Historic Office

In the recently published book, Marietta, The Gem City of Georgia” it states
The historic Eugene H. Clay house, constructed in 1911, was designed by Frank Lockwood, the father of Herbert Clay’s bride, Marjorie Lockwood. Frank Lockwood was high-cotton in the state of Alabama, moving from his New Jersey home in 1890 to oversee a building project commissioned to him by prominent New York architect, George B. Post. Lockwood went on to complete several famous designs for the University of Alabama campus, now referred to as the Lockwood triad.
The house design itself is eclectic and unique in regards to the other historic homes in Marietta. The architectural style of the house ranges from Colonial to the Renaissance in nature: large Tuscan columns rest on brick cottage-like piers and round window-arches wax Italian. Double French doors open you into the house from a large, inset porch. The light fixtures that illuminate each cozy room were purchased from New York – only the best for Herbert’s bungalow. Though electricity was a rather new commodity at this time, Mrs. Clay’s china cabinet, clothes closets, and even kitchen pantry were all well-lit.
Clay’s exuberant lifestyle was likely the result of having a U.S. Senator as a father. Clay himself was political; just a year after his marriage he was elected the solicitor general of the Blue Ridge Circuit and served until 1918.
Leo Frank, a murderer who’s hanging Clay was to assist with in his role as chief prosecutor, was plotted against in a mass-mob scheme to avenge the death of Mary Phagan, the woman he murdered. Clay successfully prevented the indictment of all those involved with the conspiracy. The grand jury actually contained several of the conspirators themselves!
Clay continually engaged in reckless behavior, preventing him from ever running for Governor or Senate and ultimately ruining his marriage. He was divorced in 1919 and then elected to the state house in 1922. However, he never filled his seat. Clay was found dead at age 42 in an Atlanta hotel before the next legislative session began. The cause of death was ruled to be heart attack, but many suspect that Clay, an avid philanderer and wrecker of homes, was, in fact, murdered.