{"nrhp_refnum":"71000252","name":"Cowles, Jerry, Cottage","other_names":["Alfred Sams House"],"category":"building","location":{"address":"4569 Rivoli Dr.","address_restricted":false,"city":"Macon","county":"Bibb County","state":"GA","lat":32.87412498600003,"lon":-83.70455218499995,"geom_source":"nps_gis"},"listed_date":"1971-06-21","is_nhl":false,"nhl_designated_date":null,"areas_of_significance":["Architecture","Social History"],"significance_levels":["national"],"summary":{"what_it_is":"A one-story Greek Revival stuccoed brick cottage at 4569 Rivoli Drive, Macon, Bibb County, Georgia, built in 1830 for Jerry Cowles and designed and built by Elam Alexander. It was dismantled and rebuilt on its present suburban site after World War II.","why_significant":"The cottage is described as a perfect example of the Greek Revival cottage and has been widely copied. It was the first home of Jerry Cowles, a New York-born banker, railroad promoter and major benefactor of Wesleyan Female College. It is also tied to architect Elam Alexander, who designed other prominent Macon buildings.","narrative":"Built in 1830 for Jerry Cowles, a New York native who became a Macon banker and railroad promoter, this one-story Greek Revival cottage was designed and built by Elam Alexander. It originally stood on Walnut Street with lawns reaching the Ocmulgee River. Stuccoed brick walls, a four-column Ionic portico, a fan-lighted entrance, stepped parapeted gable ends and paired chimneys define its appearance. Inside, a wide central hall with an arch leads to paired rooms, and the house has molded cornices, ceiling centerpieces and mantels with gold-leaf medallions. After World War II, downtown expansion threatened the building. Alfred Sams had it carefully dismantled, each piece numbered, and rebuilt on a suburban site about six miles northwest under architect W. Elliott Dunwody, Jr. A wing from 1885 and additional wings were added. Cowles also supported Wesleyan Female College, and the cottage is regarded by leading architects as a model Greek Revival cottage that has been widely copied.","period_of_significance":"1830","architect_builder":"Elam Alexander (designer/builder); restoration under architect W. Elliott Dunwody, Jr.","architectural_style":"Greek Revival","criteria":[],"status_note":"Occupied as a private residence; condition listed as excellent and integrity as altered (moved and rebuilt).","vacant_flag":false,"machine_generated":true,"model":"claude-sonnet-5-5","prompt_version":"v1.0-2026-10-29","generated_at":"2026-10-29 02:55:41.04224-05","source_pdf":"https://s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/lz/electronic-records/rg-079/NPS_GA/71000252.pdf"},"photo":null,"district":null,"sources":{"nps_snapshot_date":"2026-05-22","nara_catalog":"https://catalog.archives.gov/id/93207002","wikipedia":null,"wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q134086259"},"indexable":true,"url":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/georgia/bibb-county/cowles-jerry-cottage-71000252/"}