Now that the historic Tremont Temple Missionary Baptist Church in Macon is torn down, preservationists are looking to save the historic Douglass House which sits on property near the former church, which is being demolished for a Dunkin Donuts.

Charles Henry Douglass was born in 1870 in Macon. He was a wealthy African American businessman who opened the Douglass Theatre.

His home, now called The Douglass House, is located on land owned by a developer that wants it gone.

Ethiel Garlington is executive director of Historic Macon and says they have been working to find a new spot for the house. He’s not sure where the house will be moved, but says Macon state Representative James Beverly is looking for a permanent place for it. The house will more than likely be moved to a temporary spot in the very near future.

While the house will be saved, it will lose some of its historical relevance when it is moved.

Garlington says historical groups are constantly struggling with preserving the legacy of a house or structure.

“More than likely this house will be de-listed from the national registry because it’s moved off its original foundation.”

But Garlington also says there is precedence that if a structure is resettled in a similar neighborhood it can be re-listed.

Tags: Historic Macon Foundation, Leah Fleming, The Douglass House