Oldest Home in Atlanta’s Buckhead Neighborhood For Sale
Atlanta, Georgia (PRWEB) December 30, 2014 -- What is believed to be the oldest occupied home in Atlanta’s prestigious Buckhead neighborhood has come on the market. The pre-Civil War home, located at 1450 W. Wesley Rd., has a rich history, with deed records, the Greek Revival style of architecture popular at the time and the method of construction dating the home to sometime in the 1830s.
The original location of the home was the North Georgia town of Resaca. It was moved to Buckhead in the late 1950s by a local engineer and his wife, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Walker. According to Realtor Ben Hirsh, of Hirsh Real Estate Specialists, who is representing the home, “the Walkers happened upon the historic home on a casual drive through the country one day and fell in love with the charming architecture. Workmen were preparing to demolish the home, so the Walkers had to act fast, purchasing the home on the spot.”
From there, it was carefully dismantled and moved to where it stands today – on the corner of West Wesley Rd and Margaret Mitchell Rd in Buckhead’s Margaret Mitchell neighborhood. Since its move to Buckhead, it has been called Resaca and the Walker House.
Records show that, during the Civil War, this historic home served as the headquarters for a Confederate general. Later, it served as hospital during the Battle of Resaca. It was one of the few homes not burned to the ground during Sherman’s march across Georgia. It did, however, sustain a hit from a cannon ball (scars from the incident were found in the attic rafters). Mini-ball shots were also found in the front columns when the home was moved in the ‘50s.
“The current owner purchased the home in 1985 and, while maintaining the integrity of the home’s history and original design, lovingly modernized and expanded it by adding a finished terrace level, a very charming and fresh upstairs master suite, and a large detached two-car garage,” Hirsh says. “While historic, the home is modernized and move-in ready. It’s not a museum, though its character and original details and materials have been maintained.”
The renovation was overseen by award-winning architect Norman D. Askins. Most of the original construction and materials that were brought to Atlanta from Resaca remain intact and add an abundance of character and charm to the home’s rich history. “This jewel-box of a home is ready for its next chapter with a lucky new owner who appreciates all that it represents,” Hirsh says.
“I think what’s so awesome about it is it’s not just deed records, but if you look at the house and walk in and look at the floors, it really looks [nearly] 200 years old,” Hirsh says. “It’s in incredible condition and so much of it is original, from the fireplace to the front siding to the shutters. We’ve got photographic evidence of it going back 70-plus years. The paneling in the current library is original. This history alone is special.”
Erica Danylchak, executive director of the Buckhead Heritage Society, recently told the Northside Neighbor newspaper that a few other Buckhead homes may be older, but others she notes are unoccupied tourist attractions or have long been used for commercial purposes (such as a restaurant and event space). The Buckhead Heritage Society maintains a database of extensive resources, including homes listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
More information about the home can be found here, including size, pricing and an extensive collection of photos and documents relating to the home, such as both antique photos, modern photos and a 1959 Atlanta Journal-Constitution article on the home. You’ll also see a letter from the Georgia House of Representatives mentioning a land grant from the state to Jesse Butler, the original owner (April 20, 1833) of the home.
About Ben Hirsh
Ben Hirsh is a top real estate broker in Atlanta's Buckhead market. He has spent the last 11-plus years raising the standard for excellent service and comprehensive marketing in Buckhead real estate. His nearly $200 million in personal sales is a result of hard work, excellent marketing, and very happy clients. Ben's recent purchase of Buckhead.com (http://www.Buckhead.com) gives his listings unprecedented exposure, solidifying his position in the top tier of Buckhead real estate agents.
B. Andrew (Drew) Plant, Plant Communications, http://www.PlantCommunications.com, +1 (404) 634-7102, [email protected]
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