287 Henderson Ave.
House Instructions
No restrooms available. No food or drink inside.
About the House
This house was constructed circa 1880 during a boom in development along Henderson Avenue, then called States Rights Street, which occurred in the 1880s and 1890s. The streetcar line which once ran along Milledge Avenue contributed to this boom in development.
Despite being built by Henry Collins McGinty, the house is known as the Wilson House. It was home to pharmacist Dr. Robert C. Wilson, known as the “Father of Pharmacy in Georgia,” who lived at this residence until his death at 102 years of age.
In 2014, Gabe and Jennie Comstock purchased the house and are believed to be its fifth owners. There is evidence of additions and remodels being made over the years. Although exact dates are unclear, it appears the most significant modifications occurred circa 1930, at which time the current kitchen and bath configurations came to be. This is evidenced by more modern framing techniques uncovered during renovations and the use of rock lath for plastering.
When purchased by the Comstocks, the rear of the house consisted of a series of additions that had been enclosed. It created a hodgepodge of rooms that offered no connection to the exterior. The Comstocks’ vision for their renovation aimed to work within the parameters already established and respect the original four rooms all the while creating a stronger connection to the outdoors.
The original kitchen and bath space has been subtly reconfigured, and a new porch added to the rear of the home. The kitchen ceiling, which had been lowered by a previous owner, has been removed to reveal the low slope pitch roof line within the interior you see today. That same roof line was then extended to become the exterior porch roof.
These changes in the kitchen create a dramatic effect that blurs the lines between the interior and exterior and fills the spaces with daylight. The covered porch floor is sunken to create a comfortable outdoor kitchen and living room space that is the homeowners’ favorite space all year long.
