Russell Homeplace Historic District
Why it's listed
This family compound on U.S. 29 at Russell, near Winder, Georgia, grew around a large two-story Four Square frame house completed in 1912. Judge Richard B. Russell, Sr., designed and built it, and added a small cottage and a guest house the same year. His son Robert built a two-story Georgian Revival brick house in 1928. The grounds also hold a family cemetery begun in 1938, a grape arbor, five historic outbuildings, a 1964 library and a 1967 memorial garden. One garage has a law office on its upper floor. The site matters chiefly for its owners. Judge Russell served as Chief Justice of the Georgia Supreme Court from 1922 to 1938. His son Richard B. Russell, Jr., was governor of Georgia from 1931 to 1933 and a U.S. Senator from 1933 to 1971. He owned the main house from 1938 and is buried in the family cemetery. Despite the family's rise in power, its main home stayed modest.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · catalog entry. Generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29).
| Period of significance | 1912-1971 |
|---|---|
| Styles | Four Square; Georgian Revival |
| Areas of significance | Politics/Government, Architecture |
| Acreage | 25 |
| Boundary source | NPS cultural-resource GIS polygon |
| Full listing page | Russell Homeplace Historic District (property record) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.