Architect Eli Elkin designed Katherine Court in 1913 that had recently arrived, along with his extended family from New York City. He and his beloved wife, Katherine, lived at 855 Mulberry for decades, as did many related families. It was a spectacular statement of urban sophistication with its four dramatic red tile cupolas, ceramic tile baths, gas lighting, indoor plumbing, hardwood floors, etc. at a time when most homes in middle Georgia were still using outhouses, candles for light, and wood stoves.

The Elkin family arrived in Macon by train because there were no moving trucks, no paved roads, and cars were still experimental. Large lots, open space, gardens, surrounded Katherine Court because it was on the “new “ edge of the pre-civil war downtown grid.

Katherine Court was vacant and largely occupied by the homeless when McCarty Property acquired it in 2002. It was on the verge of a demolition order by the city of Macon, its previous slumlord having lost it to foreclosure.

Katherine Court LLC put together a two million dollar re-development program which required gutting the building back to the studs, installing new systems including fire safety sprinklers, state of the art plumbing, 90% efficiency heating and air. Most of the significant architectural features were saved, including mantles, hardwood floors, windows, patios and trim. The renovation has won awards from the Macon Heritage Foundation, the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation, Newtown Macon and has been placed on the National Register for Historic Buildings.