Is it a house, fort or castle?
It’s all three, actually, depending on who you ask. Perched atop a hill on Fifteenth Street, just off of Peachtree Street, and facing the Woodruff Arts Center is a strange complex that puzzles each new passerby. Former Mayor Andrew Young referred to it as a “hunk of junk” and was scheduled for demolition in the 1980s until preservationists ultimately saved it. In 1989, it was designated a landmark by the city.
The “hunk of junk” was originally a retirement home for Ferdinand McMillan, Confederate veteran and co-founder of the McMillan & Avery firm, dealers in agricultural machinery. McMillan designed it himself and construction was completed in 1910. Residing with his wife and niece, McMillan dubbed it Fort Peace and lived there until his death in 1920. Viewing the interior of the house during McMillan’s stay would be interesting, but it is the exterior, still mostly intact, that is unique.
Michael Rose, in his book “Atlanta: Then and Now”(I’ve referenced this book before and if you don’t have a copy, put it on your Christmas list) notes that the house reflects the eccentricities of McMillan, built on a solid, two-story Stone Mountain granite base (judging by the capitalization, I assume that the granite for the base may come from Stone Mountain), canon openings and a Chinese turret. The house is built in the Victorian style that characterized mansions and homes in the area (most now gone) of the same period.
McMillan was a friend and one-time neighbor of Joel Chandler Harris, author of the “Uncle Remus” stories. According to atlantaga.gov, two niches in the second story façade and another niche below those contained small marble rabbits, the “Uncle Remus spring,” drinking fountain for pedestrians passing by, and other carved replicas of characters associated with Uncle Remus.
The position of the house allowed McMillan to maintain a large garden. Aside from his interest in gardening, McMillan had a great interest in inventing, according to atlantaga.gov. He reportedly designed one of the region’s first cottonseed oil presses, “the suction system for gins,” as well as the sub-irrigation system for his garden. With all of the unique features, McMillan said his basic intention was “to get as high into the air as I could, and there to build me a country home in the city.”
The surrounding four homes in the area were acquired by the Art Association and eventually demolished in the 1950s and ‘60s as the museum of art complex expanded. McMillan’s dream house remained, was dubbed “The Castle” and was inhabited by the burgeoning artistic community. From the end of World War II through the 1970s, Hazel Butler Roy owned the home and opened it to the artistic community. Various individual artists and performing arts groups rented rooms, lived, worked and played in the house. There was even a restaurant inside called the Carriage Room Restaurant.
Today, the towering skyscrapers of Midtown dwarf the house. Atlantaga.gov reports that AT&T plans to use the house for its Promenade project (I was unable to find specific details on this project after searching the Web. Anyone who knows more, feel free to share.). Aside from the significant architecture, The Castle remains a monument to the early Atlanta artistic community and a reminder of the four Peachtree Street homes demolished to make way for the Woodruff Arts Museum and the newly expanded High Museum of Art that we know and that it now overlooks.
December 5th, 2005 at 5:26 pm
Is it a house, fort, or castle?
Well, one thing is certain: “I guess we can rule out it’s not a mobile home.” That’s for sure.
It may be house, and it may be a fort, and it may be a castle, but from my way of thinking, it’s really, really, really none of the above. Really!!!
This house/fort/castle–whatever has the potential to be the best GRANITE COUNTERTOP STORE in Atlanta. Just forget the unique, splendid history of this pad, and the long list of quirky architectural delights. I say: “Demolish this “THIS OLD HOUSE” reject. This house sure doesn’t sound like it will make the cover of “HOUSE BEAUTIFUL” anytime soon.
Do we really want this ugly abode sitting within close proximity to such Phillip Johnson-esque architectural Atlanta masterpieces? Heck no! Heck no!
As I was reading this article, the word: GRANITE, GRANITE, GRANITE, GRANITE, GRANITE, GRANITE, GRANITE was flashing in Las Vegas neon lights. Get the wrecking balls out now, as I want a piece of that marvelous Stone Mountain granite. In fact, I want several pieces of that marvelous Stone Mountain granite sitting on top of my now ugly white formica countertops. And make no mistake, the formica is ugly.
Early next year I plan to remodel my house. At the top of the list is granite countertops. Yeah, I know I have expensive tastes. In case you’ve been living in a cave for the past couple of years, granite countertops start at around $50 dollars a square foot, and can easily approach $100 dollars a square foot. I wish, Bernie Marcus was a dear friend of mine because I’m sure I could probably cut a deal with him, but he’s not a dear friend– let alone a friend, or even an acquaintance. Damn!
Demolishing this old “ugly” building, though, would be a great Christmas gift not only for me, but for all us who want granite countertops. Let’s start a demolishing letter writing campaign today.
I’VE GOT FIRST DIBS ON THE BEST SLABS OF GRANITE, THOUGH, BECAUSE THIS WAS MY IDEA!!!
Seriously, it would have been a shame if the wrecking balls would have started swinging and tearing down such a treasure.
I will say one thing: “Condominium builders here seem to have a lot of clout–mucho clout, so don’t count on this house sticking around forever. And if the condominium builders know that it’s sitting on Expo-quality granite, it’s probably a goner.
You just know that the marvelous Stone Mountain granite will be in the kitchens of yet another high-rise condo, and not my house. Damn!
Chad
December 6th, 2005 at 9:03 am
AT&T has tried to tear it down before, but since AT&T has been rebuffed several times - they are now ‘protectors’ of this historic treasure.
It’s funny how companies turn 180 degrees once they are denied anything.
December 14th, 2005 at 1:11 pm
Even if it isn’t the most beautiful building in Atlanta, it’s still a treasure. It should stay there as long as the land beneath stays.
Thanks for information on the house. I’ve always been curious!
December 27th, 2005 at 1:11 pm
Being visitors to your fair city during the holidays and staying in the mid-cities area, my wife and I took a walk every morning. One of our walks took us by the Castle and I was hooked. A later call to the historical society put me on to the appropriate web site. As I have grown older, and hopfully wiser, my concept of things of value has expanded. Indeed,the Castle is a significant historical treasure. And thanks to AT&T for their corporate support in preserving this historic site.
Atlanta is a great city and what a wonderful visit we have had.
July 7th, 2006 at 10:56 pm
What do you know about a building called “The castle” adjacent to the High Museum? I once lived in the Church’s Home next to it (1966). In 1969 I considered renting the apartment at the top and met the owner. In the end I chickened out since those who rented the studios did not spend nights there. I am saddened that it remailns abondoned.
Dr. Kathleen Thompson
Blue Ridge GA
April 20th, 2007 at 2:09 pm
I’m not sure how you could say the house is ugly …
My girlfriend and I were passing by the house one VERY random day (Neither of us are from Atlanta) and the cellar door was open! Naturally, we went inside. Couldn’t get upstairs, but the house seems like it’s in fairly sound structural condition. Lead paint keeps the place uninhabited!! At some point, AT&T tried to wire it up for networking, there were jacks and cables in the walls. There’s a room with a trap-door-ish thing … covered with styrofoam to look like concrete block. Couldn’t figure that out. Papers 2×2 checkered with numbers to high to be network addresses. A modern utility sink and water heater. Wish we could have gone upstairs.
Curious, though, about project Promenade
February 13th, 2008 at 12:45 pm
It was the center of artsy Bohemians. First Beats then hips then hippies lived in the houses along 15th. The bottom of the Castle was a beatnik coffee house
http://ethunter1.blogspot.com/2006/03/beatniks-and-golden-horn.html
April 29th, 2008 at 1:04 pm
In response to Chad’s comments about “don’t count on this house sticking around forever”, the property can’t be developed beyond what is there now. In 1991 AT&T transfered the development rights of the property to gain approval for higher density in the building they built behind it Part of this process is recording negative covenants against development on the land where the Castle sits, meaning that even if the land is sold to another owner, that new owner can not development the land. Also, the building is a designated Landmark.