Monastery at Large

Category: W.F. Denny

  • A.G. Rhodes Residence, “Rhodes Hall” (1903) – Atlanta

    W.F. Denny. A.G. Rhodes Residence, “Rhodes Hall” (1903). Atlanta.1 2 3 4

    References

    1. $2,000,000 In Buildings Going Up In Atlanta”. The Atlanta Journal, February 28, 1902, p. 5. ↩︎
    2. “Home Of A.G. Rhodes To Be Modern Castle”. The Atlanta Journal, May 3, 1902, p. 5. ↩︎
    3. “Beautiful And Costly Atlanta Homes”. The Atlanta Constitution, August 10, 1902, p. 6. ↩︎
    4. “Personal Mention”. The Atlanta Journal, December 6, 1903, p. S5. ↩︎

  • W.W. Abbot Residence – Louisville, Georgia

    W.F. Denny. W.W. Abbot Residence (circa 1902 renovation). Louisville, Georgia.

    Willis Franklin Denny II (1874-1905), professionally known as W.F. Denny, was an architect who practiced in Atlanta and the Southeastern United States in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

    Denny was born and raised in Louisville, Georgia1 (pronounced Lewis-ville), and studied architecture at Cornell University2 in New York. Unlike most Atlanta architects, Denny had actual talent. Like so many Atlanta architects, however, Denny died tragically — at the age of 31, following a “severe attack of pneumonia”.3

    Although his brief career lasted less than 10 years, Denny was prolific. His surviving projects can be found across Georgia, with at least one work outside the state: the Thiesen Building in Pensacola, Florida, which was primarily designed by Bruce & Morgan,4 5 although it appears Denny contributed to the design.6

    Seven of Denny’s works still exist in Louisville, Georgia, including the Abbot Residence7 (pictured above) on Mulberry Street.

    The Abbots were the ruling family of Louisville at the time, and their name is still found on every other building in the town. Denny remade the antebellum Abbot residence with the fine Neoclassical design seen today, although a definitive date for the project is elusive.

    My best guess is that the Abbot house was renovated circa 1902, since Denny used the same design for the Fleming duBignon Residence(demolished, pictured below) in Atlanta, built on the corner of Peachtree and 14th Streets in 1902.8 9 10 11

    So, which came first: the Abbot design or the duBignon design? That’s a mystery yet to be solved.

    W.F. Denny. Fleming duBignon Residence (1902). Atlanta. Photograph from a postcard sent on March 2, 1909. A handwritten notation by the photograph states: “Taken on Xmas day 1907”.

    References

    1. “Died.” The News and Farmer (Louisville, Georgia), August 24, 1905, p. 3. ↩︎
    2. “Mr. Willis F. Denny Dies In Colorado” The Macon Telegraph (Macon, Georgia), August 19, 1905, p. 2. ↩︎
    3. “Denny Funeral To Be Wednesday Morning”. The Atlanta Journal, August 22, 1905, p. 5. ↩︎
    4. “The Passing Throng.” The Atlanta Constitution, April 11, 1901, p. 6. ↩︎
    5. “Building Intelligence.” The American Architect and Building News, Volume 72, Issue no. 1820 (April 13, 1901), p. 11. ↩︎
    6. Willis Franklin Denny architects plans and photographs, n.d. ↩︎
    7. Jefferson County Joint Comprehensive Plan 2004-2024 ↩︎
    8. “DuBignon Will Soon Build.” The Atlanta Constitution, February 19, 1902, p. 12. ↩︎
    9. “$2,000,000 In Buildings Going Up In Atlanta”. The Atlanta Journal, February 28, 1902, p. 5. ↩︎
    10. “Fleming Du Bignon Will Move To Atlanta”. The Atlanta Journal, May 3, 1902, p. 5. ↩︎
    11. “Beautiful And Costly Atlanta Homes”. The Atlanta Constitution, August 10. 1902, p. 6. ↩︎