May Patterson Goodrum House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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May Patterson Goodrum House
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 Location in Georgia (U.S. state)
Location in the United States
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| Location | 320 West Paces Ferry Road N.W., Atlanta, Georgia |
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| Built | 1932 |
| Architect | Philip Trammell Shutze |
| Architectural style | English Regency |
| NRHP reference No. | 13000215 |
| Added to NRHP | May 1, 2013 |
The May Patterson Goodrum House is a beautiful old home in Atlanta, Georgia. It was finished in 1932. People also call it the Peacock House.
This mansion was designed by a famous architect named Philip T. Shutze. It is built in a style called English Regency. Many people think it's one of his best designs. The house became a protected historic place on May 1, 2013.
Contents
Exploring the House's Design
This house is a grand English Regency style mansion. It has a tall main part with two-story sections on each side. These side sections stick out towards the front.
The outside walls are made of brick. They are covered with smooth stucco. This stucco is carved to look like big stone blocks. The front entrance has fancy columns. At the back of the house, there's a curved patio. It also has big, rounded windows that are two stories tall.
Art and Decorations Inside
The inside of the house is very special. It has amazing paintings by artists like Allyn Cox and Athos Menaboni. There are also beautiful carvings and plaster designs by Herbert J. Millard.
Some parts of the house have a unique style called chinoiserie. This means they look like Chinese art. You can see this style in the dining room paintings and the main hallway's staircase railing.
Awards and Recognition
In 1932, the house won an honorable mention award. This was from the Architectural League of New York. The May Patterson Goodrum House was also featured in popular magazines. These included Architecture, House & Garden, and Town & Country.
The House's History
May E. Patterson (1891–1976) grew up in Atlanta. Her father worked with stone. She worked in stores for a while. James J. Goodrum Jr. (1879–1928) was from Newnan, Georgia. He started a chain of stores when he was 27. Later, he sold his stores to the American Tobacco Company.
Mr. Goodrum then became a very successful investor. He helped with a huge stock sale for The Coca-Cola Company in 1919. May Patterson and James Goodrum married in New York City in 1926. Sadly, Mr. Goodrum passed away in 1928.
Building a Dream Home
After her husband died, Mrs. Goodrum bought land in Atlanta. She hired architect Philip Trammell Shutze to design her new home. He also designed the gardens. By August 1929, the house plans were ready.
Mrs. Goodrum moved into the house by September 1930. However, the house wasn't fully finished until 1932. Some parts of the gardens took even longer, finishing in 1936.
New Owners and the Peacock House Name
In 1938, May Goodrum married Francis L. Abreu (1896–1969). He was also an architect. The couple were very active in Atlanta society. They supported many charities, like the American Red Cross. In 1944, May was named "Atlanta's Woman of the Year" for her charity work.
In 1958, the Abreus sold the Atlanta house. They moved to Sea Island, Georgia. There, they lived in a beach house called South Wind. This house was also designed by Shutze.
The Atlanta house was bought by Mary Phillips Rushton (1896–1984). She was the founder of a toy company. Mrs. Rushton made a few changes to the house. She updated the kitchen and added an elevator. She also kept peacocks on the property! Because of this, the house became known as the Peacock House. Sometimes, the peacocks would even bother drivers on the road.
When Mrs. Rushton died in 1984, the property was sold to Jerry Cates. He divided the land and sold off parts of it. This removed some of the original walls and gardens.
Public Events and Later Uses
In 1984, the house was opened to the public. It was part of a "Decorator's Show House" event. This helped raise money for the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. The house has also hosted other special events. For example, it held a gala for the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation in 2010.
Later in 1984, the Southern Center for International Studies bought the home. They paid $1.5 million for it. The house served as their main office until 2009. During this time, some fire escapes were added. Parking areas were also built, which changed more of the gardens. The house was also used as a place for weddings.
Restoration and Museum Today
In 2009, the Watson-Brown Foundation bought the home for $3.5 million. They worked to restore it to its original beauty. Today, the house is a historic house museum. It has a full-time curator. You can visit the house by making an appointment. This foundation also runs other house museums in Georgia. These include Hickory Hill and the T. R. R. Cobb House.
See also
