Mizell, William, Sr., House
Also known as: Susie Fleming--Helen Sarbacher Property
Why it's listed
Built around 1916-1917 at 101 Palm Street in Folkston, Georgia, this two-story frame house was the home of William Mizell, Sr., a former sawmill operator who became the town's leading banker. Its restrained Neo-Classical design includes a one-story wrap-around porch with paired Doric columns, a porte cochere, dentil molding and an irregular massing that recalls the Queen Anne style. Much of the original mantels, doors, floors and room layout survives. The grounds hold a 1917 greenhouse, a 1940 garage, a well site and an undisturbed dump site. Mizell founded the Citizens Bank, lent the county money for a courthouse and bought the county's entire $50,000 bond share for the Old Dixie Highway. The house was listed for its architecture and for its link to him between 1917 and 1930. The City of Folkston acquired it in 1995 and plans to restore it for civic use and park space.
Significance in brief: The house is an almost intact example of a restrained Neo-Classical house built for a prominent local family. It is also tied to William Mizell, Sr., who founded the Citizens Bank and financed courthouse and Old Dixie Highway bond projects that shaped Folkston. Reviewers listed it under Criteria B and C.
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 97001089, listed September 4, 1997. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 101 Palm St., Folkston |
|---|---|
| County | Charlton County |
| Listed | September 4, 1997 |
| Reference number | 97001089 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1917 - 1930 |
| Architect / builder | Unknown |
| Architectural style | Late 19th and Early 20th Century Revivals/Classical Revival/Neo-Classical Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Vacant and not in use, with restoration planned. The City of Folkston bought it in 1995 and plans a reception venue with the grounds as a park. The greenhouse and garage are heavily damaged. |
| Acreage | 4.6 |
| Coordinates | 30.83390, -82.00804 (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.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
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 97001089.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q30625641
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.