Georgia Adds Six Resources to Georgia Register of Historic Places

Atlanta, Ga. (December 3, 2024) – Six new listings were added to the Georgia Register of Historic Places, accentuating the state’s extensive variety of historic resources.

The listings were approved at the meeting of the Georgia National Register Review Board on November 1, 2024. This group evaluates state nominations for the National Register of Historic Places. Once listed on the Georgia Register of Historic Places, these resources will be submitted to the National Park Service for listing on the National Register.

The new Georgia Register listings include:

• Ash Farmhouse, Newington, Effingham County
• Bolton Lodge, Atlanta, Fulton County
• Pine Tree Tea Room, Lakemont, Rabun County
• Ralston Hotel, Columbus, Muscogee County
• Savannah Powder Magazine, Savannah, Chatham County
• Tuxedo Park Historic District, Atlanta, Fulton County

The Department of Community Affairs’ Historic Preservation Division hopes sharing this information will encourage more historic property preservation through public awareness and appreciation of its impact on our social and economic lives.

As of December 3, 2024, Georgia has 2,217 listings comprising 90,082 resources in the National Register of Historic Places.

The newest listings on the Georgia Register of Historic Places include:

Ash Farmhouse, Newington, Effingham County

The Ash Farmhouse was built by John H. Ash II on his family homestead in 1891. The building is one of the best examples of a Folk-Victorian-style side-hall house in rural Effingham County. It serves as a local landmark due to its architectural significance. Ash used his knowledge of metropolitan residential architecture to mold local materials in a contemporary fashion to create the home. The Ash Farmhouse is adorned with decorative wood, including jigsaw-cut brackets, ornately turned wooden balusters and newel posts, and large wood columns. Ash belonged to a family of master builders in Savannah, so he was well equipped to adapt any building type to a popular style or trend.

The nomination is sponsored by the property owner Gerald Brinson Ash, Jr., and nomination materials were prepared by Ward Architecture + Preservation.

Bolton Lodge, Atlanta, Fulton County

Bolton Lodge No. 416 is significant to Fulton County’s social history for its association with Freemasonry, a fraternal organization integral to communities across the United States since the Colonial Era. The lodge is a locally interpreted, two-story, Classical-Revival-style meeting hall.  It is architecturally significant for simultaneously reflecting the typical form and interior layout of a Freemason lodge. The rectangular building roughly faces east and has a private, second-floor assembly space. This privacy is assured in the lodge’s interior with high windows and auxiliary rooms. Raised daises lie in the eastern and western ends of the lodge as well, symbolizing Freemason officers known as the Worshipful Master and Senior Warden, respectively.

The nomination is sponsored by Bolton Masons, LLC, and nomination materials were prepared by Verity Works.

Pine Tree Tea Room, Lakemont, Rabun County

The Pine Tree Tea Room is a surviving 1926 restaurant building in Lakemont, Rabun County. While serving daily meals, the restaurant opened its dining room for dancing on Saturday nights, pushing the tables and chairs to one side. The restaurant was originally built to serve guests of the Lake Rabun Hotel – directly across Lake Rabun Road – but soon emerged as a community destination for residents of Lake Rabun and beyond.

The nomination is sponsored by the building owner, and nomination materials were prepared by Richardson Preservation Consulting, LLC.

Ralston Hotel, Columbus, Muscogee County

The Ralston Hotel is a landmark of architectural, socially historical, and commercial notoriety in Muscogee County. Open since 1915, the nine-story hotel has continuously evolved and expanded to reflect current architectural and stylistic trends, ranging from Classical Revival and Art Moderne styles, all while attracting visitors with an up-to-date facility. It was the premier venue for social and business events in early-to-mid 20th century Columbus, hosting numerous conferences, balls, and other social functions. Throughout its life, the hotel was a preeminent example of a thriving hospitality business within the commercial core of Columbus.

The nomination is sponsored by Ralston Towers MF II LLC, and nomination materials were prepared by Rosin Preservation.

Savannah Powder Magazine, Savannah, Chatham County

The Savannah Powder Magazine is politically significant in its direct association with the rapid expansion of Savannah in the 19th century. Built in 1898, it is the only powder magazine in Savannah history specifically designed to safely store dynamite alongside the traditionally explosive black powder. Safety measures incorporated into the building include an asphalt-coated interior, iron vents in the walls and ceilings, and light boxes vented through twelve-inch-thick exterior brick walls.

The nomination is sponsored by the City of Savannah, and nomination materials were prepared by Landmark Preservation Consulting, LLC.

Tuxedo Park Historic District, Atlanta, Fulton County

Tuxedo Park is a feat of community planning and development in Fulton County. It is a concept expression of elite status within the area, which guided the design of the area’s amenities, aesthetics, deed restrictions, and necessity for car ownership. Tuxedo Park is as an example of a suburban residential landscape derived from a three-layered process: selection of location, overall planning and layout, and design of the house and yard. The park also retains an exceptional diversity of residential architecture as it was produced by architects and architectural firms prolific across Atlanta, the state of Georgia, and southeastern United States.

The nomination is sponsored by Tuxedo Park Civic Association LLC, and nomination materials were prepared by Atlanta Preservation and Planning, LLC.

DCA’s Historic Preservation programs include environmental review, grants, historic resource surveys, tax incentives, the National Register of Historic Places, and community assistance. To learn more about the state’s historic preservation efforts, click the following link.

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About the National Register of Historic Places

The National Register of Historic Places is the nation’s official list of historic properties worthy of preservation. The National Register was established by the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 and is maintained by the U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service. Properties listed in the National Register include buildings, sites, structures, objects, and districts significant in American history, architecture, archaeology, engineering, and culture.

National Register-listed properties are distinguished by being documented and evaluated according to uniform standards called the National Register Criteria for Evaluation. To be eligible for listing in the National Register, generally, a property or majority of properties in a district must be 50 years old or older; retain historic integrity in location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling, and association; and meet at least one of the National Register Criteria for Evaluation. The Georgia Register of Historic Places uses the same criteria and documentation procedures as the National Register of Historic Places.

Georgia and National Register of Historic Places listing does not place restrictions on the use, treatment, transfer, or disposition of private property. Properties listed on the National Register are potentially eligible for state and/or federal tax incentives. Rehabilitation tax incentives are available to properties that meet the substantial rehabilitation test and meet the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation. State tax incentives can be applied to both income producing properties and primary residences and include a credit as well as a property tax freeze.  Federal credits are available to income producing properties only.  These incentives can help offset the cost of bringing historic properties back into a state of utility. For more information, contact National Register and Survey Program Manager Stephanie Cherry-Farmer at 404-346-8550 and Stephanie.Cherry-Farmer@dca.ga.gov.

About the Department of Community Affairs

The Georgia Department of Community Affairs (DCA) partners with communities to build strong, vibrant neighborhoods, commercial and industrial areas through community and economic development, local government assistance, and safe and affordable housing. Using state and federal resources, DCA helps communities spur private job creation, implement planning, develop downtowns, generate affordable housing solutions, and promote volunteerism. DCA also helps qualified Georgians with low to moderate incomes buy homes, rent housing and prevent foreclosure and homelessness. For more information, visit www.dca.ga.gov.