Atlanta mansion facing demolition was cut in two and moved 2 miles to save it
The historic 1924 Randolph-Lucas-Jones House in Atlanta was saved from demolition in 2013 by being cut in two and moved two miles to a new location. The preservation effort was led by private owners who sought to protect the architectural landmark.
Why it matters
It highlights the logistical challenges and community efforts involved in historic preservation and urban heritage conservation.
Some historic homes are preserved by restoring their walls, replacing their old roofs, and repairing the damage. But the Randolph-Lucas-Jones House in Atlanta required something else. It needed a police escort, utility crews to lift power lines out of its path, and a roof hinged down so each half could clear the route. Built in 1924, the 8,000-square-foot mansion was moved about 2 miles in 2013 after its new owners stepped in to save it from demolition, according to the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation.Built for a Jefferson descendantThe Georgian Revival-style home was built in 1924 for Hollins Nicholas Randolph, an Atlanta attorney and businessman and the great-great-grandson of Thomas Jefferson. The house was designed by architect P. Thornton Mayre, who also helped build the Fox Theatre. The home’s design was based on the plan of Randolph’s ancestral home near Charlottesville, Virginia.
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