Road Trip 8: Guyton Georgia the Beautiful

We're headed home now, up Highway 17 hoping to reach Sparta by dark.

 And here comes Guyton, Georgia - pronounced "GUY-ton" as in "Guys and Gals" and 2,000 pounds.


This got our attention: Armstrong Morgan House ca 1883 104 Central Boulevard Guyton, Georgia.

This would explain something:

"...People could work in Savannah and then ride the train home to Guyton or other towns along the railway and spend their weekends or summers where they were away from "the fever" or other unpleasantries of the city." - source

There's a terrific walking tour of Guyton, here's the terrific brochure. Here's why you should go:


Claudette's Bed and Breakfast built 1868.



The Anna Duvant House built in 1868 looks like Claudette's sister.



 The former post office built in the 1890's.


I don't know what this one is but it's a doll.


See?


A little tired but beautiful.


It was starting to rain and we needed to get going.


Cool corner entrance.


The giraffe will probably be gone by the time we get back.




Next stop: Oliver.

Road Trip 6: Everything's Better in Metter Georgia - Restoring a Queen Anne Ruin?

Now we know how to pronounce "Meter." And it's a handsome town, county seat of Candler County with a downtown more vital that we expected. We'll visit again.

"...as legend has it, the city's name honors a railroad official's wife. Thankful that he'd "met her" in the town, the official memorialized their marriage with the city's naming." - Georgia.gov 
 
We explored a few blocks and found this handsome ruin. Can you imagine this in any neighborhood in Atlanta? We can.


It's on North Kennedy Street. Looks like work's been stopped for a while.


My friend Carl told me you can "tell" if a house is bad or good way before it's finished. I think you can "tell" even for a ruin.


It's not a mansion but it couldn't be more dignified in it's setting.


It's smelled like a campfire but I didn't seen any burn. It's for sale.


We'll revisit Metter if only to see cheer this house on.


Map to the ruin.

There is more to see.

Road Trip 2: Pink House Between Newborn and Shady Dale

I think this was the only pink house between Newborn and Shady Dale, Georgia.


We don't know how old or new it is but it's an eye-catching Queen Anne. We turned around so we could take a couple of pictures.


Looks like it was painted yesterday. Where did the wide stair go exactly?
"Free Classic: Hipped Roof with Lower Cross Gables" - A Field Guide to American Houses by Virginia Savage McAlester, Lee McAlester


Avoiding the Interstates as best we could on the way to the beach.

Happening Now: Painting a 1890 Victorian in Hapeville - the Madden House

Al emailed me July 7:

"Tim and I are (about to paint) our old Victorian......we need...professional advise as to the color selection and which architectural pieces should be painted which color...



"I am an Aries, strong and dominate opinionated, Tim, my partner, is certified interior designer, who happens to be Virgo, so pairing these, I think a mediator could salvage what could be a heated discussion..."

I asked Jessica McCarron who is in the Historic Preservation masters program at Georgia state.

"With your permission, I can forward to Richard Laub and Maryellen Higginbotham at GSU. Richard you may know, he's the director of the HP program. I'm in Maryellen's Historic Interiors class now; she would probably have some suggestions since her area of study is paint and wallpaper."



I dropped by on Saturday and discovered work had begun. I think they are up to 800 hours of repairing, scraping, replacing, and priming.


Victorian Exterior Decoration: How to Paint Your Nineteenth-Century American House Historically is the key find from the consultations. This book is the bomb!


Al and Tim are design pros and started rocking it. This is one of their studies.


It was blue in 2011.



When I got there Saturday, the south side had at least 8 colors.


I confess: I'm in love with these crazy houses.


The back side of the house is primed out.


I'm fascinated to see a Queen Anne in white primer; lets my eye focus on shapes and textures.


Right: The porch  / sun-room is an addition that makes a bodacious acute angle.


Lot's of work ahead but no hiding the wrinkles.


There's not as much birdhouse material as you might expect.


Live painting now in Hapeville, Georgia.


Here's another look from back in the day.


Here's a Kirkwood sister on Howard a few years ago.

I'll keep you updated.

Let's Help Save This Capital View 1903 Victorian Damaged by Fire

It's hard to tell from the street. After 109 years it burned on February 8, 2013. It's at 1474 Metropolitan Parkway at the intersection of Deckner (see the map below). In fact this is the a Deckner House in the Capital View Neighborhood.

Thanks to Pitgrrrl for this, more in the comments: "Hi Terry, thanks for this post! This is actually not THE Deckner house, but it is one of them. The Deckner house is located next door to this one at 1488 Metropolitan Pkwy SW and it was built in 1870, by Charles Deckner..," more in the comments below.


This heroic red roof and curvy porch are welcome landmarks on the mostly grim Metropolitan Parkway, Highway 41 south of the Dome. It's a sign of life, history, and hope for this part of Atlanta.

The Creatives Project was in the process of buying the place, turning it into an art and cultural center: The HeArt House. They are still determined to do it. You can help:

1. Get the word out. Share this post on Facebook, Twitter, Emails.
2. Find out about the The Creatives Project, one of many great things in Atlanta. It's easy on Twitter @creativespro @theHeARThouse and Facebook.
3. Help them out if you can.
4. Visit the house and Capital View in person. I'll go with you and we can explore Pittsburgh, Avery Park, Sylvan Hills, Hapeville, and the BeltLine while we're at it.

There isn't a perfect example of in intact, preserved Victorian. Folks have added on, replaced the rot, and lived here.


Ugh.


This is the view west from the front steps.

These few blocks of Metropolitan are the handsome, somewhat weary public face of Capital View whose quiet streets and parks lie mostly west of Metropolitan.


This is the view if you are heading north. Capitol View Elementary School now closed is on the left of this picture.


When you hear 100-year-old-Victorian, you imagine a preserved gingerbread masterpiece built for the gentry. It's not that kind of Victorian.


As you get close you can see the wear, tear, and repair of the decades.


Getting close enough to see the smoke line is a heart breaker to Architecture Tourists and everybody else.


There's a non-Victorian wing to the south.


The half-moon widow in on the rear of the south addition. The rear (east) side addition looks sturdy and practical.


Some joists and stud walls don't look too bad. I'd worry about the roof structure.


It remains a mighty handsome place. At 45 mph you won't notice the scars.


But you'll certainly enjoy the roof.


Park on Deckner where it T-bones Metropolitan from the west.


You'll be rewarded with  "Young Americans" by Sheila Pree Bright, one of my favorites for Living Walls, 2012.

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