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Four Winds Farmhouse.
We invite you to tour the Chatt Hills Barn Quilt Trail and learn more about the rich rural heritage of beautiful Chattahoochee Hills. Visitors are welcome to take photos from the public road, and are invited to shop in the local businesses.
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Sunburst (#41)
10380 Hutcheson Ferry Rd 
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Blue Skies, Smiling at Me
Dave Whitten and Catherine Huston met in the parking lot of their Virginia Highland condo building in 2017. She was an urban gal at heart, he was a travel-weary engineer, eager to return to his country roots.
When Catherine's boss, a real estate agent, saw a refurbished farmhouse for sale online, he insisted the couple take a look. They drove to Chattahoochee Hills, toured the farmhouse, and knew at once they had found their new home. The couple selected a barn quilt pattern called "Starburst" but changed its name to "Sunburst" after coloring it with sunshine yellows, cloudy whites, and sky blues to mimic their pretty country view. |
May the four winds blow you safely home
Catherine pauses to admire a barn quilt on the Chatt Hills Barn Quilt Trail.
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Family pets Piggie Small an LuLu enjoy a lazy snooze in their backyard haven.
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Dave pauses in front of their farmhouse on the day their contract was accepted.
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Dave and Catherine's Grateful Dead Record Collection.
Catherine grew up in Richmond Virginia and moved to Atlanta in 1999. A city-gal at heart, she had never considered living in a country setting. Dave grew up in LaGrange and had deep country roots, but like many professionals, he chose to work closer to his job and go elsewhere on the weekends to enjoy his hobbies of bicycling and kayaking.
They were living in the Virginia Highland neighborhood of Atlanta when they met and quickly discovered they shared a mutual love for music. They enjoyed going to live concerts together and also spending time at home listening to their Grateful Dead music collection. On weekends, Dave often took trips to Chattahoochee Hills visiting Cochran Mill Park, and riding bicycles on the country back roads. Catherine had visited Serenbe several years ago for one of their interactive plays, and remembered how much she loved the surrounding area.
When the pandemic hit in 2020 and life got a bit crazy and strange for everyone, it gave the couple a lot of time to take a step back and reevaluate what they really wanted.
For Dave, who had spent 15 years traveling with his job, he was ready to get off the airplanes and out of downtown. He dreamed of a home where he could walk out the front door, hop on his bike, and ride in the beautiful countryside whenever he wanted. For Catherine, who had spent 3 years on her HOA Board, she was ready to spend more outside time with their aging dog Elvie, learning to garden and maybe adopt a few more pets.
When they visited the farmhouse for sale in 2021, it was love at first sight. The previous owners had done such a thoughtful and period-appropriate renovation of the circa 1900 home, Dave and Catherine were immediately captivated. They pictured their lives there enjoying the outdoor space, playing guitar by the fire pit, entertaining friends and family, playing records as loud as they wanted without disturbing anyone, and simply relaxing in a lovely setting and charming home. They both agreed those were their priorities and decided to make Chattahoochee Hills their new home.
When considering a name for their historic farmhouse, the couple decided on "Four Winds Farmhouse," paying homage to a lyric they both loved in the Grateful Dead song, "Franklin's Tower," which began:
"In another time's forgotten space, Your eyes looked from your mother's face, Wildflower seed on the sand and stone, May the four winds blow you safely home."
They were living in the Virginia Highland neighborhood of Atlanta when they met and quickly discovered they shared a mutual love for music. They enjoyed going to live concerts together and also spending time at home listening to their Grateful Dead music collection. On weekends, Dave often took trips to Chattahoochee Hills visiting Cochran Mill Park, and riding bicycles on the country back roads. Catherine had visited Serenbe several years ago for one of their interactive plays, and remembered how much she loved the surrounding area.
When the pandemic hit in 2020 and life got a bit crazy and strange for everyone, it gave the couple a lot of time to take a step back and reevaluate what they really wanted.
For Dave, who had spent 15 years traveling with his job, he was ready to get off the airplanes and out of downtown. He dreamed of a home where he could walk out the front door, hop on his bike, and ride in the beautiful countryside whenever he wanted. For Catherine, who had spent 3 years on her HOA Board, she was ready to spend more outside time with their aging dog Elvie, learning to garden and maybe adopt a few more pets.
When they visited the farmhouse for sale in 2021, it was love at first sight. The previous owners had done such a thoughtful and period-appropriate renovation of the circa 1900 home, Dave and Catherine were immediately captivated. They pictured their lives there enjoying the outdoor space, playing guitar by the fire pit, entertaining friends and family, playing records as loud as they wanted without disturbing anyone, and simply relaxing in a lovely setting and charming home. They both agreed those were their priorities and decided to make Chattahoochee Hills their new home.
When considering a name for their historic farmhouse, the couple decided on "Four Winds Farmhouse," paying homage to a lyric they both loved in the Grateful Dead song, "Franklin's Tower," which began:
"In another time's forgotten space, Your eyes looked from your mother's face, Wildflower seed on the sand and stone, May the four winds blow you safely home."
Heritage story . . . The Keith Family and Goodes Community
The farmhouse David and Catherine purchased was previously owned and renovated by Paul Harrison and Emily Cook Harrison. Before that, the property was owned by Ms. Della Keith who was married to William G. Keith Jr. (1940-2015).
The Keith Family have lived in the Goodes Community of Chattahoochee Hills for many generations. The following historic narrative is from the South Fulton Scenic Byways - Historic Context. The hand-drawn map of the early Goodes Community was created by Goodes resident Maria Hanson.
GOODES COMMUNITY
Primarily located the intersection of Hutcheson Ferry, Rico Road and Atlanta-Newman Road, Goodes takes its name from “Uncle” Billy Goodes.
Early settlers in the area originally congregated just to the north, near New Hope United Methodist Church, in the 1850s. What is now known as the Goodes Community developed at the turn of the last century, around the local post office, which was established in 1884. J.H. Reeves was the first acting postmaster and the Goodes office provided mail service until 1907. William (Tazie) O. Keith became postmaster in 1893.
Two years later, he deeded land for the construction of the Goodes School, a one-room schoolhouse that was enlarged in 1911. The school was later closed in 1932 and consolidated with Palmetto. The Goodes Community eventually grew to include two general stores, a cotton gin, blacksmith shop, a few syrup mills and a sawmill and planning mill. Unfortunately, most of these structures, including the school, have been lost over time.
The Keith Family have lived in the Goodes Community of Chattahoochee Hills for many generations. The following historic narrative is from the South Fulton Scenic Byways - Historic Context. The hand-drawn map of the early Goodes Community was created by Goodes resident Maria Hanson.
GOODES COMMUNITY
Primarily located the intersection of Hutcheson Ferry, Rico Road and Atlanta-Newman Road, Goodes takes its name from “Uncle” Billy Goodes.
Early settlers in the area originally congregated just to the north, near New Hope United Methodist Church, in the 1850s. What is now known as the Goodes Community developed at the turn of the last century, around the local post office, which was established in 1884. J.H. Reeves was the first acting postmaster and the Goodes office provided mail service until 1907. William (Tazie) O. Keith became postmaster in 1893.
Two years later, he deeded land for the construction of the Goodes School, a one-room schoolhouse that was enlarged in 1911. The school was later closed in 1932 and consolidated with Palmetto. The Goodes Community eventually grew to include two general stores, a cotton gin, blacksmith shop, a few syrup mills and a sawmill and planning mill. Unfortunately, most of these structures, including the school, have been lost over time.