The Historic Crisco House
In the heart of Macon, Georgia, along the city’s most storied boulevard, stands a residence that has long captured the imagination of historians, architects, and dreamers alike. 619 College Street, better known as the Crisco House, is no ordinary home. It is a grand Beaux-Arts mansion that blends timeless architecture with an extraordinary backstory; one that links Southern innovation, American industry, and global cultural influence. Own a Piece of History at 619 College Street, The Historic Crisco House in Macon GA; Restored Beaux-Arts Mansion, Rich Legacy. A Once-in-a-Lifetime Opportunity.
The Historic Crisco House
Listing ID: 181311 | Price: $1,820,000 | Bedrooms: 8 | Total Baths: 9 | Full Baths: 8 | Partial Baths: 2 | SqFt: 12,728 | Acres: 0.68 | County: Bibb | Year Built: 1901 | Property Type: Residential | Property Sub Type: Single Family Residence
Built in 1901
Built in 1901, this mansion is both an architectural jewel and a symbol of ambition. Its towering façade, commanding columns, massive hallways, and soaring windows embody the kind of grandeur that was typically reserved for the great capitals of Europe. For over a century, it has been associated with some of Macon’s most important families, each leaving behind a legacy that enriches the home’s identity. Today, restored to its original splendor, the Crisco House represents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for one fortunate buyer to step into history and take possession of a residence unlike any other in Georgia—or the world.
The Historic Crisco House
Listing ID: 181311 | Price: $1,820,000 | Bedrooms: 8 | Total Baths: 9 | Full Baths: 8 | Partial Baths: 2 | SqFt: 12,728 | Acres: 0.68 | County: Bibb | Year Built: 1901 | Property Type: Residential | Property Sub Type: Single Family Residence
The Vision of Wallace Eugene McCaw
The story of 619 College Street begins with Wallace Eugene McCaw, a businessman and innovator whose influence extended far beyond Macon. McCaw was president of the Macon Manufacturing Company, a firm that focused on transforming cottonseed oil—a product that was once considered agricultural waste—into something far more valuable.
McCaw’s pioneering work with hydrogenation led to the creation of Plantene, a forerunner to what would become Crisco, the first all-vegetable shortening. In 1909, Procter & Gamble acquired his company, catapulting Crisco into kitchens across America and revolutionizing the way households cooked and baked. This innovation was more than a business success; it was a cultural shift. Families nationwide embraced Crisco as a modern, reliable, and economical alternative to animal fats, forever changing American food traditions.
It is fitting, then, that McCaw’s residence would be just as ambitious as his innovations. Designed by prominent architect Alexander Blair III, the mansion at 619 College Street embodied the Beaux-Arts style with its grand proportions, symmetrical design, and attention to detail. For McCaw, the house was more than a home—it was a statement of success, vision, and permanence.
Famous Works of Alexander Blair III
McCaw-Massee House (The Crisco House), Macon, GA
Built in 1901 for Wallace Eugene McCaw, this Beaux-Arts mansion is one of Blair’s most iconic works. Known for its massive hallways, soaring ceilings, and dramatic staircase, the home reflects both the prosperity of its original owner and Blair’s mastery of grand residential design. Today, it is recognized as one of the finest historic homes in Georgia.
Decatur County Courthouse, Bainbridge, GA
Completed in 1902, this courthouse showcases the Neoclassical Revival style that Blair favored for civic buildings. Its tall windows, symmetrical façade, and stately presence made it a symbol of law and order in the early 20th century, and it remains a centerpiece of downtown Bainbridge.
Turner County Courthouse, Ashburn, GA
Designed around 1907–08 in collaboration with architect Peter E. Dennis, this courthouse combines Classical Revival elements with touches of Colonial inspiration. Its brick construction, stone trim, and distinctive clock tower made it one of the most impressive courthouse projects in the state at the time.
Murray County Courthouse, Chatsworth, GA
Built in 1916–17, this two-story courthouse exemplifies Blair’s ability to adapt classical styles to rural settings. Perched in a commanding spot in Chatsworth, it features a grand portico and an air of civic pride that continues to define the county seat.
Montgomery County Courthouse, Mount Vernon, GA
Constructed in 1907, this building is notable for its cream and red brick exterior, limestone trim, and a prominent clock-topped dome. Its Doric-style portico and carefully proportioned design give it a dignity and permanence that reflect Blair’s approach to public architecture.
Note: Alexander Blair III became one of Georgia’s leading architects at the turn of the century, shaping both the state’s civic identity and its private grandeur. From courthouses that defined local government to mansions that rivaled Europe’s finest, his work continues to stand as a testament to the vision and ambition of the early 1900s.
The Era of William Jordan Massee
In 1910, the property entered a new chapter when it was purchased by William Jordan Massee Sr., affectionately known as “Big Jordan.” Massee was a man of influence, energy, and charisma. His business interests were vast, spanning railroads, utilities, and land development. To the people of Macon, he was larger than life, a figure who embodied the city’s spirit of progress and ambition in the early 20th century.
The mansion became the center of Massee’s social and family life, a place where grandeur was not just architectural but personal. Stories of his bold personality still circulate in Macon, reinforcing the image of the Crisco House as a home where great figures once lived and entertained.
Massee’s legacy extended beyond his own lifetime. His son, Jordan Massee Jr., grew into a cultural luminary who counted among his friends some of the most notable writers and artists of the 20th century, including Tennessee Williams and Carson McCullers. Through these connections, the Crisco House became woven into the fabric of American literary and cultural history. Some even speculate that the character of Big Daddy in Williams’ Cat on a Hot Tin Roof was inspired, at least in part, by the larger-than-life presence of William Jordan Massee Sr.
The Historic Crisco House
Listing ID: 181311 | Price: $1,820,000 | Bedrooms: 8 | Total Baths: 9 | Full Baths: 8 | Partial Baths: 2 | SqFt: 12,728 | Acres: 0.68 | County: Bibb | Year Built: 1901 | Property Type: Residential | Property Sub Type: Single Family Residence
The Historic Crisco House
Listing ID: 181311 | Price: $1,820,000 | Bedrooms: 8 | Total Baths: 9 | Full Baths: 8 | Partial Baths: 2 | SqFt: 12,728 | Acres: 0.68 | County: Bibb | Year Built: 1901 | Property Type: Residential | Property Sub Type: Single Family Residence
Restored to Its Original Glory
While many historic mansions have faded with time, 619 College Street has been lovingly restored to its original grandeur. Today, it stands as a testament to both the craftsmanship of its original builders and the dedication of those who understood its importance enough to preserve it.
Step inside, and the home immediately impresses. The grand staircase greets visitors with an air of stateliness, curving upward beneath soaring ceilings. The hallways are massive, wide enough to recall the palaces of Europe, where such scale was intended to signal power and sophistication. Large-scale windows line the walls, flooding the interiors with natural light and creating an atmosphere of openness and grandeur.
Every detail, from the intricate woodwork to the restored architectural flourishes, speaks to the artistry of the Beaux-Arts style. It is rare to find a home that feels both like a preserved piece of history and a living, breathing residence ready to welcome modern life. Yet the Crisco House achieves this balance flawlessly.
A Mansion on Par with Europe’s Finest
What makes 619 College Street truly exceptional is not just its local significance but its international caliber. Homes of this scale and craftsmanship are typically found in cities like Paris, Vienna, Rome, or Madrid, where Beaux-Arts and Neoclassical architecture dominate the grand boulevards. To find such a residence in Macon, Georgia, is nothing short of remarkable.
For global buyers seeking a property that combines architectural prestige with a rich historical narrative, the Crisco House is unrivaled. It stands at the crossroads of Southern charm and European elegance, offering the grandeur of an Old World mansion with the accessibility of an American city.
A Once-in-a-Lifetime Opportunity
Opportunities like this are exceedingly rare. 619 College Street is not just a house—it is a legacy. It is a place where industrial innovation helped shape America, where one of Macon’s most notable families left their imprint, and where cultural history resonates within its walls.
Now, this extraordinary mansion awaits its next chapter. For one very fortunate buyer, ownership of the Crisco House will not simply mean acquiring a home—it will mean becoming part of a story that stretches across more than a century.
And the timing could not be more urgent. Properties of this caliber attract attention from across the globe, and those who are within driving distance should act quickly to secure their chance before it slips away. Whether your heart is in Georgia or you are searching from across the Atlantic, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that will not wait.
The Historic Crisco House
Listing ID: 181311 | Price: $1,820,000 | Bedrooms: 8 | Total Baths: 9 | Full Baths: 8 | Partial Baths: 2 | SqFt: 12,728 | Acres: 0.68 | County: Bibb | Year Built: 1901 | Property Type: Residential | Property Sub Type: Single Family Residence
Why the Crisco House Still Matters Today
In an era when many historic homes are lost to neglect or replaced by modern development, the Crisco House stands as proof that preservation enriches a community. Its presence along College Street enhances Macon’s historic district, adding both beauty and cultural depth. Owning this property is not just about personal prestige—it is about participating in the stewardship of a landmark that will inspire for generations to come.
The grandeur of the Crisco House is matched only by its rarity. There may be other historic homes in the South, but there is only one 619 College Street. Its combination of history, scale, architecture, and restoration ensures that it belongs in a class entirely its own.
Claiming Your Place in History
The story of the Crisco House is far from over. It began with Wallace McCaw’s innovation, flourished under the bold presence of William Jordan Massee, echoed through the cultural connections of Jordan Massee Jr., and has now been restored to shine once again.
The next chapter belongs to the person fortunate enough to call it home. To walk its massive hallways, to look out through its towering windows, and to experience the grandeur that has made this mansion a legend is to live inside history itself.
619 College Street is not simply available—it is waiting. Waiting for the buyer bold enough to recognize its rarity, wise enough to understand its value, and fortunate enough to act quickly.
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