The house was built in 1883 for Edward C. Peters. The architect was Gottfried I. Norrman, a Swedish immigrant. The house incorporates references to the Peters family, such as tiles depicting the Philadelphia Fish and Chowder Society founded by Edward's great-grandfather Richard Peters, Jr. Edward's father, also named Richard Peters, was instrumental in the founding and transformation of the small town of Marthasvillle into Atlanta. Edward inherited Richard's railroad and trolley interests in 1889.[2]
The Peters House survived the Great Atlanta Fire of 1917, when houses between North Avenue and Ponce de Leon Avenue were dynamited as a firebreak. After the death of Peters' daughter-in-law in 1970 the house was threatened with demolition, but it became The Mansion restaurant, operated by Bill Swearingen three years later.[3]
The interiors have been largely preserved, although a fire in 2000 caused the restaurant to close. In 2005 the house was acquired by the Savannah College of Art and Design. A full restoration of Ivy Hall was undertaken, reopening on October 3, 2008.[4] A portion of the grounds was developed with housing.
Photo gallery
Chandelier in foyer
Dining room mantel (tiles depicting Philadelphia Fish and Chowder Society)
^"Edward C. Peters House". Atlanta: A National Register of Historic Places Travel Itinerary. National Park Service. 2008-10-14.
^Sams, Gerald W. (ed): "AIA Guide to the Architecture of Atlanta", page 92. University of Georgia Press, 1993.
^"Ivy Hall". Ivy Hall: A Center for Literature and the Arts. Savannah College of Art and Design. 2008-10-14. Archived from the original on 2008-10-13. Retrieved 2008-10-15.
