Emerson-Holmes Building
Also known as: Brownstone Front
Why it's listed
Built in 1859 on Mulberry Street in Macon, this narrow brownstone building is only twenty-three feet wide and rises three stories. Dr. George W. Emerson, a dentist from New Hampshire, had it constructed as an office, with living quarters on the third floor. James B. Ayres designed the Italian facade and interior, and the work may have been carried out by the artisans who built the P. L. Hay House. Features include a second-floor balcony with an iron balustrade on masonry scroll brackets, a drawing room with a high vaulted ceiling and paneling, walnut stair railings, and a curved stair between the upper floors. Dr. W. P. Holmes and later his son, Dr. W. B. Holmes, continued the dental practice, so the building served as dental offices for more than eighty years. It has changed little since a 1936 survey, apart from a newer street-level stair. It was listed for its architecture and for its contribution to the character of Mulberry Street.
Significance in brief: The building is notable for its distinctive Italian facade and interior, designed by James B. Ayres and possibly built by the artisans who built the P. L. Hay House. It served as dental offices for over eighty years. It also contributes to the character of Macon's tree-lined Mulberry Street.
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 71000254, listed June 21, 1971. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 566 Mulberry St., Macon |
|---|---|
| County | Bibb County |
| Listed | June 21, 1971 |
| Reference number | 71000254 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 19th Century (specific date 1859) |
| Architect / builder | Designed by James B. Ayres; possibly built by the artisans who built the P. L. Hay House |
| Architectural style | Italian details (Italian facade and interior) |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in good condition with little change since 1936; the second and third floors were occupied by a ballet studio at the time of nomination. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Within district | Macon Historic District |
| Coordinates | 32.83718, -83.62739 (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 71000254.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q16891061
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.