Atlanta family’s restoration of historic home featured on ‘This Old House’

ATLANTA – An Atlanta couple is creating their dream residence whereas restoring a bit of Atlanta’s historical past. 

The Hehn household bought the house of Luther Judson Value, a former slave who was later appointed postmaster of South Atlanta in 1889.

The Hehn household has spent the previous couple of years fixing up the home, whereas bringing new mild to the influence the Value household dropped at the neighborhood, and the encircling neighborhood. The PBS present “This Previous Home” has been that includes the Hehn household’s renovation journey.

“Once you stroll into the home on Gammon Avenue, you might be instantly greeted by the wealthy historical past present in these partitions.

“And that story hyperlinks again to when the Costs got here to this space. So Luther Judson Value got here right here, he was enslaved, and he got here right here, went to highschool, as soon as he acquired his enterprise diploma he opened the overall retailer down the street,” Kysha Hehn tells Good Day Atlanta’s Lindsay Tuman.

Luther Judson and Minnie Value constructed this residence. Value was one of many first graduates of Clark College. In 1889, he was appointed Publish Grasp of South Atlanta, a job through which he served for 25 years. The Costs have been well-known and revered in the neighborhood, and have been additionally recognized for encouraging individuals to vote.

“So this residence was constructed within the Eighteen Nineties and through that point, the professors of Clark Faculty all lived alongside this avenue, and the distinguished enterprise house owners lived alongside this neighborhood and this avenue,” Jonathan Hehn stated.

Kysha and Jonathan, together with their two kids, Alivia Sage and Joia, say they discovered so much in regards to the Value’s story as they have been engaged on the house.

“It is a historical past that was established throughout reconstruction, however it’s continued, and it nonetheless exists as a vibrant neighborhood with a number of, it is a close-knit neighborhood, it is a steady story.” Jonathan Hehn stated.

It is a story they’ve labored to maintain entrance and heart, at the same time as they modernize the house. They even put the Value’s portraits up within the entrance room of the house to spark dialog about their influence when individuals come inside.

“I feel the concept of residing in a spot with a lot historical past, it contextualizes, it makes it actual, makes it tangible, and it provides you this sense of continuity that you’re strolling within the steps that have been laid earlier than you,” Kysha Hehn stated.

They’ve stored a number of unique options from the house, specializing in incorporating them into the renovations. The in-built cabinets, doorways, and staircase are all reminders of the previous. The household has additionally uncovered extra of the house’s historical past alongside the way in which, together with items of the unique wallpaper which they then used to assist create a brand new customized wallpaper for the entrance rooms. In addition they discovered newspapers within the partitions.

“It grew to become a historical past lesson additionally simply holding these tangible items of the previous,” Kysha Hehn stated.

As they labored on the house, they are saying many neighbors and other people in the neighborhood got here by, providing tales and snippets of historical past. Some even introduced items, together with the mantle piece that was as soon as part of the house.

“And one of many sweetest visits that we had the chance to have, is when the grandson of Luther and Minnie came around and I feel that was fairly particular,” she stated. The household nonetheless retains in contact with the Value’s grandson.

From once they bought the house, it has come a good distance, and now the household is wanting forward at what tales and historical past they could depart behind themselves.

The Hehns say they hope their residence can be a gathering place for the neighborhood sooner or later the place they’ll proceed to share the legacy of the Value household and this whole neighborhood.