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Home of the Month December 2008
143 Buford Place
by Jim Weldon
The historic home of the month for December is 143 Buford Place. It is the home of Lee and Judy Murphey. Lee is a retired bank executive. Judy has recently retired from her career as a popular interior designer.
Lee and Judy moved into their home over July 4th weekend 1971. They were among the early pioneers in the revitalization of the Vineville neighborhood and were charter members of the Vineville Neighborhood
Association. The Murphey’s two daughters were raised in this home.
Since they took possession of the property, the house and grounds have undergone a number of renovation and restoration projects, two of which were covered in Southern Living magazine. The house has also been featured in American Bungalow magazine. The yard has been a Vineville “Yard of the Month” on three separate occasions.
The home is almost 90 years old, having been constructed during the late teens. An interesting note, over the years, the house has had only four owners. The first reference to this house is in 1920, when Emmet Mckenzie
of Mckenzie –Lewis Company, cotton seed products owned the property. By 1924 Joseph and Marjorie Popper, Joseph an Attorney lived there. George Johnson, a salesman with Block Candy and his family owned the
house from at least 1940 until 1971 when the Murpheys purchased the property.
This one-story stucco bungalow with low-pitched front facing gable featuring exposed rafters is typical of the one-story early 20th century residences found in the Vineville Historic District.
The front façade has a central doorway beneath a portico with shallow arched openings flanked by a series of multi-paneled French doors with transoms above. The wide front porch is the perfect spot to relax and marvel at the large Mulberry tree in the front yard. Please note the old, gnarly tree was featured in the book “Macon’s Gardens, published in the 1950s.
The Mulberry tree is one of the largest known and for many years the Georgia Forestry Commission would measure it annually.
Large pots of boxwood decorate the front porch. A brick patio and white wash lattice panels are part of the backyard landscape.
The gardens are primarily maintained by the Murpheys, both of whom
enjoy gardening. Red tips, lace cap and oak leaf hydrangeas, azaleas are just a few of the many plants that are a part of the overall landscape design.
The rear has an elm extending from the right side and a former open porch at the left side has been remodeled to create a breakfast area. The butler’s pantry is original to the home.
The interior has a central hallway behind the living room, which provides access to all the main rooms. Most rooms feature a fireplace with original mantel. Ceiling heights of 10 ½’, oak wood flooring in the front three rooms, two panel interior doors and a clustered window sash in the sunroom add to the architectural features of the home.
The attic space has been converted to living space.
In 2001 the house was placed on the National Register of Historic places as “a contributing historic property” in the Vineville neighborhood which supports its significance as a National Register Historic District by it’s age, style, materials and setting.
by Jim Weldon
The historic home of the month for December is 143 Buford Place. It is the home of Lee and Judy Murphey. Lee is a retired bank executive. Judy has recently retired from her career as a popular interior designer.Lee and Judy moved into their home over July 4th weekend 1971. They were among the early pioneers in the revitalization of the Vineville neighborhood and were charter members of the Vineville Neighborhood
Association. The Murphey’s two daughters were raised in this home.
Since they took possession of the property, the house and grounds have undergone a number of renovation and restoration projects, two of which were covered in Southern Living magazine. The house has also been featured in American Bungalow magazine. The yard has been a Vineville “Yard of the Month” on three separate occasions.
The home is almost 90 years old, having been constructed during the late teens. An interesting note, over the years, the house has had only four owners. The first reference to this house is in 1920, when Emmet Mckenzieof Mckenzie –Lewis Company, cotton seed products owned the property. By 1924 Joseph and Marjorie Popper, Joseph an Attorney lived there. George Johnson, a salesman with Block Candy and his family owned the
house from at least 1940 until 1971 when the Murpheys purchased the property.
This one-story stucco bungalow with low-pitched front facing gable featuring exposed rafters is typical of the one-story early 20th century residences found in the Vineville Historic District.
The front façade has a central doorway beneath a portico with shallow arched openings flanked by a series of multi-paneled French doors with transoms above. The wide front porch is the perfect spot to relax and marvel at the large Mulberry tree in the front yard. Please note the old, gnarly tree was featured in the book “Macon’s Gardens, published in the 1950s.
The Mulberry tree is one of the largest known and for many years the Georgia Forestry Commission would measure it annually.
Large pots of boxwood decorate the front porch. A brick patio and white wash lattice panels are part of the backyard landscape.
The gardens are primarily maintained by the Murpheys, both of whom
enjoy gardening. Red tips, lace cap and oak leaf hydrangeas, azaleas are just a few of the many plants that are a part of the overall landscape design.
The rear has an elm extending from the right side and a former open porch at the left side has been remodeled to create a breakfast area. The butler’s pantry is original to the home.
The interior has a central hallway behind the living room, which provides access to all the main rooms. Most rooms feature a fireplace with original mantel. Ceiling heights of 10 ½’, oak wood flooring in the front three rooms, two panel interior doors and a clustered window sash in the sunroom add to the architectural features of the home.The attic space has been converted to living space.
In 2001 the house was placed on the National Register of Historic places as “a contributing historic property” in the Vineville neighborhood which supports its significance as a National Register Historic District by it’s age, style, materials and setting.
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