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 historic mansion in the Buckhead neighborhood of Atlanta, Georgia. It was finished in 1932 and is also known as the Peacock House. The house is famous for its beautiful English Regency style, which was popular in the early 1800s.
It was designed by the well-known Atlanta architect Philip T. Shutze. Many people think it is one of his best creations. Because of its importance, the house was added to the National Register of Historic Places on May 1, 2013. This is a special list of places the U.S. government considers worth protecting.
Contents
Architecture and Design
The May Patterson Goodrum House is a large and elegant mansion. Its design was inspired by grand English homes from the Regency era.
The Exterior Look
The outside of the house is made of brick covered with a smooth plaster called stucco. The stucco was carefully scored with lines to make it look like it was built from large stone blocks. The main entrance has impressive columns in the Ionic style, a classic Greek design.
The house has a tall, two-and-a-half-story main section in the middle. On either side are two-story wings that stick out slightly. The back of the house has large, curved bow windows that look out onto a terrace.
Inside the Mansion
The inside of the house is just as fancy as the outside. It features beautiful murals, which are large paintings done directly on the walls. These were created by artists Allyn Cox and Athos Menaboni. There are also detailed carvings and plaster designs by Herbert J. Millard.
Many decorations, like the murals in the dining room, use a style called chinoiserie. This was a European art style inspired by Chinese art and design.
In 1932, the house received an honorable mention award from the Architectural League of New York. It was also featured in popular magazines like Architecture, House & Garden, and Town & Country.
History of the House
The house has a rich history involving several interesting owners who each left their mark on the property.
The First Owner: May Patterson Goodrum
The house was built for May Patterson Goodrum (1891–1976). She was born in Atlanta and married James J. Goodrum Jr. in 1926. Mr. Goodrum was a very successful businessman who helped manage the first public sale of stock for The Coca-Cola Company in 1919. Sadly, he passed away in 1928.
After her husband's death, Mrs. Goodrum hired architect Philip Trammell Shutze to build her dream home. She moved into the house in 1930, and it was fully completed by 1932.
In 1938, May married an architect named Francis L. Abreu. The couple was well-known in Atlanta and supported many charities. In 1944, May was named "Atlanta's Woman of the Year" for her good work. The Abreus sold the house in 1958 and moved to Sea Island, Georgia.
The Peacock House Era
The next owner was Mary Phillips Rushton, who founded a toy company. Mrs. Rushton made a few changes to the house, like updating the kitchen and adding an elevator.
She also kept peacocks on the property. The beautiful birds roamed the gardens, which is how the mansion got its nickname, the "Peacock House." Sometimes the peacocks would wander near the road and surprise drivers.
After Mrs. Rushton passed away in 1984, the property was sold and part of the land was divided and sold off.
A Center for Learning and Events
Later in 1984, the house was bought by the Southern Center for International Studies. The organization used the mansion as its headquarters for 25 years, from 1984 to 2009. During this time, the house was also used as a beautiful location for weddings and other events.
The house has also been used to support good causes. In 1984, it was opened to the public as a "Decorator's Show House" to raise money for the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. In 2010, it hosted a gala for the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation.
The House Today
In 2009, the Watson-Brown Foundation bought the house and carefully restored it to its original beauty. Today, it is operated as a historic house museum. This means it is preserved to show people what life was like in the past.
The museum has a full-time curator who takes care of the house and its history. It is not open for walk-in visits, but people can make an appointment to take a tour. The same foundation also runs other historic homes in Georgia, helping to protect the state's history for future generations.
See also
