Jan 20, 1972
National Register of Historic Places - Edward C. Peters House
Statement of Significance: Dominating an entire wooded block near the center of downtown, the Edward C. Peters House is the best and earliest surviving example of domestic architecture from Atlanta's post-Civil War era. During that period Atlanta be- came capital of the "New South"; that character and vitality has continued and this house is an excellent reminder of those robust years when Atlanta first became a city of national importance. Edward C. Peters, son of a pioneer Atlantan, built the house circa 1883. The Peters family was associated with Atlanta history almost since the city's establishment in 1837 and continued to play an important role in her development through the war years, Reconstruction and the late-19th century rebuilding boom. The Peters House has fourfold significance: first, the home of a founding family of Atlanta; second, a fine example of High Victorian architecture; third, a landmark, little changed from its original appearance, from one of the most dynamic periods in Atlanta history; and lastly, a tree-clothed, 3.5-acre open space two blocks from Peachtree Street near the heart of Atlanta. The first of the Peters family to be associated with Atlanta was Richard, son of a well-known Philadelphia family. (His grandfather Judge Richard Peters was secretary and member of the board of war during the Revolution; tiles around the dining room fireplace depict the Fishing Company of the State in Schuylkill of which Judge Peters was a member.) After serving an apprenticeship with the noted architect William Strickland, Peters moved to Georgia in 1835 as an assistant engineer with the newly organized Georgia Railroad. He first visited Atlanta (then called Marthasville) in 1844 and in 1846 moved there permanently. Atlanta Peters was involved in railroad In construction and management, theory business concern of the young city, and real estate investment. Realizing the significance the city would have as a transportation center, he suggested changing the provincial name; a business associate coined the name Atlanta and Peters backed its usage. 1871 Peters and George W. Adair organized the Atlanta Street Railway Company, the city's first. Upon his death in 1889 his son Edward C. Peters became trustee of the Peters estate. Edward developed much of the family property, including a 400-acre Peachtree Street tract. It was on a portion of this property that he built his home at the corner of Piedmont and Ponce de Leon. Edward like his father was prominent in Atlanta civic affairs serving as a city councilman and alderman. He died in 1937. 37. Edward's son Wimberly inherited the estate and lived in the house until his death in 1948. His wife Lucille Kurht Peters continued to live there until she died in October 1970. Because of this long occupation by the Peters family, the house has escaped destruction by advancing commercialism and remains little changed from its original appearance. The architect of the Peters House was Gottfrid L. Norrman (1846-1909), a Swede, who practiced in Atlanta from about 1880 until his death. Recent studies of Norrman's career reveals that he was not only an important local architect but that his work is of some significance in relation to the general American development of this period. His late work indicates his knowledge of progressive forms and ideas stemming from Chicago School architects such as John Root and Louis Sullivan. In addition, his work of the eighties and nineties in the High Victorian picturesque eclectic styles, demonstrates an unusual ability in organizing the irregular masses and surfaces and variety of details common to these styles. The Peters House is an unusually fine example of a High Victorian residence which shows skill in handling the asymmetrically balanced forms, exuberant roof lines and variations in color and texture common to the Queen Anne mode. The interiors, too, illustrate Norrman's ability to integrate a variety of details, from wooden paneling and tooled leather to leaded glass and tiles. That the Peters House is a landmark of one of the most dynamic periods in Atlanta history is evident when one realizes that Atlanta is more closely tied to the "New South" rather than the "Old." Established as a railroad terminus only 24 years before the outbreak of the Civil War, Atlanta developed into a prosperous transportation and economic center within the "King Cotton" economy. Sherman's burning of the city in November 1864 necessitated the complete reconstruction of the business district in the years following the Civil War. This was accomplished by returning former citizens, like the Peters family. Their house stands as a landmark of this vigorous era. A final point deals more directly with the Peters House's present significance and potential especially with reference to problems of urban life. The house is unique in that it stands on a tree-shaded, full city block near the heart of downtown. Atlantans in both private and public sectors, realizing the importance of this fact and of the other qualities discussed above, are making efforts to assure the preservation of both the house and its site.
National Register of Historic Places - Edward C. Peters House
Statement of Significance: Dominating an entire wooded block near the center of downtown, the Edward C. Peters House is the best and earliest surviving example of domestic architecture from Atlanta's post-Civil War era. During that period Atlanta be- came capital of the "New South"; that character and vitality has continued and this house is an excellent reminder of those robust years when Atlanta first became a city of national importance. Edward C. Peters, son of a pioneer Atlantan, built the house circa 1883. The Peters family was associated with Atlanta history almost since the city's establishment in 1837 and continued to play an important role in her development through the war years, Reconstruction and the late-19th century rebuilding boom. The Peters House has fourfold significance: first, the home of a founding family of Atlanta; second, a fine example of High Victorian architecture; third, a landmark, little changed from its original appearance, from one of the most dynamic periods in Atlanta history; and lastly, a tree-clothed, 3.5-acre open space two blocks from Peachtree Street near the heart of Atlanta. The first of the Peters family to be associated with Atlanta was Richard, son of a well-known Philadelphia family. (His grandfather Judge Richard Peters was secretary and member of the board of war during the Revolution; tiles around the dining room fireplace depict the Fishing Company of the State in Schuylkill of which Judge Peters was a member.) After serving an apprenticeship with the noted architect William Strickland, Peters moved to Georgia in 1835 as an assistant engineer with the newly organized Georgia Railroad. He first visited Atlanta (then called Marthasville) in 1844 and in 1846 moved there permanently. Atlanta Peters was involved in railroad In construction and management, theory business concern of the young city, and real estate investment. Realizing the significance the city would have as a transportation center, he suggested changing the provincial name; a business associate coined the name Atlanta and Peters backed its usage. 1871 Peters and George W. Adair organized the Atlanta Street Railway Company, the city's first. Upon his death in 1889 his son Edward C. Peters became trustee of the Peters estate. Edward developed much of the family property, including a 400-acre Peachtree Street tract. It was on a portion of this property that he built his home at the corner of Piedmont and Ponce de Leon. Edward like his father was prominent in Atlanta civic affairs serving as a city councilman and alderman. He died in 1937. 37. Edward's son Wimberly inherited the estate and lived in the house until his death in 1948. His wife Lucille Kurht Peters continued to live there until she died in October 1970. Because of this long occupation by the Peters family, the house has escaped destruction by advancing commercialism and remains little changed from its original appearance. The architect of the Peters House was Gottfrid L. Norrman (1846-1909), a Swede, who practiced in Atlanta from about 1880 until his death. Recent studies of Norrman's career reveals that he was not only an important local architect but that his work is of some significance in relation to the general American development of this period. His late work indicates his knowledge of progressive forms and ideas stemming from Chicago School architects such as John Root and Louis Sullivan. In addition, his work of the eighties and nineties in the High Victorian picturesque eclectic styles, demonstrates an unusual ability in organizing the irregular masses and surfaces and variety of details common to these styles. The Peters House is an unusually fine example of a High Victorian residence which shows skill in handling the asymmetrically balanced forms, exuberant roof lines and variations in color and texture common to the Queen Anne mode. The interiors, too, illustrate Norrman's ability to integrate a variety of details, from wooden paneling and tooled leather to leaded glass and tiles. That the Peters House is a landmark of one of the most dynamic periods in Atlanta history is evident when one realizes that Atlanta is more closely tied to the "New South" rather than the "Old." Established as a railroad terminus only 24 years before the outbreak of the Civil War, Atlanta developed into a prosperous transportation and economic center within the "King Cotton" economy. Sherman's burning of the city in November 1864 necessitated the complete reconstruction of the business district in the years following the Civil War. This was accomplished by returning former citizens, like the Peters family. Their house stands as a landmark of this vigorous era. A final point deals more directly with the Peters House's present significance and potential especially with reference to problems of urban life. The house is unique in that it stands on a tree-shaded, full city block near the heart of downtown. Atlantans in both private and public sectors, realizing the importance of this fact and of the other qualities discussed above, are making efforts to assure the preservation of both the house and its site.
Jan 20, 1972
Posted Date
Aug 09, 2023
Historical Record Date
Jan 20, 1972
Source Name
https://catalog.archives.gov/id/93208298
Posted Date
Sep 27, 2021
Source Name
Library of Congress
