Splendid Victorian Home circa 1890

About the Space

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the W.C. Smith House is a time capsule of Victorian Exuberance in residential architecture. It exemplifies the finest details inside and out for Queen Anne homes of its era. It is a textbook example of its style featuring Eastlake ornamented carved woodwork and gorgeous paneled tripartite walls, pocket doors and staircase with magnificent newel post 5 feet in height. Soaring 12 foot ceilings downstairs (and 10 feet up) retain original plaster, some rooms reveal original art and stenciling characteristic of the Aesthetic movement in the late nineteenth century. There are picture rails throughout, with corded art and photos suspended as intended and vintage furniture and antiques anchor the rooms with a smattering of modest furnishings here and there. The original stained woodwork is evident throughout and most rooms retain original shutters with operational louvers, each shutter in its own track and removable. The magnificent staircase anchors the main rooms and features period appropriate antique gas/electric sconces (rewired), elaborate newel post, and 10 foot bifold oak door to partition from reception hall if desired. There are two sets of imposing pocket doors, original intricate door hardware throughout, 10 fireplaces, a small original sunroom with gorgeous double doors, transoms above most doors, a modern vintage inspired kitchen, and Irish wood stove in the back of house with servant stair access. The house is approximately 4500 square feet across 2 levels consisting of reception hall, 2 parlors, dining room, main staircase (and servant staircase), kitchen, butlers pantry, original bathroom (with claw foot tub, pedestal sink, and mantle), 5 bedrooms, upstairs master bathroom (with claw foot tub, pedestal sink), 2 upper balconies off main bedrooms, large wrap around front porch, copper (serpent scaled) dome over tower with original iron cross and elaborate iron roof crestings and finials adorn the roof. The property has 2 large old (100+ years) pecan trees, spacious backyard, formal hedged courtyard with boxwoods and hollies and large flat zoysia turf in front. A long driveway with small side yard anchors one side of the property with parking for 3-5 cars. There is plenty of street parking and lots of available parking in the former furniture store (now vacant) across the street. The house has spaces that can be transformed in a number of ways to feel period authentic, eclectic, eccentric, formal, grand, cozy, distressed and of course spooky and gothic. We are in the process of restoring this home one room at a time to conservation standards. A paint analysis is underway for the exterior and carpentry is ongoing for repairs and replacements as needed. There may be times when some rooms may not be available. We can accommodate most renovations around your timeframes. We are very flexible and willing to work with you provided consideration for the historical integrity of the building is acknowledged (we won’t paint over the original finishes on woodwork for example). Only 2 blocks from the house (1/4 mile) is a wonderful downtown (walkable) with several recently renovated shops and buildings and a gorgeous Tudor hotel with delightful restaurant on the main level. The small town of Elberton is approximately 2 hours from Atlanta and very close to Athens, GA and Anderson SC. The state of Georgia has generous incentives for the movie and film industries.