Milledge Circle Historic District

633 Milledge Circle, a home designed by Athens' architect Fred Orr, and the home of Mary Lyndon, the first Dean of Women at the University of Georgia.

with John Waters

Sunday, October 10 at 2 pm

Sunday, November 7 at 2 pm

Affectionately known as “High Ball Hill,” Milledge Circle is a neighborhood of flowing lawns and gracious homes of distinct architectural styles. It is a classic example of an early 20th century landscaped suburb whose residents have contributed greatly to the history of the neighborhood and the community at large. Hubert Owens, long-time dean and founder of the University of Georgia School of Landscape Architecture, is credited with the house placement and landscape design for a number of homes along Milledge Circle. The natural terrain of Milledge Circle was preserved in its development and the neighborhood grew in conjunction with the West Lake Country Club, later known as the Cloverhurst Country Club. The concept of a recreational landscape for the well-to-do was flourishing about the United States in the early 20th century but the Milledge Circle example was unique in Athens at the time. Many features of that landscape still exist, such as West Lake, two fairways, and the clubhouse, now a private residence. Notable homes include the 1923 Decker- Waters House designed by prominent local architect Fred Orr; Athens first split-level house, the 1941 Aderhold-Scruggs House; and Athens’ first Art Moderne house. This tour will last approximately 1½ to 2 hours.

Your tour guide:

John Waters is a founder and director of the Graduate Studies in Historic Preservation program in the College of Environment and Design at the University of Georgia, where he also teaches. An author and activist, Waters has been instrumental in a number of local and state preservation organizations. He was one of the founders of the Athens-Clarke Heritage Foundation in 1967 and has served as its president. Waters was also a founder and president of the Joseph Henry Lumpkin Foundation. Waters established the Fred J. Orr Society to recognize and perpetuate the works of Orr, a noted Athens architect of the early twentieth century who designed the Milledge Circle home in which Waters resides, “Greyside.”