Jun 28, 1982
National Register of Historic Places - Smith-Benning House
Statement of Significant: The Smith-Benning House, built about 1886, is historically significant in the areas of architecture and local history. Architecturally, the house is a good ex- ample of a Victorian-Eclectic style residence with Eastlake detailing. Few such houses remain in the Atlanta area. In terms of local history, it is significant as the home of two prominent Edgewood figures. Judge Charles Smith (1856-1923), who built the house, was a major figure in the founding of Edgewood, a small suburban community now part of the city of Atlanta. Augustus Harrison Benning (1840-1904), who purchased the house from Smith in 1889, was a wealthy sea captain who retired to Edgewood and used his fortune to help build, in 1897, what is now Atlanta's oldest extant skyscraper, the English-American Building (the Flatiron Building). These areas of significance support property eligibility under National Register criteria B and C. Architecturally, the house exemplifies the Victorian Eclectic style of residential architecture popular during the last quarter of the nineteenth century. Architectural features were borrowed from a number of sources and melded together according to the tastes of the architect. Here, the mansard-roofed tower is a Second Empire feature, the wrap-around porch relates to Queen Anne building and the exterior wood decoration and trim are of Eastlake design. The Eastlake details, including the scrollwork in the portico pediments, the porch pendants, turned balusters, chamfered supports and console brackets, and the incised window and door lintels are particularly fine. Relatively few houses of this age and style remain in the Atlanta area. In Candler Park (earlier Edgewood), where the house is located, the Smith-Benning House is one of the very few extant houses from the 1880's, the period which coincides with the early development of Edgewood. Although the house is in a deteriorated condition, nearly all of the extensive and high-quality decorative details remain. In terms of local history, the house is significant as the home of Judge Charles W. Smith (1856-1923) who probably moved to the area in 1886 and built the house. Judge Smith was a major figure in the Early history of Edgewood, the community in which the house was located. Edgewood grew up in the late 1870's as an Atlanta suburb, clustered around a Georgia Railroad depot which provided transportation to Atlanta. By 1879, it had a population of from 250-300 people, a church, a school and some fine residences. Judge Smith was known as the founder of Edgewood. He was the community's first mayor after its 1898 incorporation, and he served as an Atlanta city councilman from 1912-1915, representing Edgewood on the council following its 1909 annexation to Atlanta. He also was a prominent judge. Although Judge Smith lived in the house for only three or four years, his later Edgewood residence was destroyed, leaving this house as the only remaining association with this important figure in the history of Edgewood (Candler Park). The house has additional significance in the area of local history as the home of Augustus Harrison Benning (1840-1904). Benning, a native of Savannah, spent much of his life as a ship's captain carrying trade under the British flag at the ports of Hong Kong and Shanghai. He returned to the United States, married his second cousin who lived in Atlanta, and in 1889 bought the house in Edgewood from Judge Smith. For a short time, he operated a coal business in Atlanta. Then, in 1896-97, he and a group of businessmen formed the English-American Savings and Trust Company. Benning, Vice-President of the organization, put up much of his China Sea trading fortune for the English-American Building, which was built in 1897. The building, listed on the National Register and now known as the Flatiron Building, is Atlanta's oldest remaining skyscraper, a building which has continued to play an important role in Atlanta's commercial and architectural history to this day. The Smith-Benning House remained in the Benning family's ownership until the 1960's.
National Register of Historic Places - Smith-Benning House
Statement of Significant: The Smith-Benning House, built about 1886, is historically significant in the areas of architecture and local history. Architecturally, the house is a good ex- ample of a Victorian-Eclectic style residence with Eastlake detailing. Few such houses remain in the Atlanta area. In terms of local history, it is significant as the home of two prominent Edgewood figures. Judge Charles Smith (1856-1923), who built the house, was a major figure in the founding of Edgewood, a small suburban community now part of the city of Atlanta. Augustus Harrison Benning (1840-1904), who purchased the house from Smith in 1889, was a wealthy sea captain who retired to Edgewood and used his fortune to help build, in 1897, what is now Atlanta's oldest extant skyscraper, the English-American Building (the Flatiron Building). These areas of significance support property eligibility under National Register criteria B and C. Architecturally, the house exemplifies the Victorian Eclectic style of residential architecture popular during the last quarter of the nineteenth century. Architectural features were borrowed from a number of sources and melded together according to the tastes of the architect. Here, the mansard-roofed tower is a Second Empire feature, the wrap-around porch relates to Queen Anne building and the exterior wood decoration and trim are of Eastlake design. The Eastlake details, including the scrollwork in the portico pediments, the porch pendants, turned balusters, chamfered supports and console brackets, and the incised window and door lintels are particularly fine. Relatively few houses of this age and style remain in the Atlanta area. In Candler Park (earlier Edgewood), where the house is located, the Smith-Benning House is one of the very few extant houses from the 1880's, the period which coincides with the early development of Edgewood. Although the house is in a deteriorated condition, nearly all of the extensive and high-quality decorative details remain. In terms of local history, the house is significant as the home of Judge Charles W. Smith (1856-1923) who probably moved to the area in 1886 and built the house. Judge Smith was a major figure in the Early history of Edgewood, the community in which the house was located. Edgewood grew up in the late 1870's as an Atlanta suburb, clustered around a Georgia Railroad depot which provided transportation to Atlanta. By 1879, it had a population of from 250-300 people, a church, a school and some fine residences. Judge Smith was known as the founder of Edgewood. He was the community's first mayor after its 1898 incorporation, and he served as an Atlanta city councilman from 1912-1915, representing Edgewood on the council following its 1909 annexation to Atlanta. He also was a prominent judge. Although Judge Smith lived in the house for only three or four years, his later Edgewood residence was destroyed, leaving this house as the only remaining association with this important figure in the history of Edgewood (Candler Park). The house has additional significance in the area of local history as the home of Augustus Harrison Benning (1840-1904). Benning, a native of Savannah, spent much of his life as a ship's captain carrying trade under the British flag at the ports of Hong Kong and Shanghai. He returned to the United States, married his second cousin who lived in Atlanta, and in 1889 bought the house in Edgewood from Judge Smith. For a short time, he operated a coal business in Atlanta. Then, in 1896-97, he and a group of businessmen formed the English-American Savings and Trust Company. Benning, Vice-President of the organization, put up much of his China Sea trading fortune for the English-American Building, which was built in 1897. The building, listed on the National Register and now known as the Flatiron Building, is Atlanta's oldest remaining skyscraper, a building which has continued to play an important role in Atlanta's commercial and architectural history to this day. The Smith-Benning House remained in the Benning family's ownership until the 1960's.
Jun 28, 1982
Posted Date
Aug 07, 2023
Historical Record Date
Jun 28, 1982
Source Name
National Register of Historic Places
