Right here, on Orange Street, you’d be standing before what was once the majestic Goodall House-also known as the George D. Collins House. Picture this: the year is 1859, horse-drawn carriages rattle past on dusty roads, and the brand-new Italianate mansion is showing off its fancy exterior and ornate interior. Back then, this was the very first house on the block, a real show-off as Macon's wealthier folks settled "on the Hill," away from the bustling business district below.
With high ceilings, decorative trim, and even a bay window (until a neighboring house squished it away), this home was the definition of luxury. But time marched on. By the 1970s, the grand old house found itself squeezed between other homes, hardly a breath of space left. Despite being on the National Register of Historic Places, it faced demolition in 1975. Local history buffs fought to save it, but without the cash, the Goodall House met the wrecking ball and was replaced with a modern office building.
That loss sparked something important: inspired neighbors started the Macon Heritage Foundation, determined to protect the city’s treasures. So, while the Goodall House itself is gone, its story lives on-reminding everyone that historic charm is something worth fighting for. A little bittersweet, but every good ghost story needs a twist, right?
