{"nrhp_refnum":"72000363","name":"Findlay, Robert, House","other_names":[],"category":"building","location":{"address":"785 2nd St.","address_restricted":false,"city":"Macon","county":"Bibb County","state":"GA","lat":32.831727725000064,"lon":-83.63363385699995,"geom_source":"nps_gis"},"listed_date":"1972-01-20","is_nhl":false,"nhl_designated_date":null,"areas_of_significance":["Architecture","Social History"],"significance_levels":["local"],"summary":{"what_it_is":"A two-story Italianate villa-style house with a cupola at 785 Second Street in Macon, Bibb County, Georgia, built in 1856 by Robert Findlay and now part of the YWCA property.","why_significant":"The house is one of the few outstanding antebellum homes remaining in this part of Macon. It reflects the Italian-villa style popularized by A.J. Downing's pattern books and has an early use of cast iron brackets in a Macon residence. It is also tied to Robert Findlay, a Scottish-born machinist and foundry founder who was active in the city's civic life.","narrative":"Built in 1856 at 785 Second Street in Macon, this two-story house with a cupola reflects the Italian villa style, likely adapted from a pattern book such as A.J. Downing's The Architecture of Country Houses. A porch runs across the front and down both sides, supported by paneled columns with cast iron brackets, an early use of cast iron in a Macon home. Cast iron grilles ventilate the stuccoed brick base, and the interior retains ornate plaster cornices, carved white marble mantels, original gas fixtures and pocket doors. Robert Findlay, a Scottish native, came to Macon in 1836 to manage steam machinery for the Monroe Railroad and helped run the locomotive Ocmulgee in 1838. He later founded a large foundry business, served on City Council and as fire chief, and raised five sons in the house. The YWCA now owns it and uses it for club meeting rooms. It is one of the few notable antebellum homes left in the area.","period_of_significance":"19th Century (specific date 1856)","architect_builder":"Robert Findlay (builder)","architectural_style":"Villa in the Italian Style","criteria":[],"status_note":"Owned by the YWCA, used for club meeting rooms and earlier as a dormitory for working girls; exterior and interior described as in good to excellent condition.","vacant_flag":false,"machine_generated":true,"model":"claude-sonnet-5-5","prompt_version":"v1.0-2026-10-29","generated_at":"2026-10-29 02:55:41.521544-05","source_pdf":"https://s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/lz/electronic-records/rg-079/NPS_GA/72000363.pdf"},"photo":null,"district":{"nrhp_refnum":"74000658","name":"Macon Historic District","url":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/districts/georgia/macon-historic-district-74000658/"},"sources":{"nps_snapshot_date":"2026-05-22","nara_catalog":"https://catalog.archives.gov/id/93207014","wikipedia":null,"wikidata":null},"indexable":true,"url":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/georgia/bibb-county/findlay-robert-house-72000363/"}