THOMASVILLE — The Jefferson Street hill that ascends from Jefferson’s intersection with Hansell Street probably created quite a few transportation hazards when dirt streets were the norm in Thomasville more than a century ago.

Today, the paved hill is a vista into the newly-established Mallette Heights Historic District, with North Dawson Street as the western border and Hansell Street the eastern. Love, Young and Hardaway are cross streets.

A movie star’s childhood home is in the district.

The Fletcherville Historic District was the last historic district established — 13 years ago — in the city.

Until a house fire almost two years ago on Jefferson, residents of the area were torn about being in a historic district, said Kenny Thompson, City of Thomasville planner. After the fire, residents wanted to ensure the neighborhood’s character would be protected, he explained.

Resident approached Thomasville Landmarks in 2017 before the fire, said Sophi Latz, Landmarks preservation program manager.

“The fire in January 2018 was a wake-up call, because there were no restrictions on what could be built in that space,” Latz said.

The fire-damaged house is being restored in the district’s “perfect atmosphere,” she added.

The area is one of Thomasville’s first planned neighborhoods at the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. It opened on East Washington Street, Latz said, and growth continued to Glenwood Drive and eastward.

Movie star Joanne Woodward was born in Thomasville. Her family lived in an East Washington house until Woodward was in second grade, and the family moved to Marietta.

The historic district, Thomasville’s sixth, is named for Eli Mallette, who lived in the area. Mallette purchased a lot of property in the new historic district area, as well as throughout the city, Latz said.

In the 1920s, naming the area Bankers Hill was suggested because of the number of bankers who lived there.

Structures in a historic district must adhere to certain rules.

Latz said any changes of exterior materials must be approved by the city’s Historic Preservation Commission. An addition to a house that would change the exterior design also must be approved by the commission.

“You can do whatever you want to do to the interior of your property,” Latz said. “The preservation commission is flexible and will work with historic district homeowners.”

In establishing the district, Landmarks completed surveys, researched, conducted neighborhood meetings and submitted subsequent reports to the State Historic Preservation Office and to the City of Thomasville.

With support from neighbors and city leaders, the proposed district was put before the city’s Historic Preservation Commission, which unanimously recommended the district to city council.

Mallette Heights Historic District passed two council readings — with no opposition — and became a reality.

Senior reporter Patti Dozier can be reached at (229) 226-2400, ext. 1820