This is the crown jewel of Macon's architecture. A gorgeous blond brick building reminiscent of the castles of Versailles, surrounded by acres of open greenery, including a small lake in the back. Few cities of Macon's size can boast of such a treasure as this on the far southern edge of town.

It was originally built around the turn of the century as the Blees Military Academy. A few years later, it was converted an Osteopathic Hospital and "Sanatorium".

Sometime around the late 1960s, the hospital shut down. The building stood empty and literally caving in for many years. The city took ownership of the property and thought for a long time about what to do with it.

I was hired by the city in the summer of 1974 to mow the lawn at the property. I remember riding around on that big tractor, marveling at the brick work and hoping that somebody would figure out what to do with this grand building.

Fresh out of high school, I felt powerless as I thought of what a shame it would be if the building actually got deteriorated to the point that it would have to be razed. I remember rounding a corner on the tractor as I was mowing and looking back over my shoulder at the building. Surely, somebody could save it.

A couple of years later, the property was used for a series of flea markets. Flea markets! Had it come to this? Surely, I thought, we can do better than this.

In one of their proudest moments, the city recently converted the building into senior citizen housing. Finally, a useful purpose was found for this grand building. I haven't actually been in it since it was converted, but I've driven by several times. The place actually looks "alive", which is a much different place than I remember.

It's interesting that, as the age of the population of Macon steadily increases, one of its greatest landmarks is now inhabited by the very people that are contributing to that demographic. But old people die and young people leave. I don't know what the future holds for the "San". It's nice to know that slices of its glory are preserved in these postcards.