Briarcliff (mansion) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Briarcliff
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Briarcliff mansion in disrepair, 2012
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 Location in Atlanta
Location in Georgia (U.S. state)
Location in the United States
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| Location | 1260 Briarcliff Rd., NE, Atlanta, Georgia, US |
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| Built | 1922 |
| Architect | Frazier, Charles E. |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival, Georgian Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 88001167 |
| Added to NRHP | August 4, 1988 |
Briarcliff was once a grand mansion and estate. It belonged to Asa Griggs "Buddy" Candler, Jr. (1880–1953). He was the son of the co-founder of Coca-Cola. The estate was built in 1922 on 42 acres. It was located on Williams Mill Road, which is now Briarcliff Road in Druid Hills near Atlanta. The road was renamed after the estate in the 1920s. Briarcliff was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1988.
Asa, Jr. helped build his father's Coca-Cola business. He later became a real estate developer. He even opened the Briarcliff Hotel in Atlanta.
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What Was Briarcliff Farm Like?
In 1910, Asa, Jr. moved to a farmhouse on Briarcliff Farm. This farm was 42 acres large. It was located just north of Callanwolde, his brother Charles' estate. Asa, Jr. ran a huge farm operation. It provided meat and produce to local stores.
The farm raised cows, sheep, pigs, and chickens. During World War I, Briarcliff Farm supplied milk to Fort Gordon. The farm was known for being very modern. It used electric lights and fans. Even the cows had individual drinking fountains! This made the farm very clean and productive.
How Was Briarcliff Mansion Built?
Briarcliff mansion was built between 1920 and 1922. It had a Georgian Revival style. Architect Dan Bodin helped oversee the building. In 1925, Candler made the mansion even bigger. He added a large music room.
What Special Features Did the Estate Have?
The Briarcliff mansion had many amazing features.
- A huge music room, about 1,700 square feet. It had a three-story-tall vaulted ceiling. It also had a large limestone fireplace. This room is now called DeOvies Hall.
- A grand entry hall.
- A fancy library with wood panels.
- A large living room.
- A kitchen big enough for restaurant equipment.
- A breakfast room.
- A main dining room.
- A second dining room that could seat 75 people. It had carved ceilings and a white marble fireplace. It also had silver chandeliers.
- A solarium with high ceilings and a fish pond. It had two painted murals.
- Another solarium built for his daughter's wedding.
- Seven bedrooms, including two master bedrooms. Each master bedroom had a carved marble fireplace.
- A large ballroom on the third floor. It was painted in gold-leaf. It had a bathroom with three showers, three sinks, and three toilets.
- A basement with a large walk-in safe.
- The roof was originally red tile. It has been replaced with asphalt to protect the home.
The entire estate also included:
- The main house.
- Separate buildings for servants.
- Tennis courts.
- Stables for horses.
- Greenhouses for plants.
- A laundry building.
- Buildings for a zoo.
- A golf course.
- A community swimming pool.
The Amazing Aeolian Organ
Asa, Jr.'s father and older brother both owned special organs. To have an even grander one, Asa, Jr. had a huge Aeolian organ installed in 1925. It cost $94,000. It was the largest privately owned organ in Georgia at the time. It was also one of the biggest Aeolian ever built for a home.
The organ was first played in November 1925. A family friend named Palmer Christian gave a recital. It was even broadcast on the radio station WSB. In 1952, the organ was given to Wesleyan College in Macon, Georgia. It was fixed up in 2008. It is now called the Goodwyn-Candler-Panoz organ.
Asa, Jr.'s Exotic Animal Collection
Asa, Jr. loved collecting exotic birds and animals. He kept them in a special zoo on his estate. The cages were designed by an architect. His collection included a Bengal tiger, four lions, a black leopard, a gorilla, and baboons. He also had six elephants! Their names were Coca, Cola, Pause, Refreshes, Refreshing, and Delicious.
There was a funny story about a baboon that jumped over the zoo wall. It caused some trouble for a neighbor. Later, in 1935, Asa, Jr. gave all his animals to the Grant Park Zoo. This zoo is now called Zoo Atlanta.
The mansion also had two swimming pools. One pool was open to the public for 25 cents. This pool had a neon-lighted fountain that glowed at night. The pool area was decorated with flowers and shrubs. There was even a stand to buy Coca-Cola and snacks.
What Happened to the Estate Later?
The Candler family sold their estate in 1948. The government bought it. It was first used as a health and wellness facility. This facility opened in 1953. It was the first of its kind in Georgia. The pool was open for patients until the late 1950s.
From 1965 to 1997, the estate housed another specialized care center. It was in a tall building with smaller cottages. These buildings were connected by tunnels.
Some people have reported stories of hauntings at the estate.
Today, the complex is part of the Briarcliff Campus of Emory University. However, the mansion itself is still empty and needs repairs.
- Flickr photosets of Briarcliff Mansion [1][2][3], of tunnels
