Coach House restored to host ‘unique events’

ALBANY — The house at 1308 Dawson Road called to long-time friends Carol Tye Dozier, Jean Gunnels Stimpson and Bee McCormack for different reasons.

Stimpson and Dozier, who brought along best friend Evelyn Butler Clifton, had long ago lived in the house that many in Albany called, simply, the Pink House. McCormack had been a next-door neighbor to both, having lived in her nearby home for 90 years.

They met at the Dawson Road home, beautifully restored and now known as The Coach House, a setting for “unique gatherings,” on a Friday afternoon for a luncheon planned by Dozier’s and Stimpson’s daughters, Anne Dozier Spelts and Laura Stimpson Smith. Mostly, though, they reminisced.

The years seemed to melt away as the friends shared stories in no way diminished by the passage of time. There was the time young Jean Gunnels and her siblings, while burning trash in the backyard, caught an outbuilding on fire, making a call to the fire department necessary. … And Carol (then) Tye’s memories of impromptu dancing lessons.

“This was still considered the ‘country’ when we lived here,” Carol Dozier said. “I lived here until I was almost 4, and I remember looking out the window and seeing cows.”

The two-story Dawson Road home, built in 1928 by John Edmondson, was the center of neighborhood activity.

“I remember how we’d all get together here and play as little girls,” McCormack said. “We always had so much stuff to do.”

Vicki Barnhill, who with husband Richard and daughter Melissa Strother bought and refurbished the Pink House, transforming it into The Coach House, offered a toast as the friends enjoyed a glass of pre-luncheon champagne.

“To reliving sweet memories,” Barnhill said as the friends raised their glasses.

The idea for the luncheon came to Anne Spelts when she noticed her mother’s old home was being refurbished.

“My father had died in August, and I really wanted to do something special for mother,” Spelts said. “It was important, I felt, to do something to make her happy. Mom loves history, and she has a fantastic memory. I’ve always loved hearing her tell stories.

“I rode by the house one day and saw it was being renovated. I found out that Vicki — who goes to our church — was doing the work, so I asked her if I could bring mom by and invite a few of her friends. Ever since I told her about it, mom’s been so excited. She couldn’t wait for today.”

The gathering of the long-time friends is exactly what the Barnhills and Strother had in mind when they purchased and renovated The Coach House. In addition to cosmetic changes throughout, the establishment now has immaculate landscaping that includes a complemetary garden house and a garden that is “unlike any in Albany.”

“When mom submitted her plans for the garden, it was certified by the Great Britain Royal Horticulture Society,” Strother said. “She has relatives in Britain, and when they saw the plans, they submitted them for her.”

The most striking features of the garden area are crabapple and pear espalier trees, which bear fruit while growing in designed patterns along the ornamental wall built on the grounds. The wall includes its own fountain.

Indoors, perfectly restored sitting and dining rooms, as well as a living area complete with fireplace, offer modern-day comfort with a bow to the past.

“This is the oldest house this side of Slappey (Boulevard),” Barnhill says. “The floors are original, and if you think about the timing of its construction, you see little ways that the builder saved money. The living area floors are oak, but the bedrooms are less-expensive heart pine.”

Jean Stimpson marvels at one particular element of The Coach House’s original construction.

“Do you think you’ll ever hear again of a house like this being built and paid for for $10,000?” she said.

Richard Barnhill was looking for office space four years ago when he discovered that the 1308 Dawson Road home was on the market. Its design did not fit his needs, but the ladies in his life started toying around with ideas on how they might use the structure.

“My mom and me both love hosting events, and a lot of times we plan things where it’s not really feasible to have as many guests as we want to invite in our homes,” Strother, a member of the Dougherty County School Board, said. “Even though the house on Dawson wasn’t right for my dad’s needs, I don’t think purchasing the house ever left his or mom’s minds.

“We started talking about events we could have there, and we thought there was a niche we could fill. We didn’t want to compete with the other places that host special events, but we thought we could provide a place that would allow intimate gatherings but where the host or hostess could also enjoy themselves without having to worry so much about specific details.”

Strother and Barnhill also decided early in the process that they would not tie events at The Coach House to a specific caterer.

“We felt we’d offer clients the opportunity to decide on their own caterer,” Strother said. “If they wanted to cook the food themselves, that was no problem. That would allow them to plan an event without a huge budget. That leaves the door open for them to make any event what they want it to be.”

Luncheons such as the one planned by Anne Spelts and Laura Smith are typical of events well-suited to The Coach House. Weddings, showers and corporate events are also being planned at the venue.

“The house has a nice, unique size that makes it perfect for intimate gatherings but with plenty of room so that guests don’t feel crowded,” Strother said. “And the garden area is perfect for outdoor events.”

Booking information for events at The Coach House is available by calling (229) 886-4948, through email at [email protected] or by checking out The Coach House on Facebook.

And the venue comes recommended by the friends who met there on a recent Friday to remember days gone by.

“I’ve lived near here for 90 years,” McCormack said. “I’m absolutely delighted with what they’ve done to the house.”