From The Archives

HISTORY: A local dentist named Walter Holmes built this grand Queen Anne in 1885. The house is located on one of three remaining cobblestone streets in the entire county and in the heart of the Intown Historic District. It was converted to apartments during the 1940’s and remained so until 1990, when a 15 year restoration effort began to convert it back to a single family home.

EXTERIOR: Five layers of shingles were removed (including the original painted pine roof) and replaced with 30-year architectural shingles, new decking and copper gutters. The exterior features a professional multi-color paint scheme with a wraparound porch with the original railings and balusters. The original front gerkinhead was duplicated for the rear façade to add more detail. A matching outbuilding (wired w/separate 60 amp service) can continue to serve as a shop or easily be converted to a garage/carriage house.

MECHANICALS: The entire house was rewired with two new 200 amp service panels and is pre-wired for five cable and twelve telephone outlets. The house has a new 4 zone heating/air conditioning where the lower level is served by one system, two for the 2nd floor, and one for the finished attic and cupola. The entire plumbing/sewage system was replaced all the way to the street. The upper and lower level hallways are plumbed for gasoliers and the laundry room is configured for dual fuel. The house also features built-in fire/security/central vacuum/intercom systems. All windows were restored, reglazed, re-roped and are fully functional. All floors, exterior walls, attic space and roof are insulated for maximum efficiency.

LAYOUT/INTERIOR: The interior features 5,317 heated/cooled square feet on four levels with twelve foot ceilings on the 1st and 2nd levels. The total room count is 10 (not including wet rooms). Starting at the top: the finished cupola offers a 360 degree view from Macon’s highest point and is the best spot to watch a sunrise and fireworks! The cupola also functions as a vent to funnel out the summer heat. The finished attic could serve as the perfect playroom for the kids and features insulating/venting/screened skylights, storage areas, original deck flooring and is pre-plumbed. The sleeping level has four (possibly five) bedrooms and two bathrooms (one finished) with front and rear staircases. The lower level features north and south parlors, informal and formal dining rooms, kitchen, laundry room and the third bathroom.

RESTORATION NOTES: The interior walls were stripped to the bare studs and fitted with new ¾” drywall. The house has a total of 10 fireplaces (8 finished), including an open hearth cooking fireplace in the kitchen. The front and rear stained glass windows are restored. All missing trim was professionally duplicated from originals, refinished and installed. All original wainscoting remains installed and the closet doors are wired with automatic switches. Three sets of functioning pocket doors (two finished) feature original style working hardware, as do all the standard doors. The electrical switches are the early 20th century push-button type. The upper hallway baseboards, door trim and doors are painted in the trompe l'oeil (“TRUMP-loy” or “trick of the eye”) style where heartpine is modified to resemble mahogany. The finished bathroom has the restored original tile floor, wainscoting and sink along with a functioning “high boy” commode. The rear staircase is of the “horseshoe” style and the period-correct light fixtures will remain with the house. The reproduction foyer bench was custom-made on-site. The second level stenciled ceilings exemplify the grandeur of the Victorian era where no minor detail is overlooked and the quality cannot be appreciated photographically. The 19’ x 20’ master suite ceiling alone has over twenty colors, took six months to paint and features a painted skylight. The master bathroom shower is wired/plumbed to double as a steamroom. Custom window screens were manufactured for every operating window. The overall fit and finish are a glowing resume of the finest workmanship from an era long forgotten.