Century-old Macon house added to list of properties in need of restoration. It’s for sale
A house built in 1910 has been added to Historic Macon's Fading Five list , a watch list of buildings that could be imperiled by poor conditions.
The Hillyer-Kernaghan House was recently added to the list that also includes the D.T. Walton Building, the Dr. E.E. Green House, First National Bank And Trust Co., and the Roxy Theater.
The Hillyer-Kernaghan House was selected by a jury of Historic Macon members and community representatives because it is a fine example of early 20th-century design and craftsmanship. The historic home is now imperiled by fire damage and water intrusion, according to Nathan Lott, Historic Macon Foundation's executive director.
"The house sits on a large lot at the juncture of Cherokee Avenue and Hillyer Avenue; it's right in the heart of the Cherokee Heights historic district, which is home to several houses that, like this one, were designed by architect Neel Reid," he said. "No one wants to live next to a vacant house with boarded windows. But, if this property can be restored to something like its former glory, the entire neighborhood will benefit."
Lott said restoring the home would likely inspire more investment in the charming, centrally located area.
Built for successful banker L.P. Hillyer in 1910, the house was later owned by the Kernaghan family, who co-owned a downtown jewelry store.
The large home takes its inspiration from the Italian Renaissance, with arched openings and strict symmetry. Window boxes and brick terraces speak to a time before air conditioning, when indoor-outdoor living was key to comfort.
Lott said although the house suffered fire and water damage, the interior has original wood flooring, door hardware, wainscoting and mantels, all of which are evidence of the skill of the craftspeople who built it.
"It's in relatively sound condition - we were able to walk through both stories - but if it continues to remain vacant with broken windows, the structural stability will only decline," he said. "Fortunately, the house is for sale. The jury felt that adding this house to Macon's Fading Five could help inspire someone to undertake its acquisition and restoration."
Macon's Fading Five shines a light on special places that could otherwise be dismissed as blighted and old. Lott said the stories of the men and women who lived and worked in these places helps people understand Macon's past. He said when people start to understand why these properties are unique, they want to see them restored and preserved.
"Saving places starts with appreciating them," Lott said.
Following the 2014 demolitions of the Tremont Temple Baptist Church and adjacent Douglas House between Pine and Forsyth Streets near High Place, Lott said the leadership of Historic Macon instituted the Fading Five list as a way to recognize neglected historic resources and raise awareness of their significance. He said over the decade since, it has also been an important vehicle for the foundation to advocate for the benefits of historic preservation throughout Macon.
The foundation is currently rehabilitating a house on Lamar Street, at the edge of the Vineville historic district, that was on the Fading Five list years ago.
Macon residents can support the work of the Historic Macon Foundation by becoming members of Historic Macon or making donations on the website .
"The Fading Five list is just one way we show that all of Macon - and all of Macon's history - matters," Lott said.
