Small House
Also known as: Small,Ralph,House; Napier-Small House
Why it's listed
Built in 1846 for Skelton Napier, a Putnam County native, this white frame house at 156 Rogers Avenue in Macon is a temple-type Greek Revival residence. It originally faced Vineville Avenue and was approached through a double avenue of cedars. When Rogers and Corbin Avenues were opened and the land subdivided, the house was turned to face Rogers Avenue and lost its high brick basement. Its five-bay portico has four fluted Greek Doric columns set in antis between square corner antae, a combination the nomination says has no direct precedent. A carved wood parapet with acroteria once crowned the roof; it has been removed and the carvings are stored for restoration. Talbot Hamlin suggested the New England architect Elias Carter may have designed it, and Hamlin and Howard Major both cite it in their books. The Historic American Buildings Survey recorded it in 1936, and it is regarded as one of the finest Greek Revival houses in the area.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it one of the outstanding Greek Revival houses in Macon and the surrounding area. It has a five-bay portico with four fluted Greek Doric columns set in antis, and a carved wood parapet with acroteria. It is the only old house in Macon with a pedimented parapet on three sides of the roof, and it was recorded by HABS in 1936 and illustrated in architectural books.
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 71000266, listed May 27, 1971. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 156 Rogers Ave., Macon |
|---|---|
| County | Bibb County |
| Listed | May 27, 1971 |
| Reference number | 71000266 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1846 |
| Architect / builder | Built by Skelton Napier; Talbot Hamlin suggested it could have been designed by New England architect Elias Carter |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival (temple-type house) |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | National |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition listed as good and altered, on its original site per the form's checkboxes; the house was moved and turned to face Rogers Avenue. The parapet has weathered away and been removed, and the carvings are stored for restoration. It is a private residence that until recently also served as a decorating studio. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Vineville Historic District |
| Coordinates | 32.84749, -83.65578 (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 71000266.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7542798
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.