Rabinowitz Building
Why it's listed
Built in 1915 on West 11th Street in Alma, Georgia, this two-story brick commercial building is notable for its glazed green and white brick front, topped by a pressed metal cornice. Local builder Manning Sullivan constructed it for William Rabinowitz, a Jewish immigrant who ran a dry goods store in half of the ground floor until he moved to Atlanta in 1924, and leased out the rest. The large second-floor room served as the first courthouse and county offices for Bacon County, newly formed in 1914, until a permanent courthouse was completed in 1920. Later tenants included a church, a theatre, a dentist, a furniture store and a garment factory. The building is recognized for its architecture, for its role in the commerce of a growing railroad town, and for its link to the early government of Bacon County. Original second-floor features such as the beaded board ceiling, wood floors and chamfered columns survive.
Significance in brief: The building is significant for its glazed green and white brick front facade and pressed metal cornice, which set it apart from ordinary small-town storefronts. It is also significant for commerce, as a multi-use building that housed Rabinowitz's dry goods store and other tenants. Its second floor served as Bacon County's first courthouse from 1915 until 1920.
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) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 87001238, listed June 27, 1987. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 203--205 W. Eleventh St., Alma |
|---|---|
| County | Bacon County |
| Listed | June 27, 1987 |
| Reference number | 87001238 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1915-1924 |
| Architect / builder | Sullivan, Manning (builder) |
| Architectural style | Late 19th and early 20th century American Movements: Commercial Style |
| Criteria |
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| Areas of significance | Commerce, Politics/Government, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The upper windows were temporarily covered with plywood and the first-floor storefronts have been restored. The floor plan shows a video shop and storage on the first floor and a vacant second floor reserved for a historical society when restored. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 31.54294, -82.46687 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 87001238.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q16899067
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.