Rutherford, John, House
Also known as: Beckham's Mount Plantation; Grantland-Stevenson House
Why it's listed
This two-story clapboard house at 550 Allen Memorial Drive in Milledgeville was probably built in 1824 for Col. John Rutherford on Beckham's Mount Plantation, about two miles west of its present site. In 1859 Robert C. Smith, a professor at Oglethorpe University, had it moved to lots on College Avenue, now Allen Memorial Drive. The house combines a plain form with Federal details and is placed in what the architectural historian John Linley calls the Oconee Federal group. Its front door has sidelights and an elliptical leaded fanlight, and the interior has a carved stair, reeded trim, wainscoting and mantels with sunburst and pineapple carvings. Additions were made in the 1930s, and the ceilings were lowered in the 1960s. The design and construction are attributed to Daniel Pratt, based on a eulogy quoted in an 1904 biography. The house is also one of few surviving 19th-century structures in Midway, the early academic community where Oglethorpe University began. A restoration program began in 1975.
Significance in brief: The nomination presents the house as an outstanding example of the Oconee Federal group of houses in Middle Georgia, notable for its entry way and interior woodwork. It also credits the design and construction to Daniel Pratt, though this attribution rests on a eulogy. The house is one of the few remaining 19th-century structures in Midway, the early academic community that was the original site of Oglethorpe University.
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 78000962, listed March 21, 1978. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 550 Allen Memorial Dr., Milledgeville |
|---|---|
| County | Baldwin County |
| Listed | March 21, 1978 |
| Reference number | 78000962 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1824 |
| Architect / builder | Attributed to Daniel Pratt |
| Architectural style | Plain style with Federal details; Oconee Federal |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied private residence; the owner began a restoration program after acquiring it in 1975. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 33.05527, -83.24108 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary for a privately owned home: it does not by itself restrict what an owner may do with their own money, and it does not require public access. Restrictions come from local landmark or historic-district ordinances, which are separate (how they differ).
Owner-occupied houses are not eligible for the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit, which applies to income-producing buildings, but many states offer credits for homeowners. Listing also opens the door to preservation easements and to buying a plaque. Start with what listing means for homeowners, renovating a listed house and selling one.
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 78000962.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q134079640
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.