"Gone With the Wind" Burned Here

The Della-Manta Apartments (now the One South Prado condominiums) in Atlanta's historic Ansley Park neighborhood were designed by celebrated Atlanta architect Neel Reed and constructed in 1920.  This vintage apartment house was the home of "Gone With The Wind" author Margaret Mitchell from 1939 until her death in 1949. 

There are two buildings, the main building and an annex, and several entrances.  The Della-Manta or One South Prado contains 22 apartments, most 2 bedroom, 2 bath, but some larger.

The building is stately and traditional with few decorations.

This is the entrance on the Piedmont Avenue side of the building.

The building's original name remains visible above the entrance.

A realtor who was leaving the building as I shot these pictures told me this first floor 3-bedroom unit is the apartment Margaret Mitchell lived in.  I wonder if every unit that comes up for sale is marketed with the line "Margaret Mitchell lived here."

The apartment the realtor pointed out to me wraps around the building with multiple exposures.

Whether that really is the apartment where Mitchell lived, there's no question she made her home in this historic building for ten years.  A plaque on the building tells the story.  Her secretary and the building custodian burned the manuscript for "Gone With The Wind" in the boiler room after a car hit and killed Mitchell on Peachtree Street in 1939.  She and her husband were on the way to a movie.

This entrance on the South Prado side leads to the annex building which originally contained servants' quarters. 

Elsewhere in the building, many styles of windows enhance the appearance of this classic apartment house.

Atlanta's hilly topography is on full display here.  The building is perched on a ridge above the road.  Be prepared to walk up a flight of stairs, no matter which entrance you choose.

The building is located in midtown Atlanta within walking distance of many interesting places.

The Atlanta Botanical Gardens and Piedmont Park are right across Piedmont Avenue.

Architect Neel Reid was considered Atlanta's premier residential architect for many years; there was (and is) prestige in owning a Reid-designed home.  He died at the young age of 41, but left a legacy with memorable homes and buildings such as the Della-Manta Apartments.

The building was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979.