Kimball House (Atlanta)

In 1870 on a recommendation of building contractor John C. Peck, Hannibal Kimball purchased a lot near the Union Depot where the Atlanta Hotel had been before being burned in 1864 during the Civil War.

[2] The original estimate for the hotel was $250,000, though it eventually cost $650,000, 1/15th the total assessed value of Atlanta real estate at the time.

[1] The house also boasted gas-light chandeliers, a central heating plant, a laundry, billiard hall, and 500 hotel rooms.

[1] In 1892, the Kimball House was the center of excitement surrounding the first University of Georgia vs. Auburn football game held on February 20, 1892.

The Atlanta Fire Department was unable to do much because of difficulty in reaching the site and poor water pressure from the city cisterns.

Citing a loss of business and prestige to the city, George Adair, Henry W. Grady, Richard Peters and others began fundraising for rebuilding the hotel.

They soon called on Kimball to lead the effort, even though he then resided in Chicago and had had no dealings with the property since leaving town ten years before.