Stonehedge, Shadburn Avenue, Buford, Georgia

 

This 1903 mansion is well-known to the residents of Buford, Georgia. It's named Stonehedge for its stone hedge around the property, but perhaps a better name for it might be The Hitching Post. 

I'll explain my thinking behind that in a minute. First, let's just admire the view inside the hedge with its beautiful Champion trees.

After all, there are plenty of places to sit and admire.

Once inside, you can't help but appreciate the grand, yet also cozy foyer.

The parlor is immediately to the right.

Ten years ago, it used to look like this:

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Today it's a little simpler...

but I would like to add more layers to it, like this:

{Ann Lowengart}

The reason I would change it? It's open to the dining room that's giving plenty of decorating advice.

The original mural and elaborate woodwork should really set the tone for the rest of the house.

The family room/library was a bit of a blank slate until it gained a blue focal wall:

If it were mine, I'd bring in some of the mustard color from the mural and wrap the blue around the room.

{Cullman and Kravis}

The kitchen has been recently remodeled and includes a Wolf range and Masterbilt refrigerator.

It also still has the original refrigerator, seen to the left, below:

More original features are seen in these pre-remodel photos:

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The guest bathroom has also been recently updated.

Meanwhile, the downstairs bedroom suite looks pretty much just like it did years ago:

Before:

Stonehedge has 8,170 square feet with three bedrooms and five bathrooms.

The beautiful stained glass window is also original to the house.

The upstairs layout is a little unusual. That's because the house most recently served as a wedding and events venue:

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It looks like a wall might have been removed in order to better accommodate large groups.

The space with the white fireplace surround used to look like this:

Today the upstairs is more of flex space that could be converted back into bedrooms.

This sitting area has a balcony that overlooks a 4,000 square foot wedding and events building added in 2017.

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Speaking of weddings, Stonehedge was originally the ultimate wedding present:

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It was built for Catherine (Kate) Allen when she married Wylie Burl Shadburn in 1889. Kate is in the center of her brothers in the photo below.

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Her father was Bona Allen, one of Buford's foremost businessmen. He was named after Napoleon Bonaparte, which raises the question of what other good nicknames there are for someone named after him. (Coincidentally, I recently read that Sonny Bono lied to Cher and told her that the Bonos were Bonaparte descendants -- for whatever that's worth.)

Bona Allen built the Bona Allen Shoe and Horse Collar Factory, later named Bona Allen Tanners and Manufacturers.

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He created the business with his older brother Robert, who advertised a bit more simply:

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Bona Allen became the nation's largest producer of all kinds of leather goods, including the saddles used by Roy Rogers, Gene Autry, and the cast of the TV show Bonanza.

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Buford became known as "The Leather City" and features a statue of Roy and Trigger with saddle maker  Jack Johnson. 

Buford also features historic houses. There are seven Allen family homes including Stonehedge built along Shadburn or Main leading to the tannery. This is the first Bona Allen home:

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After his children were grown, he built this one in 1911:

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It's over 9,000 square feet with four outbuildings.

The rest of the rooms are a little more contemporary than the grand foyer. It had been zoned for commercial use, but was classified as a residence when it sold last year.

Stonehedge is also zoned residential, but obviously offers a very versatile use of space. History aside, I'm making my pitch to re-name it The Hitching Post. Clearly those weddings, harnesses, and saddles are much more meaningful and picturesque than that old stone hedge.

The listing is here.

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