Baber, Ambrose, House
Also known as: Riverside Clinic
Why it's listed
Built in 1829-1830 on what was then the outskirts of Macon, this house was designed in an early Republic style for Dr. Ambrose Baber. It is a five-bay, two-story brick building over a raised basement, with stuccoed walls scored to resemble stone, a slightly projecting pedimented central section and a cornice with a Greek key design. Inside, a circular stairway rises around a skylight. The grounds were once enclosed by a ten-foot brick wall and laid out in terraces with boxwood, cedar, magnolia and mimosa. Baber was a physician, state senator and diplomat who helped found Macon's first church. After he left in 1841, the house passed to Col. John Basil Lamar, a Confederate officer killed in 1862, and then to his sister, wife of Gen. Howell Cobb. It was converted to hospital use in 1929, which brought a new entrance stoop and wing additions, though the original proportions remain largely intact. It still operates as Riverside Clinic.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it one of Macon's oldest and most interesting houses, with outstanding architectural features such as its Greek key cornice and skylit circular stairway. It is also tied to prominent owners, including Dr. Ambrose Baber, Col. John Basil Lamar and Gen. Howell Cobb.
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 73000608, listed August 14, 1973. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 577-587 Walnut St., Macon |
|---|---|
| County | Bibb County |
| Listed | August 14, 1973 |
| Reference number | 73000608 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1829-1830 |
| Architect / builder | Dr. Ambrose Baber (builder) |
| Architectural style | Early Republic style |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | In excellent condition and occupied; operated as Riverside Clinic, a private hospital, with altered exterior and 1920s-30s wing additions. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Within district | Macon Historic District |
| Coordinates | 32.83919, -83.62616 (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 73000608.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q134130124
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.