810 Flat Shoals Avenue Southeast
Atlanta, GA, USA

National Register of Historic Places - Zuber-Jarrell House

Statement of Significant:

The Zuber-Jarrell House is significant in architecture because it is an extremely intact example of the Neo-Classical Revival style house from the turn of the century. It retains its form, columns, bracket detailing, front porch, portico, porte-cochere, and stained and other decorative glass work on the exterior, as well as the original wood, floors, doors, and spaces on the interior. It has an extremely unusual entrance stair hall with intact stair. It was obviously the work of a master architect, although the individual or firm has not yet been identified. The high quality of the materials used to build this house--especially the woodwork and the craftsmanship reflect the fact that the house was built for a lumber baron with extensive resources.

The house is significant in commerce because the original owner-builder, John William Zuber (1867- 1936), the son of German immigrants, ran an important wholesale lumber business while owner of this house. The Zuber firm owned timberlands in several southeastern states and had a town named Zuber, for the firm, in Florida, that survives as a placename today. It was from these vast holdings that he drew the timber he sold. The house reflects, no doubt, materials from his own company. He moved here with his bride shortly after their 1907 wedding. The property was originally a 37-area tract. The house reflected the high point of Mr. Zuber's professional life. He divided up the estate ca. 1926-1928, and he and his family left the house in 1927. The house went through several changes of owners until 1937 when it was purchased by John M. Jarrell. In 1954, he married Martha Frances Mitchell, the current owner. This house is the only known property in Georgia historically associated with John W. Zuber's lumber business and timbering, and it was built at the height of his career.