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.
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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!
03/26/2025
Celebrate the Junior Leagues Legacy & 716 West by participating in our Brick by Brick Campaign.
Open to All - Clients are welcome to customize a brick and commemorate their Wedding Anniversary.
When we say our patio ushers in a good time we mean it! Thinking back to this perfect May evening on this cold day today.
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11/28/2024
Wishing you a wonderful holiday filled with thanks.
11/17/2024
Celebrating with Nobles was the highlight of Fall!
So much care and love went into every detail. There was not a dry eye to be found at their vow exchange and not one moment without joy during the reception.
Congratulations to the Nobles again. Wishing them a lifetime of happiness. 🥂
11/14/2024
We love a
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!
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Videos
The weekend weather was perfect for an afternoon on the patio.
I had the pleasure of experiencing a mini concert provided by Violinist Giovanni over the weekend. I thought you'd enjoy as well.
#HappyWednesday
🎻Giovanni can be reached at 602-668-5328.🎶
It's those little moments that make your big day so special 💕 #groomsfirstlook
Learn more about The Mary Gay House's rental packages and contact us to schedule a free tour by visiting www.marygayhouse.org!
Happy #NationalSpousesDay to every incredible couple who has shared their special day with us here at The Mary Gay House! We hope this day and every one forward is full of love and happiness for you both 💗
#Flashbackfriday to these just peachy place settings for a Southern-inspired wedding in our historic antebellum home, The Mary Gay House 🍑 Learn more about how to book the MGH for your upcoming wedding or other special event online – www.marygayhouse.org/book
Check out these absolutely gorgeous detail shots of a wedding here at The Mary Gay House, photographed by Betty Clicker Photography, LLC. We LOVE all of the beautiful weddings that we have been a part of over the years but this season, we are so excited to host you upcoming holiday party! We are still accepting reservations for the rest of 2018 so head to our website to book – www.marygayhouse.org/book
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.
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.
