of the Chapter House 195 Holt Avenue - Macon - Georgia
The land on which the Chapter House was built was part of an 1832 land grant to Solomon Groce and consisted of more than 100 acres. The original structure was a one story frame building with wings jutting forward on each side of the main section and a covered porch connecting the two sides. The first actual record of an occupant of the property was William Simmon Holt in 1853. Holt later sold the property to his nephew, Dr. William F. Holt, in 1858. During the Civil War the Holt family assisted wounded soldiers arriving from Atlanta. Tents were set up by the residents in the area to form what became an emergency hospital.
Ida L. Holt inherited the property in 1901 after the death of her father, Dr. William F. Holt. Later, in 1907 Ms. Holt sold the property to Dr. Thomas N. Baker. The grand three-story red brick home with 28 rooms was built for the Baker
family. In the following years the property changed hands a number of times. Prior to the entry of the United States into World War II, the property was turned over to the National Guard for use as an armory and headquarters, and then in 1941, by the State Guard which used it for the storage and distribution of supplies. In March of 1943 the City of Macon sold the property for $10,000 to W. C. Scott and William A. Snow for the purpose of a mortuary. Several neighbors objected and brought suit to prevent the funeral home. In 1944 the case was won by the neighbors and the property was sold to the American Red Cross for $20,000.
Since January 1945 the Central Georgia Regional Chapter of the American Red Cross has been located at 195 Holt Avenue and serves as headquarters for nine counties in Central Georgia. In recent years many grant funds from area foundations and trusts have been donated to keep the Chapter House as grand as the original structure built in 1908.
