- Collection:
- Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation Presentation Slide Collection, 1968-2000
- Title:
- Wimbish House
- Creator:
- Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation
- Contributor to Resource:
- Downing, Walter T., 1865-1918
Marye, P. Thornton (Philip Thornton), 1872-1935
Alger, Barrett
Lowe, Rebecca Douglas, 1844-1918
Wimbish, William A., 1859-1921
Wimbish, Susie Lenora Dickinson
Francis, W. P. - Date of Original:
- 1960/2000
- Subject:
- Architecture
Historic sites--Georgia--Fulton County
Historic buildings--Georgia--Fulton County
Women--Societies and clubs
Castles - Location:
- United States, Georgia, Fulton County, Atlanta, 33.749, -84.38798
- Medium:
- color slides
historic preservation
historic buildings - Type:
- Still Image
- Format:
- image/jp2
- Description:
- From the report prepared by Martha Norwood, historian, Historic Preservation Section of the National Register of Historic Places and National Historic Landmarks Program: The Women's Club complex embodies a three-part construction sequence. They are in order; the Clubhouse, Banquet Hall and the Auditorium. The Clubhouse was built in 1898 as a private residence. It was acquired in 1919 for use as the clubhouse facility for meetings, social events, etc. The major style is French Chateau, inspired by the country style predominant in 16th-century France, and is based on work of the 16th century and other Norman works. Constructed of load-bearing stone-block walls, its appearance is asymmetrical. The banquet hall was added directly west of the clubhouse in 1921. The architects succeeded in relating the two structures with a Louis XV style. Details of facades come from the Petit Trianon in Louis XV's Versailles. The significance of the structure is based on the architecture of the building and its additions, and on the importance of the Atlanta Woman's Club to the art, literature and philanthropy in Atlanta. The Atlanta Woman's Club was organized November 11, 1895. It was founded due to a meeting in Atlanta of the General Federation of Women's Clubs during the Cotton States Exposition. The main objectives of the organization, laid down by the founder and first president, Mrs. Douglas Rebecca Lowe, was "three fold -- social, literary, and humanitarian." Meetings prior to the acquisition of the present clubhouse were in the DeGive Opera House. Since then, the club moved to another house , and acquired the present structure in 1919. The Women's Club complex represents a major development of the culture and lifestyle of the Atlanta area. The aims of these people were multifaceted, with emphasis on the community and theatre. The various added elements, the clubhouse, banquet hall, auditorium, and pool, were prearranged as per a master plan done by P. Thornton Mayre and Barrett Alger, dated May 7, 1921. This development put the total investment of their property in excess of a quarter of a million dollars during the 1920s. The clubhouse, designed as a private residence by architect Walter T. Downing for Mr. and Mrs. William A. Wimbish, was the first part of the complex. Built in 1898, it was opened up as the clubhouse on February 7, 1920. The banquet hall was added at the cost of approximately $35,000 in 1921, about a year after the acquisition of the clubhouse. It was designed sympathetically by architects P. Thornton Mayre and Barrett Alger (the same architects who with Oliver Vinour designed the nearby Fox Theatre building). The Louis XV style repeats the motifs and material color, texture, openings, etc., and it helps tie the two structures together. The hall was used for dinners, lunches and other events in the Woman's Club's extensive programs. Many prominent Atlanta women have either dined there or been a part of the Woman's Club itself. On April 17, 1922, the Woman's Club Auditorium, or the Lucille King Thomas Auditorium, as it was dedicated, opened at the cost of $110,000. The clubwomen financed the entire project themselves by purchasing life insurance from the Volunteer State Life Insurance Company. The building was also designed by P. Thornton Mayre and Barrett Alger, and built by W. P. Francis, contractor. It was hailed as a masterpiece. The Atlanta Journal proclaimed it as "s south's Most Complete Auditorium, Gem Like in Its Beauty." The opening play was called "Democracy Deluxe," and attracted many prominent Atlantans and Georgians, such as "Governor Thomas Hardwick and wife, ""Atlanta mayor James L. Key and wife," and the architects. The opening represented "a monumental achievement," as it "s surpasses in cost of erection, beauty every other women's club auditorium in the United States..." and "... stands foremost as a conspicuous achievement of the club women." For its day, the auditorium was very technically advanced with many innovations. This was to help the auditorium be the "center of community drama in Atlanta." The seating arrangement in the orchestra and balconies is spacious, as are the aisles. The stage itself included footlights, a proscenium drop curtain, and all the other necessary equipment of the day. The acoustics were clearly studied with special emphasis put on hearing women's voices. Over the years, the auditorium was used fairly irregularly. Recently, however, due in part to the increased awareness in theatre in Atlanta, the auditorium was restored. Some of the improvements such as added lighting, and stage work, were on the technical side. On the public side were new seats, electrical wiring, new paint, carpet, etc. This reinstated the belief that the building should "be a jewel box." The complete complex represents a period of high commitment of these women to community service, with many people helping put much effort and capital into these structures. Over the years, the area around the Atlanta Woman's Club began to deteriorate, along with suburban flight. Fortunately, due to the untiring efforts of these women to maintain the club, despite high taxes, land speculation, etcetera, the buildings are in generally excellent condition. Variant names include: Wimbish House, Atlanta Woman's Club (Atlanta, Ga.), Atlanta Woman's Club Complex, Atlanta Women's Club. See ref# 79000718 (Atlanta Women's Club) https://www.nps.gov/subjects/nationalregister/upload/national-register-listed-20240710.xlsx
- External Identifiers:
- Metadata URL:
- https://dlg.usg.edu/record/gthp_gthp-slides_459
- Digital Object URL:
- https://dlg.usg.edu/record/gthp_gthp-slides_459#item
- IIIF manifest:
- https://dlg.usg.edu/record/gthp_gthp-slides_459/presentation/manifest.json
- Language:
- eng
- Additional Rights Information:
- Please contact holding institution for information regarding use and copyright status.
- Holding Institution:
- Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation
- Rights:
-
