The Neel Reid-Brumby House, c. 1923

419 Cherokee Street

 

This beautiful red brick Georgian revival style house was built in 1923 for Otis Brumby, Senior. Mr. Brumby was the owner and president of the Brumby Press, Inc., publisher of the Cobb County Times, a weekly newspaper first published in 1916. Later the Press acquired the Marietta Journal, which evolved into today’s Marietta Daily Journal.

The house was designed by well-known Atlanta architect J. Neel Reid, of the prestigious firm of Hentz, Reid and Adler. Reid was the principal designer for the firm and widely viewed as a gifted, imaginative artist. Hentz, Reid and Adler formed a school of classicists whose work influenced architectural styles throughout the South. The house features a distinctive Greek temple entry, a columned side porch with awnings and symmetrical facade.

The Brumby home was purchased in 1971 by Mr. And Mrs. Donald MacKerer. Mrs. MacKerer was formerly June Blair, whose parents June and Rip Blair (former mayor of Marietta) owned the estate directly across Cherokee Street. The MacKerers commissioned noted landscape architect, Charles B. Jones of Monroe Landscaping, to create a landscape plan, which would compliment and enhance Neel Reid’s architecture. The gardens feature classical Georgian elements with their beautifully proportioned brick walls, circular terraces and boxwoods.

The house was purchased from the MacKerers by local attorney Daryl Greene in 1987, and was bought from Daryl Greene’s widow, Jo Cook Greene, by George Van Dyke in 2003. The Greens endeavored to preserve the character of the interior. Mr. Van Dyke renovated the kitchen, which features a beautiful brick and oak floor, and created a state-of-the-art spa bath out of the original 1920’s master bath. Otherwise, the beautiful interior of the home remains largely unchanged.