{"nrhp_refnum":"85002086","name":"Lumpkin County Jail","other_names":["Old Lumpkin County Jail"],"category":"building","location":{"address":"Clarksville St.","address_restricted":false,"city":"Dahlonega","county":"Lumpkin County","state":"GA","lat":34.53444872500006,"lon":-83.98173922399997,"geom_source":"nps_gis"},"listed_date":"1985-09-13","is_nhl":false,"nhl_designated_date":null,"areas_of_significance":["Politics/Government","Architecture"],"significance_levels":["local"],"summary":{"what_it_is":"A two-story brick Italianate county jail with jailer's quarters, built in 1884 on Clarkesville Street in Dahlonega, Lumpkin County, Georgia, by local builders Alonzo C. Johnson and Henry Ramsaur.","why_significant":"The nomination cites architectural significance as one of the most elaborately detailed jails in the thematic group, built to its original plans with a cupola and fence added soon after. It also cites politics and government, since it was the county's fifth jail, and its brick construction, jailer's quarters and later switch to steel cells reflect changes in the criminal justice system.","narrative":"Built in 1884 on Clarkesville Street in Dahlonega, this two-story brick building served as Lumpkin County's jail for 80 years. Local builders Alonzo C. Johnson and Henry Ramsaur constructed it in the Italianate style on a 36-by-40-foot plan, with recessed front panels, brick pilasters, dentil trim, a hipped roof with a louvered cupola, and segmental-arched windows. The sheriff's family lived on the first floor, while the second floor held four cells surrounded by a corridor. It was the county's fifth jail, following earlier ones that proved insecure, dilapidated or lost to fire, which may explain the choice of brick. Porches were added in 1936 and 1942, and wood cells were later replaced with metal ones. Its detailing, its largely complete original plan and its reflection of changing jail practices led to its recognition. After 1964 it housed several public offices, and a rehabilitation for community services was planned.","period_of_significance":null,"architect_builder":"Alonzo C. Johnson and Henry Ramsaur, builders","architectural_style":"Italianate","criteria":[],"status_note":"Described as in good condition. Since a new jail opened in 1964 it has housed various government offices, and a grant has been approved to rehabilitate it as a community services center.","vacant_flag":false,"machine_generated":true,"model":"claude-sonnet-5-5","prompt_version":"v1.0-2026-10-29","generated_at":"2026-10-29 02:55:42.957439-05","source_pdf":"https://s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/lz/electronic-records/rg-079/NPS_GA/85002086.pdf"},"photo":{"url_800":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/media/85002086/a74c1f19e7-800.webp","url_1600":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/media/85002086/a74c1f19e7-1600.webp","licence":"Public domain","author":"KudzuVine","credit_html":"<a href=\"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lumpkin_County_Jail,_Dahlonega,_Georgia.JPG\" rel=\"noopener\">KudzuVine</a>, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons","source_page":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lumpkin_County_Jail,_Dahlonega,_Georgia.JPG"},"district":null,"sources":{"nps_snapshot_date":"2026-05-22","nara_catalog":"https://catalog.archives.gov/id/93206336","wikipedia":"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lumpkin_County_Jail","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q16894370"},"indexable":true,"url":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/georgia/lumpkin-county/lumpkin-county-jail-85002086/"}