Original City Christmas
by Tiffany Nabors

Take a nostalgic stroll down the streets of Columbus’ original historic district. Enjoy a brief glimpse into the past—a time when homes were built with equal amounts of character and quality.

Early days in our original city were a time when front porches served as a gathering place for visiting neighbors. And a family with a story lived just behind each door. This holiday season you are invited to take a look behind those doors into some of the most historic homes in Columbus.

On December 13, Historic Columbus Foundation and the Historic District Preservation Society will co-host the biannual holiday tour of homes. This year the theme is “An Original City Christmas” and will feature eight properties throughout the district.

HCF Director of Development and Marketing Carroll Hudson said the tour is always a much anticipated event, and returning to the oldest portion of the city will be a treat for all that attend. “The homes speak for themselves because they are so beautiful and interesting,” Hudson said. “People always find the tour exciting.”

The self-guided event will last from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. Tickets cost $20 in advance and $25 the day of the tour. In addition to seeing the homes, visitors will be serenaded by carolers on the street and can stop into 700 Broadway for holiday refreshments. Tickets will also grant access to the Mistletoe Market, which will feature gifts and handmade items for sale. All proceeds for the event will benefit upcoming historic renovation projects. For more information, contact Historic Columbus Foundation at 706-322-0756.

737 Broadway
Known as the Wade-Heard-Merrill house, this property is Colonial Revival, a style not common in the original city district. Current owners Tom and Carolyn Gates have lived in the home since 1991. During the ‘90s, they added a second story and later undertook a major renovation of the property in 2007 that included adding a sun porch and removing walls to enlarge the family area. Carolyn takes special care to ensure everyone feels welcome with her elaborate decorations that include holiday angels and a lifesized Santa. After passing through the 19-foot foyer with its Corinthian columns, visitors will also get to see an “umbrella” Christmas tree. The largest part of this tree is at the top instead of the bottom, and it will be beautifully decorated with birds.

The Gates family takes special pride in living in a historic home and feels a responsibility to respectfully contribute to this distinct culture of living. “I tell folks that rather than feeling like you’re the owner of the home, you feel more like you’re the custodian for a while,” Carolyn said. “Each generation puts its own character into the home, but the bones of the home stay close to the same. I love it.”

545 Broadway
Some say that when you know, you just know. That was certainly the case for Jim and Terry Irvin’s decision to purchase their historic home. “You wouldn’t believe what this house looked like,” Jim said of the pre-rehabilitated property. The two-story Victorian townhouse, which was built in 1888, had definitely seen better days. It was even condemned by the housing authority in 1972 before being purchased by Historic Columbus Foundation. In 1975, the 2,600-square-foot home was extensively rehabilitated under the ownership of Alice Herin, who added a bedroom and a full bath. But it was prior to the rehab that Irvin first took notice of the home while visiting the district for a party.

“I remember saying ‘What a neat house. Too bad it’s too far gone,’” he recalled. As the years passed, he and his wife saw the house often because they frequented the area for entertainment and dining.

“For years we looked at this house and admired it,” Jim said. “Then one Thursday morning there was a for-sale sign in the yard.” By the next day, the family was under contract to purchase the home. Structurally, a garage and a back porch were also added to the property, which currently has three bedrooms, two full bathrooms and one half bathroom. The original pine floors and many of the eight-foot windows across the front of the green-and-white home have been with the property since the beginning. It also boasts 12-foot ceilings and an ornate, posted staircase.

“It has been one of the best things we ever did,” Jim said of the decision to move into the district. “What’s so nice—in addition to the house itself, which we love—is the neighborhood.” The homeowner easily summed up his feelings toward historic living: “It’s amazing.”

215 Seventh Street
Before moving into this historic home in 2003, Bob and Sue Weigl had lived in modern suburban homes all over the country. Then they came upon this four-bedroom home in the oldest part of the city. It was built around 1910. “I had looked at homes all over Columbus, and I just loved this district,” Sue said.

Prior to her family assuming ownership, the property was one of four that had been moved to 7th Street in 1993 as an alternative to being demolished. Although the home was originally deeded to Columbus dentist A.P. Gordy, who was related to former President Jimmy Carter, the property was in bad condition. The Weigls have completed a number of renovation projects to include totally redoing the second floor, updating the four and one-half bathrooms, fixing the roof and enlarging the garage, which had been added in 1995.

Visitors should notice the before-its-time second-floor stucco exterior and the carved, ionic columns in the foyer. The home features a combination of Colonial Revival, Neoclassical and Spanish mission styles.

718 Second Avenue
This two-bedroom house was built in the 1800s, but has been home to Gaye Willoughby for the past 10 years. Looking at the pale pink exterior and dainty white picket fence, one could be misled about the interior of the home. “People are totally surprised when they go from the exterior to the interior,” Willoughby said. Unlike the muted outside, the burgundy and green jewel tones found on the inside add a nice variation. “It’s formal, but it’s comfortable,” Willoughby said.

She has deeds that date back to 1902, and she is committed to maintaining the home’s original character, which she describes as cottage-like. Still, the home measures about 2,400 square feet and features three fireplaces and original wood floors.Willoughby has added a full bathroom, a half bathroom and a deck, but she consciously chose to keep the original floor plan. Now, with its granite countertops and marble bathroom accents, this historic home is delicately balanced between the old and the new. “It has a lot of original character,” Willoughby said, “yet it still has many modern conveniences.” This balance is likely what appealed to superstar actor Mel Gibson, who inconspicuously inhabited the home while filming We Were Soldiers in Columbus a few years ago.

700 Broadway
Janice Persons Biggers House
Once the residence of Georgia Supreme Court Justice Sterling Price Gilbert, this historic townhouse holds a rich history. The home was built in 1870 and is very distinctive because it was the first single-family, two-story home in the original city. “It was a very unique home for the district,” Historic Columbus Foundation Director of Planning and Programs Justin Krieg said. “It was actually made of solid brick, even the interior walls.” During World War II, the home was divided into rental apartments, but a number of affluent Columbus residents still called this property home.

Visitors can bask in the 14-foot ceilings downstairs and upstairs, as well as the distinctive original stained glass windows in the parlor. It also has a dual-fueled gasolier that was powered by electricity and gas, another unique feature for the home’s era. In 1977, Historic Columbus Foundation restored the property and owns it to date.

In 2006, as a part of the fortieth anniversary celebration for the Foundation, the home was named in honor of the organization’s founder, Janice Persons Biggers. The property is currently the headquarters of the Junior League of Columbus and is also utilized as a museum, which is furnished like a home from the 1870s, even down to the china. “Historic Columbus has been blessed over the years by the generosity of many local families who have donated pieces to the house,” HCF Executive Director Elizabeth Barker said. Two unique local pieces in the house are a portrait of Dr. Edwin L. DeGraffenried, one of five commissioners to direct the original survey for Columbus, and a beautiful carved partner’s desk, originally owned by W.C. Bradley. Barker said, “Seven-hundred Broadway is certainly the centerpiece of the Sarah Turner Butler Heritage Corner.”

731 Broadway
Built in Queen Anne style, this home was recently renovated by current owners Garry and Mamie Pound. It was built in 1884 and features distinctive bay windows throughout the home, including a cutaway version upstairs. Visitors will also notice classic Corinthian fluted columns on the porch and the classical entablature. All the original woodwork, wainscotting, tile and mantels are still in place.

From 1926-1940 the house held an osteopathic clinic. In the ‘40s it was purchased by the Potter family who owned it until the Pounds bought it last year. Renovation took over a year and the family will celebrate its first Christmas in the home this year.

In the early 1900s, the first Montessori school in the region was located on this lot. That structure still stands today.

100 Seventh Street
Although its current function differs greatly from its original purpose, this unique property adds an interesting variation to the historic district. Built in 1915 as Shearith Israel Synagogue, it served the Jewish community until 1955 when they relocated to Wynnton Rd. Subsequently the building housed a Church of Christ, a family counseling center, the vice squad offices and finally the Olympics headquarters in 1996. This one-story Craftsman property features a pebble-dash exterior and a Classical portico.

Artist Garry Pound purchased and renovated the property as his studio in 1997. Pound’s painting space has 30 ft. ceilings. During the holiday tour, visitors will also find the “Mistletoe Marketplace” here.

201 Seventh Street
This stately property was built 1886 but was almost demolished in the early 1990s. An excellent example of Second Empire architecture, it was the home to a number of civic and industrial community leaders, including the family of David Rothschild, who resided there until the 1950s.

As one of four houses in the Seventh Street Revitalization Project, the home was moved in 1993 from 1220 Third Ave. to its present location in the historic district. Soon after, it was completely renovated by Garry and Mamie Pound and now serves as the Rothschild-Pound House, a popular bed and breakfast.

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