Historic Offices

The idea of restoring the two-story Victorian building at the corner of Maxwell and Broadway captured the imagination of Lexington attorney Peter Perlman in the fall of 1980, and has served as the focal point of other professional restoration in the neighborhood.

It is located on one of the most visible corners of Lexington and is the first view that many visitors encounter of the beautiful South Hill area, the oldest part of Lexington.

Originally designed and built by local architect, John McMurtry in 1880, the property was originally used as a residence by the C. A. Johns Family. C. A. Johns was a Lexington pharmacist for over forty years, and W. E. and F. E. Johns were photographers of notable distinction. Other historic properties built or designed by McMurtry include the Thomas January House, White Hall, and Jacobs Hall in Boyle County.

The property, as restored, is now listed on the National Historic Register. In the winter of 1980, four young men in the construction business were asked to take on the project. The group, Phase IV, accepted the challenge and completed the restoration in about eight months. The interior was restored to its original design and wooden floors were preserved wherever possible. The focal point is a graceful circular staircase in the interior hallway. The twelve-foot ceilings and spacious rooms lend and air of historic elegance to the office's present-day function.

The exterior brick was chemically stripped of paint to its natural color. Window cornices and elaborately carved wooden brackets and columns are highlighted in ivory.

The corner of Maxwell and Broadway itself has played a part in Lexington's equine history. In 1780, it was the finish line of the first race course in the state of Kentucky, and today it is located about a mile from the Big Red Mile Harness Track.

The restored building and grounds now houses the law offices of Peter Perlman, "Licensed Practicing Attorney," and has received awards from the Lexington-Fayette County Historic Commission and the Metro Environmental Improvement Commission for the restoration.