When Is “Old” Historically Significant and When Is “Old” Just Old?
categories: Buyers, Crabapple, Milton Real Estate, Stuff I like to talk about
The corner of Bethany Road and Providence Road in Milton is looking much better these days. That’s because a local cabinet maker purchased the run down and overgrown farm house, has completely renovated it and has it for sale. Yes, this is the property that had the old bus permanently parked in the front yard.
The story goes that the bus was a tour bus for the Allman Brothers and that the owner of the house was a sound producer for the band. The stories, I imagine, those walls could tell.
The house is now being marketed for sale as “historically significant.” According to the Multiple Listing Service, the house was built in 1860. Not surprisingly, the Fulton County tax assessor records disagree and say the house was erected in 1920. But what makes it historically significant, the fact that it is 87 or 147 years old? Or is it significance through association and that someone who worked with a famous musician lived there? Is it the architectural style: early twentieth century farm house with wrap around porches?
Fields Crossing Farm House
Don’t get me wrong, the house is now a work of art. The owner should be very proud of his work. Every square inch has been lovingly renovated. A trailer of wide, heart pine was brought in from North Georgia to be used as the floors and they are magnificent. All the plumbing and electrical has been updated. The house has a modern kitchen and all the fixtures are period appropriate. Well, I hesitate on that. If the house was truly built in 1960, they very possibly didn’t have indoor plumbing fixtures.
As much as I enjoyed seeing what the new owner has made of the house, and it really is a “This Old House” special, I doubt I could really be comfortable living in the house. Talk about functional obsolescence: I know I’m tall, but people must have been a lot shorter way back whenever. No way is the upstairs usable for anyone over 6’ tall. At $750,000 for the 2,300 square foot house and the one and a half acre lot at one of the busier intersections in Milton, that special buyer may come along who just has to have historic.
However, in my opinion the ideal use of this property would be as a doctor or dentist office – or as an office for an architect who would appreciate the building. I wouldn’t be opposed to a land use policy in Milton that would allow such “historic” properties to be used as offices. That would encourage their preservation and reward those willing to take the financial risk to renovate them. They are nice to look at; I just don’t necessarily want to live in one.
While this house is not specifically on the list of Milton Georgia Historic Landmarks, the intersection where this house sits is. It is named Fields Crossing and it even shows up on Google Maps as such, so maybe this house does have some historical claim to fame other than the Almond Brothers association.
Crabapple
But is historical significance or just merely being old reason to be preserved, or for that matter reason to pay a premium price for a piece of real estate? Let’s take Crabapple, for example, which is also listed as a City of Milton Historic Landmark. 
No specific buildings are listed, just the area in general. I love the quaintness of Crabapple as much as the next guy, but quaint gets old after a few years of sitting in traffic trying to get through Crabapple in the morning. The problem is obviously the lack of turning lanes and those are impeded by an “historic” building on the northeast corner of the intersection. It is too close to the road, empty since the antique shop went out of business, had no parking and frankly it is in the way. Ask the truckers who have hit the front corner trying to make a right turn.
I want to preserve the heritage of the area, but most of the older buildings in Milton are barns and many of them are just plain falling down. While they are bucolic and give the area a nice rustic feel, I’m not in favor of propping every last one up until the wood disintegrates. When they fall down, they fall down and at some point they become junk and an eye sore.
In Crabapple, the only reason most of the remaining buildings are still there is that they were built of brick. Am I a heretic to say that I wouldn’t be too terribly upset if the old antique shop where torn down in favor of a turning lane? To me that building is as much an historic inconvenience than anything else. Am I crazy to suggest that we tear down a building that has a tin roof, sloping porch and an outdated electrical system, I’m sure. Obviously, “the market” can’t find a good use for it, since it has been sitting empty for easily a year now, even though it has been painted.
Where do we draw the lines? What do we preserve and what do we tear down and rebuild? How much to we cater to the automobile? What is historically significant and what is just plain old and falling down? Should we allow some of the older buildings to be used as office space in an otherwise residential community? I have opinions, but not necessarily answers. Did I mention there is an election coming up?
Kevin - That is an interesting question. You are definitely talking historic in either case. Jewelry is considered an antique after 100 years - I’ll be anxious to see what you find out.
Interestingly enough in FLorida once a home is over 50 years you can’t get insurance from a standard home insurer and must get the “state insurance” they’d really stress at 80+ years - Cyndee Haydon
Great idea. I’m curious to see what you find. Great post.
I learned / heard the other day that this building has been both the school house and post office at various times in the area now known as Milton.
Apparently the building used to be located north of where Summit Hill Elementary School is now and has been moved to its present location at Bethany and Providence Roads.
I can’t verify it, buit it makes sense. I can definitely see this home having served other purposes.