Randolph-Whittle House
Also known as: Randolph-Whittle-Davis-Smith House
Approximate location: the National Park Service places this pin arbitrarily within the property, not at a surveyed point (stated accuracy ±12 m).
Why it's listed
Built in 1837 by Dr. Richard H. Randolph, this Greek Revival house sits atop Jefferson Terrace on College Hill in Macon. It was originally oriented toward College Street and was later rotated to face Jefferson Terrace. The wood-frame, clapboard-sided house has Doric columns supporting an architrave, frieze and cornice that the nomination ranks among the best-proportioned Greek Revival orders in the city. Inside, a stair foyer is flanked by large rooms with fireplaces, original wide pine floors, mortise-and-tenon doors and wainscot, and hand-carved corner blocks at the window and door trim. Randolph sold the house in 1853 to Lewis N. Whittle, a railroad man who served as a city councilman and state legislator, helped equip Confederate companies, led a battlefield relief association, and later served on the Bibb County board of public education. A school was named for him after his death in 1886. The house remains a private residence.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it one of Macon's great historic homes, with one of the best-proportioned Greek Revival orders in the city. It is also tied to Lewis N. Whittle, a railroad executive, legislator, Civil War-era civic leader and champion of public education.
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 72000371, listed February 1, 1972. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 1231 Jefferson Ter., Macon |
|---|---|
| County | Bibb County |
| Listed | February 1, 1972 |
| Reference number | 72000371 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1837 |
| Architect / builder | Dr. Richard H. Randolph (builder/original owner) |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied as a private residence, in good condition; described as well maintained, with the exterior practically unchanged apart from the entrance steps and rear additions. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Macon Historic District |
| Coordinates | 32.84101, -83.63829 (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 72000371.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q134127523
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.