When Kysha and Jonathan first toured the 1920s Victorian home in South Atlanta, they saw past the peeling paint, uneven floors, and boarded windows. They recognized a piece of history worth saving. This was the home of Luther Price, South Atlanta’s first postmaster, who ran a post office and general store just down the street while advocating for civil rights and registering Black voters across the city. Today, the house stands as a candidate for the National Historic Register, and the family’s restoration journey offers valuable lessons for anyone tackling an aging historic property. Before purchasing any older home, it pays to understand how to inspect the stability of the foundation before committing to such a project. This particular home sat vacant for decades, and its condition reflects years of deferred maintenance layered over original craftsmanship that deserves preservation.
The Legacy of Luther Price and His South Atlanta Landmark
This Old House selected the Atlanta Postmaster’s House as the first project of Season 44. The show’s team, including general contractor Tom Silva and Atlanta-based builder Jerry Davis of Park Atlanta Homes, took on the challenge of restoring a structure deeply rooted in local African American history. Luther Price was far more than a postal employee. He was a pillar of the community who used his position to organize voter registration drives, support civic organizations, and advocate for civil rights during a time when such work carried real personal risk. The Victorian home, built in the 1920s, served not only as a family residence but also as a quiet symbol of Black achievement and homeownership in the segregated South.
Properties with this level of historical significance require a different approach than standard renovations. Every decision carries weight because the building’s fabric tells a story. For context on how other major landmarks were preserved through careful planning, take a look at these rare construction photos of the Seattle Space Needle, a project that demanded innovative engineering and meticulous coordination to become the icon it is today. The same spirit of careful planning applies to the Postmaster’s House, though on a residential scale.
Foundation Assessment and Exterior Repairs
The most visible problems with the Atlanta Postmaster’s House begin at ground level. The foundation piers have shifted and settled unevenly over decades of moisture cycles, soil movement, and neglect. When a wood-frame Victorian home sits on unstable piers, the damage propagates upward through every system. Doors bind in their frames. Interior walls develop diagonal cracks. Windows lose their seal and become difficult to operate. The exterior of this home displays all of these warning signs clearly.
The restoration team will need to address several key items before any cosmetic work can begin:
- Inspect every foundation pier for cracking, spalling, and rotational shifting
- Lift and level sections of the house using hydraulic jacks placed on temporary support cribbing
- Replace or reinforce deteriorated pier bases with new concrete or masonry
- Install proper drainage systems around the perimeter to direct water away from the foundation
- Regrade the landscape to create positive slope away from the structure
Beyond the foundation, the rear of the property requires significant cleanup. Overgrown vegetation has crept close to the siding, trapping moisture against the wood and accelerating rot. The large flat backyard, which the family plans to transform into an outdoor classroom, currently sits overgrown and uneven. Anyone planning a major renovation on an older home should review the essential steps to take before building your dream custom home, which include soil testing, foundation evaluation, and permit research that can save months of delays later.
Interior Demolition and Structural Reconfiguration
Inside the Atlanta Postmaster’s House, the first floor has already been stripped down to the studs. The original kitchen was cramped and disconnected from the main living areas, a common layout issue in early 20th century homes where cooking was still treated as a purely functional room rather than a social space. The new design calls for an open floor plan where the kitchen flows into a family room, with a new addition providing the extra square footage needed for this modern arrangement.
One of the most historically significant interior changes involves the staircase. The original center staircase was removed decades ago and replaced with a different set of stairs in a new location. This kind of alteration dramatically changes how a home feels and functions. The restoration will return the staircase to its original position, re-establishing the home’s intended circulation pattern and recovering the visual centerpiece of the front hallway.
Upstairs, the hallway had already been stripped of its plaster by the time Kysha and Jonathan took ownership. This state of exposure proved unexpectedly useful. The original lath and framing are visible, allowing the team to inspect the quality and spacing of the vintage wood members. It also provides a clear picture of where new insulation, wiring, and drywall will go. When working with structures where the ground conditions are uncertain, it helps to study how to deal with collapsible soil before starting construction, as subsurface issues can undermine even the most carefully planned interior work.
Restoring Original Details While Upgrading Building Systems
The restoration of the Atlanta Postmaster’s House balances two competing goals. The homeowners want to preserve the historic character of the home while bringing every system up to modern standards. Original trim, hardwood floors, and wood-framed windows will be restored wherever the material is still sound. The front foyer’s boarded windows, which have not admitted daylight in decades, will be uncovered, repaired, and reglazed.
| Building System | Existing Condition | Restoration Plan |
|---|---|---|
| Foundation | Shifted piers, uneven settlement | Jack and level structure, replace deteriorated piers |
| First Floor Layout | Gutted, cramped kitchen | Open plan kitchen-family room with addition |
| Staircase | Relocated from original position | Return to original location and configuration |
| Electrical | Outdated wiring, insufficient capacity | Full replacement to current National Electrical Code |
| Plumbing | Old galvanized pipes, corrosion | Complete new supply and drain system |
| HVAC | No modern system present | New ductwork, furnace, and air conditioning |
| Windows | Boarded, broken seals, rotted sashes | Restore original wood frames, install new glazing |
| Trim and Floors | Worn but largely intact | Refinish, patch missing sections with matched wood |
| Insulation | None or deteriorated | New blown-in or batt insulation in all exterior walls |
The project has been submitted for listing on the National Historic Register. This designation provides two major benefits. It offers tax incentives that offset a portion of the restoration costs, and it sets clear guidelines for preserving the facade and key interior features. While these guidelines require approval for visible changes, they also protect the home’s character from unsympathetic alterations that could diminish its historic value.
Creating Community Spaces for Education and Connection
Perhaps the most inspiring dimension of this project is what the family plans to do with the restored home beyond simply occupying it. The large flat backyard will become an outdoor education area where children can learn about gardening, ecology, and construction. This vision honors Luther Price’s legacy as a community builder by transforming a private residence into a neighborhood resource.
Jenn Nawada, the show’s landscape contractor, engaged the homeowners’ children, Alivia Sage and Joia, in building a fairy garden in the front yard. This small gesture set the tone for a project that welcomes both family and community participation. The children’s involvement in the landscape work gives them a personal connection to the restoration process and a sense of ownership over the outcome.
Upstairs, a bonus space wedged between the children’s bedrooms will become a music room. This decision reflects a thoughtful approach to floor plan design where every room serves a purpose. Instead of leaving the space as an awkward hallway or storage area, the family chose to create a dedicated creative space that supports their children’s interests.
The interior staircase returning to its original location also improves the second floor circulation. With the stairs back where they belong, the upper hallway will flow more naturally between the bedrooms, the music room, and the bathroom. These seemingly minor adjustments to the floor plan have a large impact on daily living.
Key Lessons from the Atlanta Postmaster’s House Restoration
- Always commission a professional foundation inspection before purchasing a historic home. Structural repairs are expensive but non-negotiable.
- Research the history of the property. A home with historical significance may qualify for tax credits and grants that offset restoration costs.
- Plan the mechanical systems first, not last. Plumbing, electrical, and HVAC must be designed before walls go up, especially in a gut renovation.
- Restore original features where possible and match materials carefully where replacement is unavoidable. The character of a historic home lies in its details.
- Involve the family in the restoration process. The children who helped build the fairy garden will remember this project for the rest of their lives.
- Work with contractors experienced in historic renovation. Modern track home builders do not always understand the techniques needed for old-growth lumber, plaster, and traditional joinery.
These lessons apply beyond the Postmaster’s House to any historic property restoration. Whether you are saving a Victorian, a Craftsman bungalow, or a mid-century modern, the principles of careful assessment, systems-first planning, and material preservation remain the same.
Conclusion — The restoration of the Atlanta Postmaster’s House demonstrates how historic homes can be saved and thoughtfully adapted for modern family life. From foundation repairs to floor plan reconfigurations to community-focused outdoor spaces, every step requires careful planning and respect for the original structure. For homeowners planning their own renovation projects, understanding the materials you will work with is critical. Those installing ground-level finishes should study what you should know before installing mud flooring, as traditional applications require specific substrate preparation, curing conditions, and moisture management that differ from modern thin-set methods. Whether you are restoring a landmark home or updating a family residence, the principles remain the same: assess thoroughly, plan methodically, and respect the craftsmanship of those who built before us.