Shirley Hills Historic District (Boundary Increase and Additional Documentation)
Why it's listed
Shirley Hills is a residential subdivision in northeast Macon, about a mile from downtown, with the Ocmulgee River as its western edge. Development began in 1922 on land from the estate of Senator Augustus Octavius Bacon and continued through 1941. The plan was prepared by John Leon Hoffman's planning firm in the Olmsted tradition of picturesque design. Streets wind along the hilly terrain, lots are large and wooded, and two parks, Jackson Spring Park and Andrew Jackson Park, were set aside. Restrictive covenants controlled setbacks, house siting and minimum value. The houses show many period styles, including Georgian Revival, Neoclassical Revival, English Vernacular Revival, Italian Renaissance Revival and Spanish Colonial Revival, with work by Macon architects W. Elliott Dunwody, Ellamae Ellis League and Dennis and Dennis. The district was recognized as the first and largest picturesquely planned subdivision in Macon and nearly unique in Georgia, and for its architecture.
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). Generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29).
| Period of significance | 1922-1941 |
|---|---|
| Styles | Colonial Revival, Classical Revival, Tudor Revival, Italian Renaissance, French Renaissance, Mission/Spanish Colonial Revival, Bungalow/Craftsman |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Community Planning and Development, Landscape Architecture |
| Acreage | 280 |
| Boundary source | NPS cultural-resource GIS polygon |
| Full listing page | Shirley Hills Historic District (Boundary Increase and Additional Documentation) (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.