Griffith School of Music
Also known as: Payne Griffith House
Why it's listed
Built in 1910 for Dr. George F. Payne, a pharmacist turned physician, this two-story buff-brick Craftsman house on Bonaventure Avenue in Atlanta sits on a rise with a view over the city. A wrap-around porch, porte cochere, granite chimneys and a rear cottage give it the look of an estate despite a modest lot. Inside, nearly all original features survive, including pocket doors, oak mantels, built-in china cabinets, beveled glass and a paneled staircase. The building is also tied to music education. Mary Butt Griffith bought the house in 1923 and ran the Griffith School of Music from it; her children continued the school until 1966. The family's mandolin orchestra method for public schools was recognized by the National Bureau for the Advancement of Music and adopted by the Fulton County school system. Family members and students performed widely, including at the White House during the Roosevelt years. The property was recognized for its architecture and for its role in music education.
Significance in brief: It is a very intact example of a Craftsman residence, designed to look like an estate and set on a rise with views of the city. It was also home to the Griffith School of Music from 1923 to 1966, which influenced music education in Atlanta and Fulton County schools.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 99000552, listed May 12, 1999. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 650 Bonaventore Ave., NE, Atlanta |
|---|---|
| County | Fulton County |
| Listed | May 12, 1999 |
| Reference number | 99000552 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1910, 1923-1949 |
| Architect / builder | Unknown (original owner/builder Dr. George F. Payne; no architect identified) |
| Architectural style | Late 19th and Early 20th Century American Movements/Bungalow/Craftsman |
| Criteria |
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| Areas of significance | Architecture, Performing Arts |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Current function is a bed and breakfast inn; 1970s alterations were removed in preparation for that use. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 33.77416, -84.36123 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For a publicly owned building or structure, listing mainly matters when federal funds, permits or licences are involved: projects then go through Section 106 review so effects on the property are considered. Listing also strengthens applications for preservation grants and, for leased income-producing uses, can enable the federal rehabilitation tax credit.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 99000552.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q134348070
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.