Photos by Kelly Moore
Manor seems the most apt term for the beautiful house that sits on more than 70 sprawling acres at 2836 Old Dalton Road in Rome, Georgia. This expansive and thoughtful property, recently listed for sale by Hardy Realty, captures you the minute you drive through its iron gate, winding through the trees and down the driveway. As the house itself comes into view and you pull into the circle drive, you are immediately struck by both its bold elegance and sweet charm.
Ascend the brick staircase to the front entrance, and you’ll see that the wooden doors are grand not only in size but also in history: they were imported directly from France and boast ornate black detailing and antiqued gold doorknobs.
Another historical treat awaits you in the front entry room. Dr. Rebekah Lowrey, who built and has lived for over 30 years in this house with her husband, Dr. Darrell Lowrey, chose the famous Jean Zuber wallpaper to be featured in this room. This is the same French wallpaper that First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy also chose for the White House.
Rebekah explains that the space is one of her favorites in the house. “When the sunlight shines through the prisms of the chandelier, it casts rainbows on the walls and floor. It’s so beautiful; it reminds me of the Garden of Eden.”
Each following room continues to perfectly blend thoughtful aesthetic with livable comfortability. Highlights of the house include: the large but homey living room with marble fireplace and handmade wooden mantle, the bookcase-turned-secret-door to the study, and the fire escape staircase that leads from the bedrooms upstairs to the first floor master (Specifically, the masters’ walk-in-closet.)
It is clear that the Lowreys designed the house with such intention and care in every detail.
And for Darrell, the property is more than just a house: the land has been in his family since 1946. He remembers his father tilling the land as a full-time farmer and remembers when the now-backyard was full of cows, pigs and all kinds of crops.
Darrell met and married his sweetheart, Rebekah, at medical school, they decided to settle back in Rome and raise their son and daughter on this family property.
Darrell says the wonderful memories here with his children are endless. He remembers everything from playing baseball in the then-uncompleted living room and racing toy cars on the front door steps, to the thousands of air hockey championships in the upstairs playroom.
After they completed the spacious house (with five full baths, two half baths, four bedrooms and a sleeping porch with a Murphy bed, doubling as a fifth bedroom), they showed the same level of care in designing the grounds around the home.
The formal gardens are a particular joy to stroll in, as they feature attractive florals, delicious vegetables, an inside potting area and a lovely pergola in the center. The property also features an in-ground swimming pool, a workshop and garage area, two dog kennels, an outdoor pavilion, two outdoor grills, a full-sized playground and a playhouse for the kids.
It is no wonder that the Lowrey family has easily hosted countless graduation parties, steeplechase events and even a wedding on site.
And while they have enjoyed every minute spent making these memories, they also feel that the time has come for a new generation to embrace the property and all that it has to offer.
Darrell says it is a perfect place to enjoy the country lifestyle, while only being a few miles out of town. He even thinks that it would make a great horse farm if the new owners are so inclined.
Together, the Lowreys believe that the space for solitude and the love of this land will be this property’s legacy. Whoever next lives at 2836 Dalton Road will undoubtedly find that both peace and a new adventure await them here.
