Cannonball House
Also known as: Judge Asa Holt House
Why it's listed
Built in 1853 by Judge Asa Holt, this white clapboard house on Mulberry Street in Macon is regarded as an outstanding example of town-house Greek Revival architecture in the Old South. A two-story Ionic portico, delicate drawn-wire railing, a small central balcony with wrought iron work, and large shuttered windows define the exterior. Inside are a spacious stair hall, elaborate marble mantels, pine floors and fine plasterwork. The name comes from July 30, 1864, when a cannon ball fired by Union forces under General George Stoneman struck the house during the battle of Dunlap Hill, passing through a porch column and landing unexploded in the hall. A walled garden and brick servants' quarters, now a museum, complete the lot. In 1963 the Sidney Lanier Chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy bought the house for use as a museum and chapter house. Its parlors recreate early Wesleyan sorority rooms.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it an outstanding example of In Town Greek Revival architecture of the Old South, with a two-story Ionic portico and wrought iron balcony. It also gained its name when a Union cannon ball struck it during the July 30, 1864 battle of Dunlap Hill. Its parlors were furnished to recreate early sorority rooms from Wesleyan Female College.
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 71000249, listed May 27, 1971. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 856 Mulberry St., Macon |
|---|---|
| County | Bibb County |
| Listed | May 27, 1971 |
| Reference number | 71000249 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1853 |
| Architect / builder | Judge Asa Holt (builder/original owner) |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in good condition, exterior well preserved and never extensively altered; used for meetings and receptions and open daily as a museum house, with restoration under way. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Macon Historic District |
| Coordinates | 32.83953, -83.63151 (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 71000249.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14686604
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.