Benham Place
Why it's listed
Benham Place is a brick house on a low hill just outside Cartersville, Georgia, set on 61 acres. Willis Benham rebuilt it about 1865 to 1867 after the Civil War, reusing the foundation and much of the walls of an earlier burned two-story house. The result is a one-and-one-half story Georgian cottage with a central hall, raised basement, steep gables, octagonal porch columns and Gothic Revival window crowns. The nomination states it is the only intact brick Georgian cottage with Gothic Revival details identified in Georgia. The property also documents a working farm from about 1845 to 1960. Census records show crop and livestock diversification after the war, and later owners grew cotton and corn with sharecropping families. A 1840s log smokehouse, a 1920s summerhouse and the Benham family cemetery survive. The informal "New South" landscape includes a semi-circular drive, stone entrance pillars, orchards and boxwoods from the early 1920s. The listing recognizes architecture, agriculture and landscape architecture.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is a rare, intact example of a brick Georgian cottage with Gothic Revival details, the only one identified in Georgia. It also represents farm diversification after the Civil War and is an example of "New South" landscaping.
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 98000030, listed January 30, 1998. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 222 Grassdale Rd., Cartersville |
|---|---|
| County | Bartow County |
| Listed | January 30, 1998 |
| Reference number | 98000030 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | ca. 1845 to 1947 |
| Architect / builder | Willis Benham |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Agriculture, Landscape Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Currently used as a single dwelling; the family cemetery is described as well maintained. |
| Acreage | 61 |
| Coordinates | 34.20264, -84.82170 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
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 98000030.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q134085353
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.