On Wednesday, June 14, Historic Macon staff and volunteers, alongside representatives from Wesleyan College, unveiled the Porter House as the 2017 Design House. Each year, Historic Macon selects a historic property in Macon-Bibb County and recruits interior designers to decorate the house. The Design House is open to the public for tours and serves as the focal point of Historic Macon’s signature fundraiser, Design, Wine and Dine. In partnership with Wesleyan College, Historic Macon will open the historic Porter House for tours June 16-25.
 
The Porter House was originally built as a country getaway for James Hyde Porter and his wife, Olive Swann Porter, in 1928. The original property on Houston Road in South Macon included the Porter House, a rose garden, farm buildings, and a swimming pool.

In 2012, the Porter House was under threat of demolition and Historic Macon worked with Wesleyan to move the house to the college's North Macon campus. The house was moved over 12 miles to Tucker Road in 2013 and has undergone an extensive rehabilitation thanks to the dedication of Wesleyan College and the Porter Trust. Historic Macon recognized the efforts of Wesleyan and the Porter Trust with the Thad E. Murphey President's Choice Award in May 2017.

“Historic Macon is thrilled to showcase one of Macon’s iconic buildings during Design, Wine and Dine,” said Ethiel Garlington, executive director of Historic Macon. “In 2013, we partnered with Wesleyan to save this house by moving it to the college’s campus. It seems appropriate that we would renew that partnership by featuring the masterful rehabilitation of this house that was once under threat of demolition during our most anticipated event, Design, Wine and Dine.”
 
The Porter House will be open to the public for tours June 16-25. Tour tickets are $20 and provide entry to the house that has been decorated by talented designers. This year’s participating designers include Lisa Bellwin, Tracy Benton, Sally Draughon, Valerie Garrett, Judy Hodgens, Terry Holland, Steve McKenzie, Carrie Robinson, Carolyn Reichert, and Katherine Walden.

In addition, to Design House tours, Historic Macon will host a series of events June 15-25. The festival kicks off with the Top Hat Party on Thursday, June 15 from 7-10pm. Tickets are still available for this event. 
 
“We have felt great support from the community, and we’re looking forward to a wonderful festival with some events already sold out,” said Susannah Maddux, Design, Wine and Dine Co-Chair. “DWD 2017 is all about celebrating inspired design, food, and drink alongside the incredible, dynamic preservation work that Historic Macon is doing.”
 
All proceeds from Design, Wine and Dine benefit Historic Macon’s mission or revitalizing our community by preserving architecture and sharing history.

Tickets and schedules can be found at www.designwinedine.org.