Stop the Demolition: The Randolph-Lucas Mansion

Let me just say at the outset of this that IF I ever come into a good sum of money….a million or more…..I will spend the majority of it investing in historical properties by preserving and restoring them and then rent them out to various businesses. 

I’m serious….

I’m so tired of seeing building after building ignored, abandoned, or pushed aside for progress especially in this day and age when we have so many commercial properties sitting languishing with a for sale or lease sign .

Growing up in a suburb of Atlanta as I did my family went downtown quite often and that included motoring up and down the city’s famed Peachtree Street.  Many buildings grabbed my attention as a child, but I always hoped Mom would drive just a little bit slower as we passed the Randolph-Lucas House at 2924 Peachtree Street.

Randolph-Lucas Mansion on Peachtree

The Georgian style home was designed by P. Thornton Marye, in 1924.   He is also known for designing the Atlanta Terminal Station, St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, the Fox Theater, and the Southern Bell building at Ivy Street.

The home’s original owner was Hollins Nicolas Randolph.    He had Marye design the home to be an exact copy of his ancestoral home in Albermarle, Viriginia called Edgehill   You see…..Hollins Nicolas Randolph was one of THE Virginia Randolphs and……he was the great, great grandson of Thomas Jefferson, writer of the Declaration of Independence and our third president among other things.  

To say Mr. Randolph was connected is an understatement….and he wasn’t JUST an attorney.  He served on numerous boards and committees and was general counsel for the Federal Reserve Bank.  

Randolph was also heavily involved with the Stone Mountain Memorial Association and authored the Congressional Act directing the minting of five million Stone Mountain coins.  These coins were commemorative in nature and were intended to raise money for the memorial.   You can see one here.  The bill Randolph authored was signed by President Calvin Coolidge and called for up to five million half dollars to be issued.

Georgia wasn’t his only focus.  Randolph was the counsel for Boulder Dam, the Cape Cod Canal in Massachusetts and the St. Andrews Bay Development Company.    He also represented William Randolph Hearst’s interests in the South. 

Gee, if only the walls of that home could talk, right?

Mr. Randolph sold the home to move to Washington D.C. and when he did the Lucas family moved in.   They own several theaters around Atlanta, and later their daughter would marry into the Storey family.  You may recognize that name as one belonging to another family of theater owners. 

Lately, the house has been in the news because an application for demolition has been made by the 2500 Peachtree Condominium Association, and as this AJC article advises….for the second time in six years, the Randolph-Lucas House is facing possible demolition.  

Preservationist groups contend the condominium homeowners association s trying to renege on a deal struck 15 years ago, to preserve [one of the last mansions left on Peachtree Street from a bygone era.]

The condominium association applied for a permit to demolish the home a few months ago stating the home was “deteriorating and dangerous.”     They even have an engineer who agrees with them.

However, in 1997 when the condominiums were in the process of being developed an agreement was struck with the Atlanta City Council.   The condos could be built, BUT the mansion had to be preserved since it’s on the city’s list of historic properties.     The home was actually moved to the southern edge of the property so the condos could be built, and the developer agreed to preserve the mansion.

Since then there has been constant incremental steps by the condo association to work towards the demolition of the home.

Preservationists agree there are some structural issues, but not anything that would warrant a demolition.    The condo association attorney states he is only trying to rid the city of a menace.

A menace?

Even former Atlanta mayor and Buckhead Coalition President, Sam Massell has gotten involved by sending a letter proposing a solution stating, “I believe we can find or create a Foundation that would receive ownership (and accept compliance with the original zoning agreement), which should reduce the taxation on the condo owners.   The plan would be for The Foundation to operate this house as an Atlanta Mayor’s Mansion – not for residential occupancy, but for ceremonial events.”

You know…..I always like Sam Massell.   I think this is a lovely idea, and so do many others.

The Buckhead Heritage Society President Wright Mitchell has also sent a letter advising Aderhold Properties, a company that specializes in historic reuse of homes, is interested in taking over the property and rehabilitating it.   Apparently the condo association rejected the idea.

So, there was a meeting last night .   I’m not going to reprint everything here when you can click through and read for yourself.   Basically, the condo association is adamant that the home is going to be demolished, and the Buckhead Heritage Society is looking for possible sites to move the home. 

There will be a meeting July 12^th where the issue will be presented to the Atlanta Board of Zoning Adjustment.   

What this boils down to is the condo association decided from day one they didn't want to abide by the agreement and someone got their knickers in a wad became the house blocked their view from their living room .   The agreement was made to preserve the home….and they haven’t done that.   They are just willing to shuffle their responsibility off to others when they knew full well an agreement existed when they bought in to the development.

I certainly hope the demolition permit WON’T be issued.   

A 'Possum Dinner for President Taft

Last week I published a post at Douglasville Patch where I have a column concerning Douglasville, Georgia history. I focused on a few different things including the many high school graduations occurring this weekend. I mentioned how I remember attending my sister’s graduation at Atlanta’s Municipal Auditorium at the intersection of Courtland and Gilmer. I wanted to verify a few facts about the building and that’s when an interesting fact got my full attention.
For over 70 years the Armory-Auditorium as it was formerly know was Atlanta’s premier event center for concerts, theater and opera events, professional wrestling, the old-time fiddlers’ convention among many others, and the Gone With the Wind ball held in 1939. The 179th field artillery drilled there and also stored their ammunition.

I found it most interesting that the very first event to be held at the Armory-Auditorium was a ‘possum dinner held for 500 in honor of President-elect William Howard Taft. Thereafter, the portion of the building where the dinner was held was called Taft Hall. More than likely it is the same portion of the Municipal Auditorium that survives today as Georgia State’s Alumni Hall.

My research indicates there was actually a committee for procuring the ‘possums for the Taft ‘possum dinner.

This site detailing certain historical events from Worth County history confirms the ‘possums were obtained free of charge from the plantation of Judge Frank Park

Telegrams that went back and forth tell the story:

Sylvester, Georgia, January 2, 1909 – E.C. Caverly and Mr. Wilkerson, ‘Possum Committee, Atlanta: Worth County asks the honor of being allowed to furnish free to the ‘possum and ‘tater supper, the one hundred fat ‘possums required. Answer promptly so we can unloose the ‘possum dogs.

and the answer:

Frank Park, Sylvester, Georgia: We accept with pleasure and gratitude your offer to furnish ‘possum and ‘taters. Unleash your discriminating ‘possum clogs. [I’m thinking clogs should be dogs, of course.]

The Worth County history also goes into detail regarding the ‘possums and what took place once they had been “gathered”.

The deed is done! The suspense is over! The slaughter of the innocents is accomplished! The largest and most varied collection of ‘possums ever accumulated in the ‘possum state of the South went to their fate Wednesday morning not exactly like the lambs to the slaughter because they were ‘possums; and a ‘possum is not like anything else under the sun, except another ‘possum, neither is there any other creature……

How the deed was done. The ‘possum grasped firmly by his rat-like tail, is flopped with some enthusiasm, upon the ground chin down. Across the nape of his neck, is placed a broom-stick, upon either end of which the executioner places a number 11 foot (the number is important) without delay (for the ‘possum does not take kindly to this procedure) the southern extremity of the animal is smartly elevated by means of that convenient handle, his tail, and - snick! It’s all over. Another ‘possum has been gathered to his father’s in the great beyond, where perennial persimmon trees flourish, and there is no happy hunting ground.

Levi Colbert, Annie Daniels and Mahala Bennett were sent from Judge Parker’s plantation to Atlanta to help with the food preparations at the Piedmont Hotel. Mr. Colbert was a consulting cook and apparently was an expert when it came to preparing ‘possum. His method was as follows:


Immediately after the execution, the ‘possums are plunged in boiling water to remove the hair, dressed and placed in a cold salt water bath for twelve hours “to kill de animal taste, and bring out de ‘possum taste,” says Levi. Then they are parboiled… after which they are baked with the time-honored sweet potatoes; being basted during this process with a special sauce prepared after a formula newly invented by Signor John Blocoki, chief cook at the Piedmont Hotel.

At article in the New York Times advised the menu also included Turtle Soup, Broiled Georgia Shad, spiced watermelon, Boiled Wild Turkey with Oyster Sauce, Quail en Casserole. One hundred gallons of persimmon beer made by Mrs. Watson of Richard Street was served at the dinner along with champagne and claret. This counters the Worth County history which advises they’ll be no champagne or other liquid from foreign vineyard-the Georgia Prohibition law forbids.

New Georgia Encyclopedia advises Georgia had statewide prohibition from 1908 until 1935, a period that began before and extended beyond national prohibition (1920-1933).

I guess at some point the law was overlooked for the special visitor. The New York Times advised Georgia was a Prohibition state but it was not a temperance event. I should add here persimmon beer is not intoxicating, but the New York paper advised champagne and claret was also served. Asa Candler, of the Chamber of Commerce and founder of the Coca-Cola Company acted as toastmaster.

Once the dinner was in full swing, the ‘possum was brought to Taft in a chafing dish. The New York Times advised, Five hundred eyes were on the President-elect as he lifted the top of the dish and gazed at the boast of Georgia. The best dish I have toasted in weeks, said he, and judging from his satisfaction the ‘possum will become a regular White House visitor.

I just have to wonder if ‘possum ever made it onto the White House menu….

You can find out more about Taft’s trip to Georgia in 1909 over at American Presidents where I published a few more details centered on the President-elect including a bit more on his trip to the peach….er……’possum state.

You can find images and more information regarding the Muncipal Auditorium at Atlanta Time Machine here, here and here.

On Hold Till Monday, But There's Plenty Around Here to Keep You Busy...

Did you know that timbers from Georgia were used to construct the USS Constitution, a ship we fondly remember as Old Ironsides? I’ve posted 13 things about the vessel here over at History Is Elementary and over at American Presidents I’ve recounted a mostly forgotten incident where Andrew Jackson lost his head. Don’t worry though….they reattached it.

Many of you received an email telling you the Georgia Carnival would be delayed until Monday or saw a recent post because I will be out of town. If you aren’t receiving emails from me and you would like occasional news and reminders regarding the carnival please forward your email address to me at gamind@mail.com.

Have a great weekend!

Presidents Sing and Dance to the Star Spangled Banner

Can you imagine? Theodore Roosevelt and JFK….Nixon and Ford together again….and even FDR, Carter, Reagan, and Clinton….as well as Bush I and Bush II all singing and dancing to the Star Spangled Banner.

What could be more patriotric on the Fourth of July?:)

See what I have posted at American Presidents Blog. It will make your Fourth!

Hat Tip: ValkingBlog

Does Your President Have the Highest Approval Rating?

Is it Truman? Reagan? Kennedy? or Clinton?

My latest offering over at American Presidents Blog takes a look at a Wall Street Journal graphic offering regarding presidential approval ratings and how the graphics could be used in the classroom.

Come see how your guy stacks up!

Many thanks to the Wall Street Journal for activating my “how can I use this in the classroom” brain and many thanks to my fellow Georgian, Pastor Bill over at Provocative Church for providing the clue that this article existed.

(cross posted to History Is Elementary)