Oldest House on Peachtree Auctioned Off in 30 Minutes

The oldest house on Peachtree Street was sold in about 30 minutes Thursday afternoon.

The Rufus M. Rose house -- a circa-1901 Victorian home at 537 Peachtree Street across from -- was auctioned off Thursday.

The house sold for $295,000, according to an auctioneer with the real estate firm Williams & Williams. The auctioneer would not disclose his name or the names of the new owners. A spokeswoman with Williams & Williams declined comment late Thursday afternoon. 

The opening bid was $50,000. About 20 people bid on the house, the auctioneer said. 

The five-bedroom home was built for the founder of the Four Roses Distillery and features eight fireplaces, stained glass windows and impressive woodwork.

The home is steeped in history.

"As the home of an important business figure in the city and a rare example of residential development before the advent of the automobile, the Rose House has a high level of historical significance to the city," says the city of Atlanta. 

The house is on the National Register of Historic Places. For more than 50 years, it housed the Atlanta Museum.

But in recent years the residence has fallen into disrepair.

In May, the Atlanta Preservation Center placed the structure on its 2011 list of "Most Endangered Historic Places." The center once was headquartered at the Rufus Rose house. 

A parking attendant near the house told Patch Thursday he was excited to see what the new owners would do. He said the home would make a great bed and breakfast or doctor's office. 

"Whatever they decide, it will be great."