Mary Gay House

In the late 1970’s, an emphasis on historic preservation began to sweep the nation. At that time, the Junior League of DeKalb Co. did not have a place to meet or to handle its business – leaders worked out of boxes stored in their car trunks or basements. Also, the community did not have a place to gather outside of homes, schools and churches beside country clubs or the Decatur Federal Sky Room, which was built in the late 1960s. The Junior League of DeKalb Co. decided to save the Mary Gay House from demolition in order to preserve a valuable piece of local history and to give the League a permanent headquarters. Originally, the house was located on Marshall Street in Decatur, Georgia. After years of planning and raising funds, the Junior League moved the house by truck across Decatur to its current location on West Trinity Street next to Adair Park. The League then got to work restoring the home. The restoration of the house included stabilizing the home, refinishing the basement for use, and restoring the rooms to the historically accurate Federal Period style of 1815-1830. Architect and historian Norman Askins determined that the house was built in the Federal period (circa 1820) based on his discovery of split lath in the house. The Junior League of DeKalb Co. continues to be stewards of the Mary Gay House. The League maintains and rents the house for events. In addition, the Mary Gay House is the League’s headquarters and meeting space.