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Home of the Month January 2009
159 Rogers Avenue
by Jim Weldon
The Home of the Month for January 2009 is 159 Rogers Avenue. It is the home to Jack Mayes and John Myers, who purchased the home in December 2005. The home is registered with the National Register of Historic Places. It appears in the registry as the Munroe-Goolsby Pilot House.
This single story Greek Revival-style mansion was built in 1841 by Nathan Munroe who lived in it until his death in 1868. The architect is not known.
Munroe, originally from New York State had worked for Major Thomas Napier as a clerk in his store in Eatonton, Georgia. When Napier moved to Macon in 1824, his young clerk moved with him and the Napier family.
Nathan eventually went into the banking business in the new town of Macon. Macon had only recently been chartered as a town on the banks of the Ocmulgee River. In 1824 Munroe married Tabitha Napier. Major Napier’s youngest daughter was 14 at the time. From all accounts it was a happy union that produced seven children. In 1841, the Munroe family purchased land in the community of Vineville,which at the time was outside the city of Macon. The land, originally purchased, fronted Vineville Avenue (the old Atlanta Road) and ran eastwards to the Ocmulgee River The house known as Sylvan Lodge was placed well back from the dirt road, (Vineville Avenue) and approached by an avenue of cedars.
This house has been variously described as one of the great houses of the period in the Deep South and as “one of America’s really great Greek -Revival style mansions.” The site that became Riverside Cemetery was originally part of the Munroe Property.
The Munroes would live in the house from 1841 until 1868. The Munroe family was very active in the community. Nathan and Tabitha were two of the first members of Christ Episcopal Church, with Nathan also serving as Senior Warden of Christ Church parish. In addition to his career as a banker, he was a Director of the Macon and Western Railroad, Secretary for the Board of Health and also Secretary and Treasurer of Macon Lyceum and Library Society.
Nathan was one of the founders of the Georgia Academy for the Blind. His interest in services for the blind resulted when his daughter Blanche contracted scarlet fever. During her recovery period her eyes were temporarily affected and it was feared she would be blind. When Blanche’s eyesight was fully restored, he raised funds to begin a school for the blind.
Blanche Munroe married Captain John McIntosh Kell in 1856. The Kells lived in the house with her parents and, when Tabitha died in 1858 they remained with her father until his death in 1868. After the death of Nathan Munroe, the house and nine surrounding acres were sold to Charles H. Rogers. It was during the years that the property was owned by Rogers that Rogers Avenue was developed.
Since the house could not be turned to face Rogers Avenue an entrance was made on the side of the house to face the new street. It was at this time the Greek Doric columns on the south portico were placed on the west portico. The changing of the entrances required that several fireplaces be relocated. The Rogers family lived in this house until Mr. Rogers died in 1892.
Since 1892, several families have bought and sold the property and lived there for short periods of time. The most noteworthy family is Dr. Cullen Goolsby and his family, who purchased the house in 1935 and lived in it until 1976.
In 1977 the house was sold to the Pilot Club of Macon. During the period of ownership by the Pilot Club, the home was open to the public and was the site of many weddings and other social events.
It is remarkable that many of the original architectural details have remained intact throughout years. The house today, features wood Greek Doric columns and a wooden balustrade on the west portico. The interior ceiling height is almost 16 feet high. The high ceilings easily accommodate the oversize pocket doors. The high ceilings create a dramatic backdrop for the many large scale furniture and paintings within the house. Original candle or whale oil light fixtures have been replaced with electric fixtures, mostly in the Empire style. The original Belvedere remains upon the roof and provides a impressive view of the Vineville area.
The entrance to the dining room is flanked with Judge’s Panels. The dining room is the only room with original ceiling moulding. A current project is the installation of mouldings throughout the house. The original house would have had an outside kitchen.
The current owners, first saw the house in the early nineties and admired this grand house. When it became available for purchase, they were quick to pursue the opportunity to make it their home. Their plans are to continue the preservation of the house and to make 159 Rogers Avenue their home for many years to come.
by Jim Weldon
The Home of the Month for January 2009 is 159 Rogers Avenue. It is the home to Jack Mayes and John Myers, who purchased the home in December 2005. The home is registered with the National Register of Historic Places. It appears in the registry as the Munroe-Goolsby Pilot House.This single story Greek Revival-style mansion was built in 1841 by Nathan Munroe who lived in it until his death in 1868. The architect is not known.
Munroe, originally from New York State had worked for Major Thomas Napier as a clerk in his store in Eatonton, Georgia. When Napier moved to Macon in 1824, his young clerk moved with him and the Napier family.
Nathan eventually went into the banking business in the new town of Macon. Macon had only recently been chartered as a town on the banks of the Ocmulgee River. In 1824 Munroe married Tabitha Napier. Major Napier’s youngest daughter was 14 at the time. From all accounts it was a happy union that produced seven children. In 1841, the Munroe family purchased land in the community of Vineville,which at the time was outside the city of Macon. The land, originally purchased, fronted Vineville Avenue (the old Atlanta Road) and ran eastwards to the Ocmulgee River The house known as Sylvan Lodge was placed well back from the dirt road, (Vineville Avenue) and approached by an avenue of cedars.
This house has been variously described as one of the great houses of the period in the Deep South and as “one of America’s really great Greek -Revival style mansions.” The site that became Riverside Cemetery was originally part of the Munroe Property.The Munroes would live in the house from 1841 until 1868. The Munroe family was very active in the community. Nathan and Tabitha were two of the first members of Christ Episcopal Church, with Nathan also serving as Senior Warden of Christ Church parish. In addition to his career as a banker, he was a Director of the Macon and Western Railroad, Secretary for the Board of Health and also Secretary and Treasurer of Macon Lyceum and Library Society.
Nathan was one of the founders of the Georgia Academy for the Blind. His interest in services for the blind resulted when his daughter Blanche contracted scarlet fever. During her recovery period her eyes were temporarily affected and it was feared she would be blind. When Blanche’s eyesight was fully restored, he raised funds to begin a school for the blind.
Blanche Munroe married Captain John McIntosh Kell in 1856. The Kells lived in the house with her parents and, when Tabitha died in 1858 they remained with her father until his death in 1868. After the death of Nathan Munroe, the house and nine surrounding acres were sold to Charles H. Rogers. It was during the years that the property was owned by Rogers that Rogers Avenue was developed.
Since the house could not be turned to face Rogers Avenue an entrance was made on the side of the house to face the new street. It was at this time the Greek Doric columns on the south portico were placed on the west portico. The changing of the entrances required that several fireplaces be relocated. The Rogers family lived in this house until Mr. Rogers died in 1892.
Since 1892, several families have bought and sold the property and lived there for short periods of time. The most noteworthy family is Dr. Cullen Goolsby and his family, who purchased the house in 1935 and lived in it until 1976.
In 1977 the house was sold to the Pilot Club of Macon. During the period of ownership by the Pilot Club, the home was open to the public and was the site of many weddings and other social events.
It is remarkable that many of the original architectural details have remained intact throughout years. The house today, features wood Greek Doric columns and a wooden balustrade on the west portico. The interior ceiling height is almost 16 feet high. The high ceilings easily accommodate the oversize pocket doors. The high ceilings create a dramatic backdrop for the many large scale furniture and paintings within the house. Original candle or whale oil light fixtures have been replaced with electric fixtures, mostly in the Empire style. The original Belvedere remains upon the roof and provides a impressive view of the Vineville area.
The entrance to the dining room is flanked with Judge’s Panels. The dining room is the only room with original ceiling moulding. A current project is the installation of mouldings throughout the house. The original house would have had an outside kitchen.
The current owners, first saw the house in the early nineties and admired this grand house. When it became available for purchase, they were quick to pursue the opportunity to make it their home. Their plans are to continue the preservation of the house and to make 159 Rogers Avenue their home for many years to come.
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