Inside This Old House

In the early years of the 20th century, Atlanta was a burgeoning town on the grow. The population in 1900 was about 1,300, rising to about 1600 by 1930. Among the prominent in town was the Hanner family.

Brothers Nathan and John Hanner worked for the Allday family, managing their funeral home and keeping the books for the mercantile store. In 1931 they started their own funeral parlor behind Nathan’s home on Louise Street.

John and his wife, Willie, settled into the house at the corner of Louise and Main. There they raised Hershel, Marie and Joseph “Budgie” Hanner.

Hershel’s son, Hershel Randall “Randy” Hanner, carried on the family tradition of community involvement, along with managing the funeral business, until his death in 2010. Michael Hanner – Randy’s son, Hershel’s grandson, and John William Hanner’s great-grandson – is the fourth generation of the family to helm the family enterprises.

The house at 101 N. Louise, built in 1910, was designed in the Frank Lloyd Wright “prairie” style. When John and Willie became too frail to care for themselves, daughter Marie and husband Forrest P. Ellis moved in to assist them. Upon their death, Marie and F.P. took ownership of the home and raised son John Pierce Ellis there. They remained in the home until their deaths – Forrest in 1990, Marie in 1995.

The first floor of the home was transformed into Barfoot Jewelry in the late 1990s and was a popular business for several years until Keith Barfoot closed the business. In 2010 another Atlanta native, Ron Mason – grandson of Leon Blakey, bought the property and currently runs his business from the firstfloor offices.

Although the structure has undergone many changes and renovations in the past few decades, it still retains much of the charm that was built into it. The original marble foyer, light fixtures, hardwood floors, glass doorknobs and crown molding still hint at the opulence they once added to the architectural masterpiece.

Ron, who lives alone, keeps his collection of art and antiques on the first floor. Several furniture pieces from the Dr. Jessie Brooks estate crowd the front room.

While the remarkable space is in a transitional phase, Ron hints at plans to revitalize the property. Whether it becomes another local business or remains a private residence – it’s certainly a home to watch.