to the area's significance in historic architecture
and community planning representing the 1870's through the 1940's.
Adding to the district's antiquity are a church, numerous corner
stores and two schools built in the 1930's.
Fort Hill Historic
District is built on land that was sold for settlement in the 1820's
and continued development well into the Twentieth Century. This
district also includes the Historic Fort Hawkins, which is also
listed on the National Register. A reproduction of the Fort is also
located within the district.
Location: One
mile east of central business district. Bounded by Emery Highway,
Second Street Extension, Mitchell, Morrow and Schaeffer Place.
Developed: 1870-1941
Acreage: Approx. 140 acres
Architectural
Styles: Queen Anne, Folk Victorian, Craftsman, and English Vernacular
Revival.
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Macon
Historic District
The Macon Historic
District is the historic commercial, residential, and institutional
development that grew out of Macon's original town plan and forms
the city's historic core. The district's development began in 1823
when the town plan was first laid out and continued into the 1940's.
The district is significant in the areas of architecture, commerce,
community planning and development, politics/government, landscape
architecture, education, and transportation.
The historic
Terminal Station is an exceptional example of monumental architecture
in downtown Macon. The former railroad station was designed in the
Beaux Arts style and with Beaux Arts planning principles.
Historic community
institutional buildings are another group of prominent freestanding
buildings located throughout the district. Christ Church, Mulberry
Street United Methodist Church and First Presbyterian Church are
all over 175 years old. They are examples of Gothic Revival, Richardson
Romanesque, and High Victorian Gothic. The majority of Mercer University's
buildings are variations of the Academic Gothic Revival style and
Victorian Gothic and Neoclassical Revival.
The district
contains a significant and varied collection of residential buildings
that range from landmark mansions to small worker homes. There are
three distinct neighborhoods within the district that depict the
various styles of architecture: Intown Neighborhood, Huguenin Heights,
and Tatnall Square Heights. Part of the Intown neighborhood includes
College Hill where Macon's upper class citizens constructed a number
of landmark houses. These houses are very large and generally date
from the 19th century; many are the work of prominent Macon architects.
There are several
historic landscaped parks in the district, including Coleman Hill
Park in the College Hill neighborhood and the four-block Tatnall
Square Park.
Location: Roughly
bounded by Walnut, Broadway, Oglethorpe, Central of Georgia Railroad,
Edgewood, Interstate 75, and Madison Avenue
Developed: 1823
(the date of the original town plan) through 1942
Architectural
Styles: Folk Victorian, Queen Anne, Italianate, Neoclassical Revival,
Bungalow/Craftsman, Classical Revival, Colonial Revival, Greek Revival,
Commercial Style, Tudor Revival, Italian Renaissance, Late Gothic
Revival, Romanesque, Skyscraper, Moderne, Art Deco, Gothic, and
Beaux Arts.
Huguenin
Heights:
Huguenin Heights
was the first neighborhood revitalization project by Macon Heritage
Foundation. Begun in 1994, a total of 16 houses were restored
for single-family owners. Bounded by Tatnall Square Park, I-75,
Oglethorpe Street and Coleman Avenue and adjacent to Mercer University
Campus, the neighborhood features two-story Queen Anne houses
averaging 2300 square feet, most of which were built in the late
1800's.
The objectives
of the project were to restore the neighborhood to predominately
owner-occupied residential status and to create an environment
where residents' pride in their neighborhood would reduce crime
and maintain the properties.
The project
has been a tremendous success. In 1992, the neighborhood had 189
police calls recorded in seven months. In the same seven month
period in 1997, only 29 calls were reported. That is a reduction
of 85%. Property values have more than doubled since the revitalization
has been completed. The project has garnered national acclaim
in that it was a featured tour of the National Trust of Historic
Preservation in 1998 and it was on "Restore America"
on the HGTV channel.
In 2001 the
Georgia Trust awarded its Excellence in Rehabilitation award to
MHF for Huguenin Heights.
Tatnall
Square Heights:
Tatnall Square
Heights is Macon Heritage Foundation's second neighborhood revitalization
project. The area was developed between 1890 and 1925 and is located
adjacent to Tatnall Square Park and is bounded by Adams Street,
the Central of Georgia Railroad, College Street and Oglethorpe
Street.
The neighborhood
consists of eighty-two properties including 18 owner-occupied
houses, 36 non-owner occupied houses, 24 vacant lots and 4 commercial
structures. Many of the houses are Queen Anne cottages with 2-3
bedrooms and 2 baths. It is anticipated that the Foundation will
rehabilitate or construct at least 14 residences for single families
to bring homeownership above 60%. Christmas in April has focused
on the neighborhood in April 2000 assiteing many of the existing
homeowners with necessary repairs. This project builds on Macon
Heritage's success in the Huguenin Heights area where 16 houses
have been rehabilitated for single-family homeownership.
Twelve houses
have been sold, four are available and one is currently under
construction - creating 50% home ownership in the area. For information
on purchasing houses in the Tatnall Square Heights neighborhood,
please call MHF at 742-5084.
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North
Highlands:
North Highlands,
one mile from Macon's central business district, is recognized by
the National Register of Historic Places because of its architecture,
community planning and development. North Highlands was originally
one plantation, owned by Thomas Woodfolk, who in the 1830's parceled
and sold the land as farming and plantation land. The region then
developed as a suburb in the late nineteenth and early twentieth
centuries.
A wide variety
of architectural style is seen in North Highland. Homes range from
the older and larger Greek Revival, Queen Anne, Shingle Colonial
Revival, Classic Revival, and Craftsman styles to the more economical
one-story bungalows and early ranch style homes. The earliest house
in the district is the Melrose-Barton House circa 1850, which exemplifies
the Greek Revival style. Queen Anne style homes with their doric
columned porches dominate at the intersection of Summit and North
Avenue while English Vernacular Revival cottages are present on
North Avenue. Nottingham Drive and the Curry Place/Clay Street section
have many bungalows and brick ranch houses.
Whereas North
Highlands began with a residential and agricultural emphasis, it
is now used by residents, limited businesses, and schools.
North Highlands
has a very active neighborhood association. For more information
visit their website.
Location: One
mile northeast of central business district. Bounded by Nottingham
Drive, Boulevard and Clinton Road.
Developed: 1870-1936.
Acreage: Approx. 130 acres
Architectural
Styles: Queen Anne, Colonial Revival, Neoclassical Revival, English
Vernacular Revival, Greek Revival and Craftsman.
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Pleasant
Hill:
Macon's Pleasant
Hill Historic District is significant due to its function as a historic
black community. Developed from the 1870's until the 1930's, Pleasant
Hill residents consisted of property owners, doctors, dentists,
educators, attorneys, businessmen, grocers, and ministers. Lewis
Williams, a principal of numerous Macon schools, and Albert B. Fitzpatrick,
manager of the black-organized Peoples Health & Life Insurance
company represent just a few of the influential black residents
of Pleasant Hill.
Pleasant Hill
consists of mostly one-story homes with simple porches reflecting
the "L-shaped" Victorian cottages. Many homes in the area
show the influence of other styles such as Neoclassical columns
and Craftsman-style porches. Included in the area are several corner
stores, a Masonic Lodge, one small wood-framed church, and the St.
Peter Claver Church and School in a late Victorian brick style.
Location: Bounded
by Madison Street, north of Vineville Avenue, east of Rogers Avenue,
south of Neal Avenue. Bisected by I-75.
Developed: 1870-1936
Acreage: Approx. one square mile
Architectural
Styles: Queen Anne, Neoclassical and Craftsman cottages and "shotgun"
style houses. First African-American neighborhood. Linwood cemetery
included within boundaries of district.
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Railroad
Industrial District:
Unlike other
historical districts in Macon, the Macon Railroad Industrial District
is valued by the National Register of Historic Places as a commercial
and industrial district rather than residential. The historical
architecture includes industrial and commercial buildings from the
late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.
The Macon Railroad
Industrial District symbolizes the importance of business to Macon's
economic base. Businesses such as the Dixie Works, c. 1895, Adams
Brothers Wholesale Grocery, c. 1894, The Macon Cabinet Company,
c. 1895, and The Atlantic Compress Company, c. 1908, helped to start
Macon's growth. The growth of Macon paralleled the growth of the
railroad as depots received, stored, and shipped freight.
Location: Area
around Broadway, 5th, 6th and 7th Streets and Central Georgia Southern
and Seaboard railroad tracks.
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Shirley
Hills:
Developed between
1922 and 1941, Shirley Hills was placed on the National Register
of Historic Places for its architecture, both in homes and landscape.
As a twentieth century planned residential subdivision, the lots
are comprised of large homes and landscaped yards. Historically,
Shirley Hills has been the home of many prominent business and professional
leaders in Macon. A majority of the land was owned by A.O. Bacon,
a Georgia legislator and United States Senator.
Homes in Shirley
Hills represent many different styles of early 20th century architecture
including: Colonial Revival, Classical Revival, Tudor Revival, Georgian
Revival, Italian Renaissance, French Renaissance, Mission and Spanish
Colonial Revival, Bungalow, Craftsman, Neoclassical Revival and
English Vernacular. Notable Macon Architects, Elliot Dunwoody and
Ellamae Ellis League, designed homes in Shirley Hills. Specifically,
1161 Nottingham Drive, a Georgian Revival by Elliot Dunwoody and
1435 Twin Pines Drive, a Neoclassical Revival by Ellamae Ellis League.
The designers
of this planned community insisted that the area should radiate
a picturesque and park-like feeling. The landscaped yards in Shirley
Hills adds to this natural appearance. Jackson Springs Park, originally
believed to be a camping site of Andrew Jackson adds to the natural
atmosphere of Shirley Hills.
Location: Northeast
section of city, one mile from the central business district. Includes
portions of Nottingham Drive, Curry Drive, Parkview Drive, Jackson
Spring Road, Oakcliff Road, Jaques Road, Twin Pines Drive and Jackson
Spring Park.
Developed: 1922-1941
Acreage: Approx. 300 acres
Architectural
Styles: Early 20th century Classic Revival, bungalows, Tudor Revival,
Mediterranean. Developed as a planned residential subdivision of
large residences from the estate of Senator A. O. Bacon.
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Tindall
Heights:
Tindall Heights
was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1993.
It is historically significant because it was developed between
1870 and 1940 as a white, middle class community with housing for
workers and includes churches, stores, homes and a school. It contains
one of the largest and most intact collections of urban Georgia
house types from that period.
Tindall Heights
consists mainly of framed houses in the Queen Anne, Craftsman, Italianate,
Classic Revival, Bungalow, Romanesque, Colonial Revival and Folk
Victorian styles. The commercial properties are one and two story
buildings with first floor storefronts. The churches are built in
the Romanesque Revival and Colonial Revival styles. A unique feature
of this historic district is the large, two story brick Colonial
Revival neighborhood school.
Location: One
mile southwest of central business district within Oglethorpe, Broadway,
Eisenhower Parkway, Felton, and Nussbaum Streets and the railroad.
Developed: c.
1870-1942 Acreage: Approx. 400 acres.
Architectural
Styles: Queen Anne cottages, shotgun-style houses, folk Victorian,
Craftsman, Classic Revival, Colonial Revival, Romanesque.
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Vineville:
The Vineville
Historic District, one and one half miles northwest of downtown
Macon, was accepted into the National Register of Historic Places
in 1975. This district includes not only residential but also commercial
buildings incorporating a wide variety of architectural designs
from the 1830's to 1930's. Represented in the 700 homes, churches,
and businesses are Plantation Plain, Victorian, Neoclassical, and
Bungalow styles. The district also features extraordinary examples
of the Spanish Villa, English Tudor, Italian Renaissance, Federal
Georgian and Jacobean styles. Prominent residents of this historical
district included Reverend G.F. Pierce, the first president of Macon's
Wesleyan College, George M. Logan, mayor of Macon in 1839, and the
Honorable Thomas Hardeman, a United States congressional representative
in the late 1850's who developed the "stars and bars"
on Georgia's previous state flag.
Beginning as
an area full of large plantation estates, the Vineville Historic
District boasts many large Plantation Plain homes, such as the Solomon-Smith
house at 2619 Vineville Avenue. The Greek Revival architectural
style is represented in the Napier-Small house built in 1846 at
156 Rogers Avenue which is nationally recognized as a prototypical
example. Notable architect, Neel Reid designed the Max Morris house
in 1915 at 2082 Vineville Avenue in the Colonial Revival style.
Other significant homes include 172 Cleveland, circa 1836 and 201
Clisby, which was built in the 1830's by Samuel T. Bailey and sold
to Joseph Clisby, the first President of the Board of Education,
in 1858. Clisby School was named in his honor. As the Vineville
area became more suburbanized, the addition of churches such as
Vineville Presbyterian and Vineville Baptist Church complimented
the district with unique and grand architecture.
Vineville has
a very active neighborhood association. For more information about
Vineville Neighborhood Association and its functions, see their
website.
Location: Along
Vineville Avenue from I-75 to Georgia Academy for the Blind and
including side streets such as Pierce Avenue, Hines Terrace, Cleveland
Avenue, Buford Place and Rogers Avenue. Adjacent to Pleasant Hill
Historic District.
Developed: c.
1830 - 1935. Acreage approx. 525 acres.
Architectural
Styles: Classic Revival, Queen Anne, Craftsman/Bungalows, Plantation
Plain, Victorian, Neoclassical, Spanish Villa, English Tudor, Italian
Renaissance, Federal Georgian, and Jacobean.
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Cherokee
Brick
Location: 3250
Waterville Road, Macon - approximately 4000 acres. The brick company
was developed between 1877 (Stratton Brick Company) and 1949 (the
company name was changed to Cherokee Brick and Tile Company). The
prehistoric archaeological sites date from 8000 BC - 150 A.D.
The Cherokee
Brick and Tile Company historic district represents the entire brick
making process from the mining and transportation of clay to the
manufacture and shipping of brick. The two principal brick-making
buildings at the main plant are the combined Plant Nos 1 and 2 (1920
-22 and 1960s) and Plant No. 3 (1947 - 1949). A large, gambrel-roofed
clay storage building (1926) sends clay to both main plant building
by overhead conveyors. Finished bricks ready for shipping are stacked
along a spur line on the site of earlier kilns. The two straight
kilns can produce 100,000 bricks every twenty-four hours; over 130
million bricks are produced annually.
The district
also includes networks of roads and rail lines, several surviving
rail cars, and a plate-girder turntable bridge (1928) across the
Ocmulgee River. Archaeological survey and testing on the tract have
resulted in the discovery of nine prehistoric sites, seven of which
have been recommended eligible. These sites range in age from the
Early Archaic period (8000 - 6000 BC) to a previously unreported
Mississippian Period Lamar mound complex (A.D. 1450 - 1550) which
appears to include a central ceremonial mound and approximately
sixteen house mounds.
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