Owned and operated by the Junior League of DeKalb County, Inc. and built circa 1820. A perfect setti The Junior League of DeKalb County, Inc.
(23)
Celebrate any special occasion in this lovely federal style antebellum home circa 1820 located in downtown Decatur. The large outdoor patio is lovely for both a ceremony and reception and can be tented if desired. Separate dining room, banquet room and front parlor with fireplaces. We invite you to slip back into Atlanta’s past and enjoy the atmosphere and history surrounding this house. The proce
eds from the rental of the Mary Gay House benefits the work of the Junior League of DeKalb County. is an organization of women committed to promoting voluntarism, developing the potential of women, and improving communities through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers. Its purpose is exclusively educational and charitable. reaches out to women of all races, religions, and national origins who demonstrate an interest and commitment to voluntarism. Contact the Mary Gay House rental office at 404-378-2162 or at [email protected] to schedule your tour!
10/11/2024
This lovely Bride stopped in almost to the date of her 15th Wedding Anniversary!
We are so honored to be able to be a part of such warm & beautiful memories through the years for the community and blessed to still be making them!
02/29/2024
Check out our feature in the Best Wedding Venues in Decatur Ga!!!!
Our 6ft mantles are perfect for showcasing those beautiful engagement portraits!
07/31/2023
Congratulations to Dr. Joe, Rhonda & Team. This group has lost a total of 2200lbs of weight loss & has mastered the lifestyle to keep it off for years!
Baby Hunter & I shared a big round of giggles while we watched everyone set up for the big day.
He already knew how to work smarter & not harder!😝
05/30/2023
Congratulations to Leah & Andrew
Yesterday was beautiful in every way. ❤️
05/30/2023
04/09/2023
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03/25/2023
In June 1997, we had the pleasure of hosting Amelia & Tim for their wedding & and reception, and today, we have the honor of hosting the wedding & reception of their sweet daughter!
We are beyond thrilled to share in these full circle moments of memories.
02/28/2023
Looking back on Kate & Connors beautiful day
Come make memories in the heart of Decatur with us!
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The weekend weather was perfect for an afternoon on the patio.
The Mary Gay House was built in the 1820’s in Decatur, GA.
The house is named after the home’s most famous tenant, Mary Ann Harris Gay (1828-1918). The Southern author is best remembered for writing an eyewitness history of the Civil War entitled Life in Dixie During the War. In this book, Mary Gay recounts a series of daring exploits, including her forays across Union lines to secure food and clothing for women and children of war-torn Decatur. Her writings have inspired some of the world's best authors including Margaret Mitchell to create scenes in Gone With the Wind and Mark Twain when he quoted some of Mary Gay's poetry in Tom Sawyer.
During the Civil War, Mary Gay hid winter clothing in her dining room ceiling and later smuggled it to Confederate soldiers. She refused to desert her home while the Union army occupied her land. After her brother was killed during the war, Mary Gay supported her brother’s survivors and other family members by selling her three books door to door.
In the late 1970’s, an emphasis on historic preservation began to sweep the nation. At that time, the Junior League of DeKalb Co. did not have a place to meet or to handle its business – leaders worked out of boxes stored in their car trunks or basements. Also, the community did not have a place to gather outside of homes, schools and churches beside country clubs or the Decatur Federal Sky Room, which was built in the late 1960s.
The Junior League of DeKalb Co. decided to save the Mary Gay House from demolition in order to preserve a valuable piece of local history and to give the League a permanent headquarters. Originally, the house was located on Marshall Street in Decatur, Georgia. After years of planning and raising funds, the Junior League moved the house by truck across Decatur to its current location on West Trinity Street next to Adair Park. The League then got to work restoring the home.
The restoration of the house included stabilizing the home, refinishing the basement for use, and restoring the rooms to the historically accurate Federal Period style of 1815-1830. Architect and historian Norman Askins determined that the house was built in the Federal period (circa 1820) based on his discovery of split lath in the house.
The Junior League of DeKalb Co. continues to be stewards of the Mary Gay House. The League maintains and rents the house for events. In addition, the Mary Gay House is the League’s headquarters and meeting space. Your use of the Mary Gay House helps to further the mission of the Junior League of DeKalb County.
Junior League of DeKalb County
Since 1934, the Junior League of DeKalb County has provided countless hours of volunteer service and worked to help the women and children of DeKalb County. The Junior League of DeKalb County is an organization of women committed to promoting voluntarism, developing the potential of women, and improving communities through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers. Its purpose is exclusively education and charitable.
Some of their projects include:
Establishment of Milk Fund for needy children (1937)
Took Red Cross courses in civil defense and engaged in war projects (1942)
Organized the DeKalb County Dental Project (1946)
Establishment of Hearing Conservation Clinic with DeKalb County Health Department (1954)
Established Volunteer DeKalb and the Callanwolde Guild, Inc. (1975)
Opening of gift shop at DeKalb General Hospital (now DeKalb Medical Center) (1961)
Establishment of the Day League, formerly known as the DeKalb R**e Crisis Center (1989) – incorporated in 1993
Establishment of the International Women’s House (1995) – incorporated in 1999
Established “A Space Of My Own," a place where children entering group homes selected items for "their space" at the home, such as comforters, clocks, lamps, etc. (2000)
Participated in the AJLI’s “Kids In The Kitchen” initiative to combat childhood obesity by empowering children to make healthy choices (2007-2015)
Adopted “Nutrition & Obesity” as the community focus area and engaged in numerous community projects such as health fairs, fun runs, food banks, and community gardens (2011-2015)
Assisted with the other Georgia Leagues in the passage of the Safe Harbor Act to provide financial help to victims of human trafficking (2016)
Adopted “Early Reading & Language Skills” as the community focus area and partnered with numerous community organizations such as GEEARS, Ferst Foundation, the DeKalb Library Foundation, the Decatur Book Festival, Clarkston Community Center, and more to distribute books and raise awareness of the importance of early reading and language skills (2016-present)
The Junior League of DeKalb County continues to offer leadership training, networking, and civic engagement opportunities for women. To learn more about the Junior League of DeKalb County and to get information about how to join, please visit www.jldekalb.org.
