Williams, Luther, Field
Why it's listed
Luther Williams Field is a baseball park in Macon's Central City Park, built in 1929 to designs by Curran Ellis. It has hosted minor league baseball ever since and is described as the oldest baseball park in Georgia. The complex includes a concrete and steel grandstand with locker rooms, offices and concessions beneath the seats, a small brick ticket office with an arched walk-through, and the playing field. Steel roof trusses, monumental brick archways and the original press box location survive, though the roof, seats and field dimensions have changed. The park is valued as an early example of poured concrete and steel truss stadium construction with an ornamental triple-arch entry. It also holds a place in civil rights era history. In 1949 it hosted the first game in Georgia played with an integrated team, when the Brooklyn Dodgers visited, and its separate seating areas reflect the segregation of the period. The significant years run from 1929 to 1956.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is the oldest baseball park in Georgia and an early, intact example of a poured concrete and steel truss grandstand with a notable ticket office and triple-arch entry. It is also significant for social history and Black ethnic heritage, as the site of the first game in Georgia played with an integrated team in 1949 and for its segregated seating areas.
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 04000627, listed June 24, 2004. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 225 Willie Smokey Glover Blvd., Central City Park, Macon |
|---|---|
| County | Bibb County |
| Listed | June 24, 2004 |
| Reference number | 04000627 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1929-1956 |
| Architect / builder | Curran Ellis, architect; Watson Walker, engineer |
| Architectural style | No style |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Entertainment/Recreation, Black, Social History |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still used as a sports facility and home to minor league baseball; the roof, seats and locker rooms have been replaced or upgraded over time. |
| Acreage | 6.5 |
| Coordinates | 32.82901, -83.61395 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
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 04000627.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6705660
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.