By Mary Beth Marino

There have been heated discussions brewing in the what is known as the “classic city” of Athens, Ga., for five years.

In the last two months, the simmering coal have ignited to boiling proportions as historians and preservationists have implored the owners of the T.R.R. Cobb House to save this house from the wrecking ball.

The archdiocese of Atlanta owns the unusual octagonal wing-shaped 1830’s home, which is on the National Register of Historic Places. It used to be the parish rectory to house Father Richard Keiran, pastor of St. Joseph’s Church, and Father Don Kenny, the associate pastor.

What once stood illustrious in beauty has now reached decayed, if not condemnable conditions.

As one tours this historically significant house, the failing attempts at salvaging the building become apparent. The house, which once stood in sparkling white splendor, has now become no more than a gray, badly peeling, weather-beaten eyesore.

The historic preservationists and concerned citizens have charged that the church is not interested in preserving history.

They accuse the church of not doing their utmost to try to save the house, or to try to fit it into plans to accommodate changing parish needs.

St. Joseph’s claims they have already sunk $80,000 into the upkeep of the house over the last 10 years. Realistically, the church feels they can no longer meet the economic demands for the upkeep of the house.

But Father Kieran said that the church is very much interested in historic preservation.

“We would like to see the house relocated rather than demolished,” the priest explained. “We are willing to cooperate with any group that is willing to preserve it.”

The church’s acquisition of the Cobb House is interwoven with the history of this Athens parish extending back more than 100 years.

In 1873 the Bishop of Savannah, William Gross, purchased the building and grounds where a law school stood on Prince Street in Athens, founded by Thomas R. Cobb.

The law school was converted into a mission church. This church accommodated people from Atlanta, Augusta, Sharon, Macon and Washington Counties.

In July 1910, Father Henry Clark was named first resident pastor of the church. In 1913, a new church and parish rectory were built.

These buildings stood on the corner of Prince Street, diagonally in front of the Cobb House. Research in the state archives revealed very little about the owners of this historical house prior to 1962, when the archdiocese of Atlanta purchased the home.

The owners of the home at the time of purchase by the church were N.A. Hardin, Hazel M. Hardin Wright, and Catherine J. Hardin Newton, according to the deed.

It is believed that the Newtons owned several properties in Athens and while the Cobb House was under their ownership, it was used as rental property. Among these occupants, the Atlanta Historical Society’s records show that the A.M. Dobbs family and the R.S. Taylor family had at some time occupied the house, as did Lambda Fraternity.

The Hardin family then sold the property to the archdiocese now giving the parish a total of 7.5 acres of land to be developed to meet the needs of the parishioners.

In 1982, under the pastorate of Father William E. Calhoun, a building and development program to expand over a three-year period was formulated. While the plans have been revised, the original program called for expansion and renovation of the 1912 church, modernization, additional parking and beautification projects, and construction of a multi-purpose education building.

Plans for the present rectory, “Cobb House” were still being deliberated in 1982, but the parish council later decided that it was no longer economically feasible to renovate the Cobb House. The parish was already investing $1million in the preservation and restoration of the old school building and church. They had also spent $80,000 in repairs for the Cobb House.

Approximately 18 months ago, Father Kieran was assigned as pastor of the church and inherited the existing financial headaches and problems surrounding the decaying Cobb House.

“Our priority has to be to preaching the Gospel, that determines what decisions are made for our property,” Father Kieran said.

But while the parish no longer wants the house, they are willing to give it at no cost to any historic group interested in relocating and preserving it.

In conjunction with this, Father Kieran has been working with the Athens-Clarke Heritage Foundation in an effort to reach a solution.

Milton Leathers, president of the Athens-Clarke Heritage Foundation, feels the flames have simmered down on this issue and some earnest solutions are becoming apparent.

“The Athens-Clarke Heritage Foundation has been working with St. Joseph’s Church for over a year on various adaptive re-uses of the building,” Mr. Leathers said.

“Since it is clear to us now that the structure must leave the site, we are talking in earnest with several businesses, non-profit groups and individuals, who are interested in saving the house on another location.”

He added, “The citizens of Athens including, of course, the good citizens of St. Joseph, realize that our city cannot afford to lose a house of this importance, so we are optimistic it will be saved.”

Now a determination must be made of a suitable site for the house in order to meet the same requirements of qualification to the National Register.

In order to qualify, the relocation must be to a site where the house might logically have been built originally.

There must also be comparable houses in the area. (For example, a sub-division would not be suitable.)

The house must remain intact as much as possible and be moved in the largest sections feasible. The last requirement says that when renovating the house, the traditional design and architecture of the structure must remain concurrent with the era.

Milton Leathers indicated that there are two very interested businesses, (who asked to withhold their names at this time) that are negotiating the project earnestly.

Other organizations interested in solving the problem include the Daughters of the American Revolution, the United Daughters of Confederacy and the South Foundation.

A May 1 deadline has been established for signing a contract with the group, organization or private individual, to relocate the house.

A July 1 deadline has been designated for actual relocation of the house.

Meanwhile, the parish renovations are continuing. A new education building has opened and the old school building is going to be used as the new rectory.

Connecting to the new rectory will be a passage to the church which is also under renovation.

Father Kieran will be relieved when the Cobb House is finally relocated so the development program can continue according to plans. He is also excited about the completion of the new rectory which will be available in March.

Father Kieran expresses no real sorrow in relocating his offices.

However, he may miss the birds that have camped out in the fireplace for so many years in the old historic T.R.R. Cobb House.